Beauty of nature offers new lease on life

Thierry Bornier

For Bornier, a 42-year-old French financial professional turned photographer, China is the place where he is rediscovering life's options.

In 2008, he traveled to Yuanyang in Yunnan province and was captivated by the beautiful landscapes he encountered, especially the colorful rice terraces.

"That was the moment I decided to be fully devoted to becoming a photographer," he says.

Two photos he took of Yuanyang's rice terraces became popular on China's Twitter-like micro blogs and other social networks. They were purchased by a German company - his first made-in-China fortune.

To be a photographer is quite different from being a financial specialist, says Bornier.

"You really need to be focused on the image you want to get, and pay the cost it requires - time, patience, equipment, everything. Taking pictures of nature is trying your luck and being ready to seize the moment when it appears."

From his base in Kunming, he now travels intensively throughout the country seeking to capture its diverse beauty, and he says he has made many friends on his trips.

"Chinese photographers are very kind, sharing information and traveling tips with great generosity," says Bornier. "We show each other pictures and share the names of interesting places. You can communicate in these ways when you are focused on shared interests."