From enthusiast to expert

A nature enthusiast without a formal science background, Dong, 51, started bird-watching in 2003, which gradually transitioned into a career in nature photography.

He studied industrial design at a college in Jiangsu. After graduating, he joined Sichuan University as a teacher of design and photography. Nowadays, he teaches at the School of Design at Southwest Jiaotong University in Chengdu. As an only child, Dong lived according to his parents' expectations: education, marriage and a stable career.

But at the age of 25 lurking beneath the surface of his well-ordered life was "a hint of discontent", he said.

At Sichuan University, Dong found himself with more free time, joining the university's mountaineering association on a trek to Mount Gongga. This became the turning point that led him into the world of nature photography. He enjoyed taking pictures as he walked in the wild.

Around 2004, he immersed himself in wildlife photography. In the early 2000s, it was a new field and relevant visual materials were scarce, mostly found in foreign publications.

"I gradually realized that documenting wildlife through imagery is a crucial way for us to understand nature," Dong said.