December 11 : 2025
Xuejun Long
Xuejun Long's winning series invites viewers to look more closely, allowing them to gaze in wonder at the beauty and majesty of a special part of our world as seen from above. Many of these images look like paintings, and that is part of their magic.
by Lily Fierman
Series: Journey of Life
Q:
Can you please tell us more about creating your winning series, “Journey of Life?"
A:
As a photographer who loves traveling, is fond of Africa, and enjoys creating works about wildlife, since 2017, I have- almost every year and sometimes multiple times a year- journeyed to Africa to meet and reunite with this vibrant land, the tranquil lake, and these flamingos. Each time we meet, Lake Magadi reveals itself in a different form of life, and the flamingos also present themselves in various life poses, constantly inspiring me with new reflections on the journey of life.
Q:
While your images are taken from an aerial perspective of a natural landscape, they could be paintings. Were you thinking about this before you took these photos? Are you interested in painting as an inspiration?
A:
Both being art forms, photography and painting are undoubtedly interconnected. I have loved painting since childhood; rather than saying I draw inspiration from painting, it would be more accurate to say that I draw creative inspiration from the great beauty of life in nature.
Q:
In your description of these images, taken in Kenya, you say that although Lake Magadi was once a freshwater lake, it is now a highly concentrated salt pan that is severely alkaline and toxic to most plant and animal life except for flamingos, which like to feed on the surface. Were you drawn to these vantage points because you can see both? How do those aspects inform your image-making here?
A:
The static, dreamlike patterns of Lake Magadi and the dynamic formations of flying flamingos can each be expressed as art forms in their own right. However, when these two beauties are presented together in a single photograph, achieving the perfection of a painting is required, which can only be described as a gift from heaven to a wildlife photographer.
Q:
Could you expand on any sensory elements you wish to share with people about this experience?
A:
The perfect combination of the two can be likened to this: the lake is a symphony, and the flamingos are the notes that tug at the heartstrings.
Q:
What inspires you as a photographer?
A:
As a nature photographer, my creative inspiration comes from the natural world.
Q:
What are you working on next?
A:
Next, I will spend 2-3 years completing my polar expedition-themed photography project.
Q:
What photographers do you admire?
A:
There is an old Chinese saying: 'When three people walk together, there must be one who can be my teacher.' Throughout history, in contemporary times, among the deceased and the young, I admire all photographers active in the photography world, as their works diversely reflect their individual life journeys.
Q:
Do you have any behind the scenes stories or images to share?
A:
There is a story behind every picture. Not every time a helicopter flies by will the lake form a pattern, nor will flamingos fly to the spot you hope they will. Without years of repeated efforts, without the determination to believe that miracles can happen, without the insights gained from the journey of life, and without a passion for photographic creation, this series of photos could not have been achieved.
ARTIST
Xuejun Long
Location:
China
