Xi's photographic experience in supporting agriculture

From 1989 to 1990, Xi, who graduated from the school, entered Kunming Education TV Station, where he planned, filmed and produced feature films on environmental protection topics such as "Mother River is Calling" and "Sound", which aroused people's concern about the deterioration of water quality and bird protection in Panlong River. Xi's work in supporting agriculture at this stage is one of the earliest works in China to publicize the concept of environmental protection to the public.

From 65438 to 0990, Xi supported agriculture and became a photographer of CCTV's Animal World, which was the most influential wildlife special program in China at that time. As a photographer, Xi went to Daweishan Nature Reserve in south Yunnan and Dulongjiang in northwest Yunnan to photograph wild animals. During filming in Yunnan, he saw a lot of illegal hunting of wild animals, which strengthened his belief in awakening people's awareness of environmental protection through the lens. During his stay in the animal world, Xi Zhinong produced excellent documentaries such as Fog Oasis and Lazy Monkey.

1992 WWF has carried out a three-year research project on Yunnan golden monkey in Baima Snow Mountain National Nature Reserve, Yunnan. Xi left the animal world to support agriculture and followed the research team into the snow-capped mountains to photograph Yunnan golden monkeys. Before this, people had not even taken a clear picture of Yunnan golden monkey. After three years' efforts, Xi supported agriculture and filmed the documentary Hunting Yunnan Golden Monkey, which is the first time that human beings recorded the activities of Yunnan Golden Monkey with cameras. It not only has very important academic value, but also has high artistic value, and it is also a good teaching material for environmental education. Later, this film won grand prizes in several film festivals and TV festivals in Japan, the United States and Canada.

1995, Xi, who works in Yunnan Forestry Department, learned that in order to solve the financial difficulties, Deqin County decided to cut down the virgin forest on the south side of Baima Snow Mountain Nature Reserve 100 square kilometer, which is the range of 200 Yunnan golden monkeys. In order to save this forest, Xi made a lot of efforts to support agriculture, but all failed. As a last resort, he contacted Tang Xiyang, an environmental writer, and wrote to State Councilor Song Jian to disclose the matter to the media, including CCTV, china national radio, China Environmental News, China Forestry News, China Youth Daily and Beijing Youth Daily. Non-governmental organizations such as Friends of Nature also expressed their support, and finally Deqin County stopped commercial logging.

The story of protecting Yunnan golden monkey makes Xi a famous environmentalist in China and even one of the representatives of environmental protection in China. At the same time, I lost my job in Yunnan Forestry Department. Fortunately, CCTV Oriental Time and Space invited Xi to join in supporting agriculture, and he became a reporter of Oriental Time and Space in May 1996. In the eastern time and space, Xi still paid attention to wildlife and environmental protection in supporting agriculture. From 65438 to 0997, he went deep into the no-man's land of Hoh Xil, filmed the "Wild Yak Team" for 20 days, collected a large number of video materials about poaching and anti-poaching of Tibetan antelopes, and made a documentary to be broadcast in eastern time and space. This is the first TV program that comprehensively and truly shows the present situation of Tibetan antelope and the anti-poaching action. After the program was broadcast, Xi continued to track the poaching behavior of Tibetan antelopes by supporting agriculture, collected information with his wife, and wrote a report on the poaching, trafficking and trade of Tibetan antelopes, which provided practical information for the media to report in depth. At the same time, he also worked hard to promote the Tibetan antelope protection movement in society. He successfully convened the Friends of Nature, the World Wide Fund for Nature and the International Animal Welfare Foundation to cooperate in the field of Tibetan antelope protection, promoted an international seminar on the protection of Tibetan antelopes and stopped the trade of Tibetan antelopes, and founded an international seminar focusing on the protection of Tibetan antelopes.

The experience of Hoh Xil prompted Xi to support agriculture and finally left the Oriental Time and Space column group to join the environmental protection cause. After resigning, he once again went deep into Hoh Xil to follow and film the anti-poaching work of the wild yak team. 200 1, Xi proposed to set up an organization with wildlife and nature photography as its main activities, and devoted itself to promoting the natural environment protection and wildlife conservation in China. In 2005, Wild China began to operate in Beijing Zoo. "Wild China" aims to record the changes of endangered species and natural environment in China in a saving way, raise the public and government's awareness of nature protection, and promote the development of natural history images in China. The slogan is to protect nature with images. In 2005, Xi Zhinong donated his own remuneration for endorsement of Canon's photographic products, all of which was used to buy photographic equipment, and set up a wildlife photography training camp in China to provide equipment and professional guidance for wildlife workers, researchers and photographers who could not afford to buy photographic equipment and receive professional photography training, so as to promote wildlife photography in China, thus enhancing people's attention to wildlife protection.

China is "the most difficult country to photograph wild animals in the world". Not only are there few large mammals, but animals are also highly alert to people. Xi's mission in supporting agriculture is to photograph wild animals, and he is worried about the survival crisis of endangered species.

"Between the safety of wild animals and your photos, the safety of wild animals is always the first." On June 5438+February 2004 1, the first wildlife photography training camp in China was opened. In the training class, Xi, the organizer of the event, repeatedly emphasized the professional ethics that a wildlife photographer should have. As a professional wildlife photographer, Xi Zhinong hopes that every photographer can think of other things, such as responsibility, while pressing the shutter, just like him.

Xi needs a partner to support agriculture. After filming alone for 20 years, he couldn't wait to start preaching in person.

In China, wildlife photography is self-evident. From Animal World to Discovery Channel, almost all the pictures broadcast by TV stations are imported from abroad, and domestic natural geography magazines can't train their own photographers like National Geographic. Foreign photographers can often be seen in nature reserves in China.

Xi supporting agriculture is an exception. He Mingrui, who works in Changqing Nature Reserve in Shaanxi Province, said that the only domestic professional wildlife photographer he met in Changqing was xi Zhinong.

In the1990s, Animal World decided to make its own wildlife documentary, so Xi supported agriculture and had the opportunity to become a temporary worker of CCTV. At that time, the most successful attempt was that photographer Yun Qi made a 6-episode film.

However, after CCTV tried, it was concluded that the shooting cost was higher than that of introducing foreign documentaries, and the ratings were not as high as those of foreign films. In the end, CCTV lost interest, but left a "fan" who couldn't stop supporting agriculture.

From 1983' s idea of learning photography because he likes birds to today's famous "environmental fighter", Xi's life of supporting agriculture for 20 years has slipped away quietly in the mountains, but his career has become more and more depressed, and the feeling of loneliness and fatigue often strikes inexplicably.

"Every day, species are dying out, and we still have so many species that have never been recorded by images." Yan Zhinong said. The short week of training soon ended and the campers returned to their respective jobs. Xi has to go to Qinling Mountain to support agriculture himself, where he spent most of the past two years.

As the geographical dividing line between the north and the south of China, Qinling Mountain is the area where large mammals are most likely to be seen except the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, where there are nearly 20 nature reserves and protected areas. Xi's destination for supporting agriculture is Zhouzhi Nature Reserve, where the population of Sichuan golden monkey is most concentrated in China, where about 1500 Sichuan golden monkeys live.

Since 1992, Xi Zhinong has been tracking and shooting Yunnan golden monkey, known as the Snow Mountain Elf. He has a dream that Yunnan golden monkey can be on the cover of National Geographic. In 200 1 year, it won the "Endangered Species" single prize in BG Wildlife Photography Annual Competition in Britain. It is an image of Yunnan golden monkey.

Xi's support for agriculture has an unusual relationship with golden monkeys. Shooting the golden monkey made him gain an international reputation and become a famous "environmental fighter". 1995 just after the difficult tracking of Yunnan golden monkey, Xi heard that the Deqin county government of Yunnan Province was going to cut down the virgin forest at the southern foot of Baima Snow Mountain 100 square kilometer, which was the last home of Yunnan golden monkey. So he started shouting around with the photo he just took, and finally left a small habitat for the golden monkey.

Xi's support for agriculture is not satisfied with this outcome: "Those populations are bound in a narrow area of several square kilometers and cannot exchange genetic genes with other populations, which eventually leads to species degradation." But this is the first time in China. 1996 Newsweek in the United States reported the incident with the topic of "green revolution in China", and thought that "this will be a watershed in China people's environmental awareness". Unsurprisingly, three years later, when Xi supported agriculture and presented a group of photos of Tibetan antelope full of desolation and sadness to the Chinese people, the Chinese people's reaction was unprecedented, and it seemed that everyone became an environmentalist.

It can be said that the Yunnan Golden Monkey incident strengthened Xi's idea of "shooting for protection" in supporting agriculture. In front of those quiet and expressive animal portraits, almost everyone can feel the dialogue between photographers and nature, which is called "Xi's style of supporting agriculture" by other photographers. Northwest University has set up a base in Zhouzhi Nature Reserve, where interns and researchers are stationed all the year round. After long-term breeding and observation, these golden-haired monkeys have become accustomed to being peeked, which is a "luxury" treatment that Xi has never encountered in supporting agriculture.

For wildlife photography, a high-quality photo needs infinite distance. Unfortunately, China is called "the most difficult country to photograph wild animals in the world" by the international photography community, not only because there are few large mammals, but also because animals are highly alert to people.

From 1992, Xi helped agriculture to photograph Yunnan golden monkey in Baima Snow Mountain, Yunnan Province. After waiting for three years, he only photographed these "snow mountain hermits" twice. In 2003, he went to Canada, where the number of wild animals and their friendliness to people made him jealous, but he quickly calmed down: "There, for the first time in my life, I photographed 30,000 snow geese flying at the same time, but so what?" Anyone with a camera can shoot 30,000 snow geese at a specified time and place according to the instructions in the photography manual. "

1999, Xi met a photographer from National Geographic. When he learned that the other party would consume 7000 reverse films a year, he couldn't help secretly surprised: "I'm afraid I can't shoot so many reverse films in my life." 1992, in order to climb Baima Snow Mountain, he bought eight expired reverse films in luxury, but the total number of reverse films he shot at that time was less than 200.

Xi's wife, Shi Lihong, who supports agriculture, fell in love with him out of admiration, and later became his like-minded partner in his career. In 2003, Xi's documentary "Pursuing Yunnan Golden Monkey" won the TVE Award at the 1 1 Natural Screen Film Festival, which was the first time that a China documentary won an award at the film festival. Other contestants competing with them include BBC, National Geographic, Discovery and other world-class production companies.

How does a professional wildlife photographer survive in China? Xi said, "I don't have high material requirements. I only know that I have been filming and I have been sticking to it until now. " Shi Lihong saw this more clearly: "Xi's support for agriculture has always been based on his own interests, not on market demand. He formed his own unique style, but at the same time he lost the possibility of marketization. These advantages and disadvantages are also reflected in "Chasing Yunnan Golden Monkey". " She felt that this award was somewhat encouraging, because this film was the only award-winning film made by a developing country that year. Almost everyone who has seen the photos taken by Xi Zhinong will feel that the animals in the photos seem to have some wisdom and are preparing to have some kind of dialogue with people.

He Mingrui, a photographer who went to the wild with Xi for supporting agriculture many times and worked in Shaanxi Changqing Nature Reserve, explained this mysterious question: "That is the expression of the animal itself. To capture this expression, the key is that you can't disturb them, don't let them see you, or even if you do, let them think you are harmless. "

In foreign countries, this concept has long been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. Jane goodall, a female scientist who is famous for studying chimpanzees, once set a highest standard for the contact between humans and animals: "If you sit next to them and they ignore you, you will reach a harmonious state between humans and chimpanzees."

However, sometimes this kind of "gentle contact" is quite thrilling. He Mingrui experienced an ultra-close contact with Xi Zhinong when he filmed "Takin". At first, they were a little far from the takin, so they gave up hiding. After a while, some takins noticed them and rushed towards them. He Mingrui saw that the bull's head in the lens was getting bigger and bigger, and finally it was beyond the frame. He doesn't know what to do. If he leans over and runs away, the takin will definitely attack, so he just stands there like Xi supporting agriculture and continues shooting. After the takin lost interest in them and walked away, they estimated the distance: less than 3 meters! But usually it should be around 100 meters.

The golden monkey in Zhouzhi gives people a chance of gentle contact. Researchers gather here all the year round. Monkeys seem to have been used to humans for a long time. People can see them in the forest by walking for 30 minutes from the camp. In summer, Xi came into contact with this golden monkey family when he was supporting agriculture. This time, he wanted to film their daily life in snowy days.

Since the second day of his arrival, it has snowed several times in a row, and the temperature has been falling. Even if the stove is built indoors, the temperature is around zero, but Xi has long been used to supporting agriculture. For him, working in the wild and living in a house is already a luxury. At this point, Guan Ke, a photographer who came with Xi to support agriculture, expressed admiration and fear. This seemingly weak and emaciated person always uses his own efforts to encourage and ask others.

After several snows, Guan Ke left contentedly. These days, they are lucky. They not only photographed the golden monkey, but also photographed several rare birds. Xi supported agriculture and stayed to wait for more snow in the weather forecast. In the past few weeks, the filming has not been very smooth. Xi Zhinong hopes to have good luck this time. One morning in late February 65438, the Qinling Mountains were covered with more than a foot of snow. Xi is satisfied with this and urges those who are still eating breakfast to speed up.

As usual, they came to the place where monkeys usually stay along a path next to the camp, but they didn't find any monkeys. According to experience, Xi supported agriculture and went deep into the jungle.

There are several people standing under the monkey's habitat. They are employed by the students in the camp, with food in their hands, but the monkeys don't seem to be interested. Finally, these people lost patience and began to use intimidation to try to drive the monkey to the designated place.

The scene in front of us tore off some seemingly beautiful appearances.

From 65438 to 0999, Kunming held the World Horticultural Exposition, and Yunnan golden monkey was designated as the mascot. As the first photographer to introduce Yunnan golden monkey to the public, Xi Zhinong feels very honored. Before the World Expo, the local TV station specially produced a program. But in order to capture the image of Yunnan golden monkey conveniently, the cameraman mobilized a group of villagers to drive away the monkeys, so two golden monkeys fell out of their mother's arms. Inexperienced people did not withdraw immediately, but took the golden monkey to Kunming, and finally died after being rescued by animal experts. What's even more incredible is that people completely ignore the disaster they have brought to monkeys, but in the report, they preach to save monkeys, which is called "harmony between man and nature".

This time, Xi asked farmers to stop driving monkeys and retreat in an attempt to persuade researchers to go to higher places instead of forcing monkeys to adapt to them. This request was also rejected. It's really cold, and neither monkeys lured by food nor researchers waiting to observe monkeys have the desire to exercise.

The impatient villagers began to throw things at the monkey and shake the tree where the monkey sat. Xi's dissuasion of supporting agriculture has no effect. After more than two hours of intimidation and inducement by conscientious villagers, the monkey finally gave in. After witnessing all this, Xi refused to talk to others and went down the mountain the next day.

On February 29th, 2004, he returned to Beijing exhausted. "I'm blaming others, more blame yourself. Experience has long told me that it is impossible for a real wild golden monkey group to maintain such a close relationship with people. I just turned a blind eye, deluded myself and photographed those poor monkeys many times. " Depressed Xi supports agriculture and blames himself.

For Xi to support agriculture, witnessing such a thing again and again is as uncomfortable as being pricked by a needle: "What did I do after seeing all this? I can't do anything except seal up the photos taken in the past year and never go to that place again. "

After 20 years of filming, Xi Supporting Agriculture has been portrayed as a pessimist. He is silent and his body is getting thinner. Although he has made up his mind not to shoot when he can't shoot any more, in his mind, he doesn't seem optimistic about the future of his species: "All I can do is try my best. There are some things that a person can't change, but they are destined to happen. "