I am very proud to present you the interview of Hou Yimin, chinese photographer who accepted to answer my questions.

Hou, Thank you very much for this opportunity.

© Hou Yimin

 

Hou, Who are you ?

I am a Chinese freelance photographer. My photos are mainly about wild pandas, Chinese peasants, and Chinese Culture.

© Hou Yimin



© Hou Yimin

How did your passion for animals and above all bears became a job ?

In 1980, I worked as a senior photographer member of WWF working in a project to study and protect pandas.

Pandas managed to survived the disaster which killed dinausors, but their survival is threatened in contemparary society. I hope my work can introduce pandas' life to more people. And they can be better protected.

Additionaly, I like nature, fresh air, clean water and quietness. I feel happy when I worked in the forest with the pandas.

© Hou Yimin
 

Do you only photograph pandas ?

No. I also care about humanbeings' sufferings. So in recent years, my photos are mainly about Chinese peasants and other cultural issues.

  © Hou Yimin

You explain in the magazine "Terre sauvage" that you photograph pandas in the wild ; it's rare ? How do you do ?

Wild pandas are very dangerous. They are easily irritated and would attact people. I worked with researcher stuff of WWF and lived in tents in the montain.

Photographing pandas in montains is a difficult and dangerous job. It would be a long story to discribe it. I had put down my adventures with pandas.

You may see some of the story in my website. http://www.imagehou.com/englsih%20version/wild%20panda/story1.html.  

© Hou Yimin
 

Do you photograph some other animals that pandas ?
What countries did you visit thanks to your job ?

France and Singapore.

In the last number of the magazine " Terre Sauvage " (239 - June 2008), one article is dedicated to Hou Yimin and his wonderful pictures of pandas in the wild.

© Terre sauvage magazine