Being Present
Images do not begin with a camera. They begin with witnessing.
What makes a story worth documenting, in your view?
Share Your Thoughts
01
The Call of the Wild Through the Lens
SmallRig： Your studio is called “Wild China.” What led to that name?
Zhinong Xi ： For a long time, the world’s understanding of China has been quite limited. People often associate it with its large population or its long and mysterious history, but there is another side to it that is rarely seen. China is also wild, full of life, and deeply moving. When we chose the name “Wild China,” it was because we wanted to reveal this side of the country. Through our work, we hope to present images of nature that people don’t usually encounter, and to show both Chinese audiences and the world a different perspective of China.
02
A Life Changed by a Monkey
SmallRig： Many people came to know you through your work on the Yunnan snub-nosed monkey.
Zhinong Xi ： I often say that my life was changed by a monkey. When I say “my monkey,” people know I’m referring to the Yunnan snub-nosed monkey. Without them, I don’t think I would have stayed on this path for so long.
I still remember very clearly the first time I saw them. I had been searching since 1992, and it wasn’t until September 15, 1993 that I finally encountered them. The feeling at that moment was impossible to describe. Even now, when I think back to it, I can still feel that excitement.
03
Speaking for the Green Peafowl
SmallRig： You’ve mentioned some regret regarding the green peafowl.
Zhinong Xi ： I actually photographed green peafowl years ago, in a place where I grew up. But at the time, I didn’t realize how rare they were. I didn’t feel particularly excited, and I didn’t even develop the film. It was only years later that I learned fewer than 500 remained in the wild. That was when I went back, found the negatives, and digitized them. Looking back, it wasn’t just regret. As a wildlife photographer from Yunnan, I felt a strong sense of responsibility, almost like I had failed in some way. It became a very instinctive reaction. I felt that I had to speak up, that I had to take action. Because without understanding, people rarely care. And without care, nothing changes.
04
Inheriting Nature Through Images
SmallRig： You’ve witnessed many remarkable moments in the wild.
Zhinong Xi ： "There was once a photograph of a snow leopard hunting, the first ever captured. When I saw it, I was completely shocked. Some judges said the composition wasn’t ideal or the background was messy, but I remember asking them, does that really matter when it’s the first image of its kind in history?
In my own experience, there are also many moments that I couldn’t capture. I remember watching a green peafowl glide down into a valley at dusk, but the light was already gone. I could only follow it with my binoculars until it disappeared. Even without a photograph, that moment was still deeply meaningful.
Another time, in Kekexili on New Year’s morning, I saw Tibetan antelopes standing in the first light, with the full moon setting behind them. It felt like a perfect moment, like a gift."
05
The Youngest Snow Leopard Photographer
SmallRig： We heard about a seven-year-old girl who photographed a snow leopard.
Zhinong Xi ： Yes, she is the daughter of one of the herders we worked with. When we organized a training camp, she insisted on joining, even though she was only seven years old. She spoke Mandarin fluently and didn’t need a translator, which surprised me.
Two months later, she sent me a message saying that she had photographed a snow leopard. I was genuinely happy when I heard that. I remember saying to her,“Do you realize? You’ve just become the youngest person in the world to photograph a snow leopard."
Behind the Scenes
Following the moments that cannot be staged.
What stayed with you from this episode?
Share Your Thoughts
06
A Deep Respect for Life
SmallRig： What have you learned from the people you work with in these regions?
Zhinong Xi ： What moved me most was their deep respect for life. It feels almost instinctive, something that is part of who they are.
I’ve seen cases where an old or injured snow leopard was rescued. It could have been kept in captivity and lived longer under human care, but in the end, it was released back into the wild. Because that is where it belongs. That is its dignity, and it’s not something we should take away.
07
Change Begins with Seeing
SmallRig： How do you interpret the idea that change begins with seeing?
Zhinong Xi ： My own life changed because I saw. That moment led me to pick up a camera and begin following wildlife, and over time, it shaped everything I do. When people are able to see, they begin to understand. And once there is understanding, care follows naturally. That is where change begins.
08
Between Objectivity and Subjectivity
SmallRig： Do you think documentaries are objective or subjective?
Zhinong Xi ： In my view, they are both. I try to remain a faithful observer, but at the same time, my values and my perspective inevitably influence the work. What matters to me is to show nature as it truly is, not only its beauty, but also its harshness, its sadness, and even its more difficult realities. Only then can people begin to understand it more fully.
09
The Duty of Being Present
SmallRig： What does it mean to be a photographer?
Zhinong Xi ： At its core, it means being present. Wildlife photographers, like journalists or war photographers, must be on site. Photography allows us to record events as they happen, and many of the most important moments in history exist because someone was there to capture them.
As a photographer, all I can do is record. Because I am there.
That is my responsibility. That is my duty.
