Fighting stereotypes with a camera

Kurbanjan Samat believes pictures and real stories are the most eloquent way to talk about Xinjiangers. The pictures are some of the Xinjiangners he has taken photos of, and they are active in all walks of life across the nation.

Love and its usefulness in countering xenophobia stands in contrast to other things Kurbanjan remembers learning about Xinjiang at school. He believes that the Chinese education system puts too much emphasis on the differences between ethnic groups.

One textbook used by Kurbanjan as a youngster depicted Han people as wearing white towels tied around their heads and a with drum hanging from their waists, and Uygurs as dancers with flowery hats.

Kurbanjan says he has never seen any of his Han friends don a white towel. His Uygur friend Perhat Halik, a Chinese celebrity who won second place in the reality show Voice of China 2014, is not good at dancing.

Kurbanjan is no a paragon of virtue. He has how own prejudices.

He seems to have a romanticized view of Uygur thieves, claiming they have "professional ethics" and those plying their illicit trade outside of Xinjiang won't steal from other Uygurs.

He talks in a roundabout way when asked why he thinks he has found success despite many professionals having shot photos and films about Xinjiang.

Some would say his ethnic identity makes him stand out, but Kurbanjan says: "I don't represent any group or region. I represent myself.

"When I take pictures and shoot films, I'm trying to make myself better and understand the real nature of human beings," he said.