By Sophie Zhu

        一只小金丝猴在跳跃瞬间做了芭蕾动作；南沙群岛海底的长棘海星与珊瑚虫互助共生；世界上濒危鸟类之一黑嘴端凤头燕鸥……这一幅幅我们目光所不能及的奇妙景象正在鼓浪屿摄影画廊2010秋季展展出。

        这一季的摄影作品主题为“影像保护自然”，由著名野生动物摄影家奚志农的《用影像保护自然》、水下摄影家吴立新的《水世界的感动》，以及福建本土摄影新锐陈林的《绿野鸟踪》三个板块70余幅作品组成。展览将持续至12月，免费向市民和游人开放。

    The Gulangyu Photo Gallery is currently presenting a newly-launched autumn exhibition entitled “Protect Nature with Images.”

    The display consists of series of photographs by three photographers and consists of more than 70 pieces of work. The first series, “Protect Nature with Images,” showcases works by noted wildlife photographer Xi Zhinong, who held a seminar at the opening of the exhibition and shared the stories behind his images. 

    While discussing a photo of skulls of the Tibetan antelope against the background of a vast plain, Mr. Xi said that the photo is the only photo in recent years for which he re-arranged the subject of the shot. “I took this photo after I saw the skeletons of about ten Tibetan antelopes in the middle of a vast plain,” he said. “The animals’ bodies had been ravaged by poachers and I rearranged their skulls for the shoot,” added Mr. Xi. “Tibet used to be a pure land with no killings or dirty business but now the antelopes run as soon as they hear cars approaching.” 

    He also decried the damage inflicted on the ecosystem by the illegal trade in animal fur. “Fur looks best when it is still a part of the animal’s body,” he said. “There will be no harm if there are no business dealings,” said Mr. Xi.

    The second series on display is “The World Underwater,” which features the images of professional diver and underwater photographer Wu Lixin. Mr. Wu began scuba diving in 2002 and has photographed underwater ocean imagery around the world. 

    According to Mr. Wu, he shifted his focus from overseas to domestic bodies of water after witnessing a developing field of underwater photography in China. “I want to show the real picture of China’s underwater world, whether beautiful or ugly.” 

    Social responsibility is also a major motivation behind Mr. Wu’s endeavors. “I hope my photos are not only pleasant to behold but also alert the viewer to the underwater environmental problems that exist in our country.”

    The last series in the exhibition is “Bird Tracks in Green Fields,” which consists of photos of endangered birds in China taken by local photographer Chen Lin.

    “Images of nature, just like unpolluted air and greeneries in the country side, are becoming more valuable these days as the decline of various ecosystems accelerate and people become trapped in the urban jungle,” said Ye Xizhi, Deputy Director of the Gulangyu Wanshi Mountain Scenic Spot Administration.

    “We hope that by opening this exhibition before the new academic year starts, the younger generation gets a chance to visit our gallery,” Mr. Ye added.

    The exhibition will run through December with free admission.

Artist profiles:

    A pioneering wildlife photographer in China, Xi Zhinong started photographing animals in the wild in 1983. He established his own studio, Wild China, and a photography training camp as a part of his devotion to the documentation of China’s vanishing wildlife. His photo of a Yunnan golden monkey was used by environmentalists in the 1996 campaign against the exploitation of a 100-square-kilometer Yunnan golden monkey preservation. 

    Born in Inner Mongolia in 1967, Wu Lixin is a professional underwater photographer who started to shoot underwater in 2002. A professional diver certified by the Professional Association of Diving International, Technical Diving International and the Chinese Underwater Association (CUA), Mr. Wu won a silver medal at the World Championship of Underwater Photography in 2007.

    Chen Lin is a local photographer based in Fujian who took up environmental photography in 2007. Over the past three years, he has devoted himself to the documentation of the most endangered species of birds in China. He has traveled as far away as Africa, Malaysia and Nepal.