Sep. 21, UIC – Photographer Mr. Ge Yuxiu brought UIC students into the paradise of wild lives by showing more than 200 of his photos of the beautiful Qinghai Plateau in an environmental and photography lecture today.
Mr. Ge Yuxiu lectured on the environmental protection at UIC
Mr. Ge has a job in the Qinghai Banking Regulatory Commission, but his interest is in exploring the wild on the desolated land with his camera to capture the beautiful landscape and the great moments of wild lives. He is a romantic photographer. His photos always tell stories of love, harmony and romance. The photos reveal a true love to the nature and life, touching the softest part of the audience’s heart.
Mr. Ge Yuxiu on the desolated Bird Island in Qinghai Lake
Behind the composition of light and shadow is Mr. Ge’s respect to life. “Every species has experienced hundreds of thousands of years’ evolution to become what it is today. All of them are precious.” He often groveled on the ice for hours to wait for the best moment, carefully avoiding any disturbance to the birds when he took the photos. ”Photographers are intruders. Human beings has no difference from wolfs in the birds’ eyes.” He believes that all lives on earth are equal, and human beings should respect their neighbors.
Mr. Ge Yuxiu with a Przewalski's gazelle
In 1997, Mr. Ge unexpectedly encountered the Przewalski's gazelle on his way to seek for the swans. The prompt and alert Przewalski's gazelle won his heart immediately when they run across the grassland in front of him with their big charming eyes twinkling in the sun. “They are so gentle. They are the most beautiful antelopes.” But he soon found that these lovely creatures were disappearing from our planet. The Przewalski's gazelle was a critically endangered species with a population of less than 300 in the whole world. Mr. Ge became an advocator of the protection to the Przewalski's gazelle ever since.
Przewalski's gazelle in the grassland (by Mr. Ge Yuxiu)
The Przewalski's gazelle was named after the Russian adventurer Przewalskii, who collected a specimen and brought it back to St. Petersburg in 1875. Mr. Ge suggested for it a Chinese name Zhonghua Duijiaoling, which was endorsed by many experts. He recorded with his camera the difficult situation of the Przewalski's gazelle, the worsening of their living environment and their death caused by human activities. The sad eyes of the dying gazelle in his photos were shocking. Many students expressed their concern about the situation and their wish to make contribution to the protection after they saw the photos.
Mr. Ge Yuxiu’s Photo of a dying Przewalski's gazelle
“Comparing with human beings, the wild lives are much more fragile. That’s why we should protect them.” Mr. Ge said. “I will continue my effort in protecting the environment. I will never stop.”
Cheryl Chen/ Christy Zhao
Communication and Public Relations
