My name is Dearbear Lai, and professionally I work as a power electronics R&D engineer. My daily work revolves around precision and rational problem-solving, but whenever I step away from engineering, I turn to photography—walking into the mountains and looking up at the night sky in search of moments that cannot be defined by formulas, yet deeply move the soul.

My background in research has shaped the way I observe the world. In bird photography, this translates into patience and attention to subtle details: waiting at dawn, watching the gentle movement of feathers as birds take flight, or capturing the focused intensity in a raptor’s eyes. For me, photographing birds is less about freezing motion and more about quietly sharing space with another life.

Through ecological documentary work, I encounter a different kind of precision—the balance nature has refined over time. From moss-covered ground to expansive forests, I use my camera to record the quiet rhythm of the land. Being part of the electronics industry, I am keenly aware of the pace of technological progress, and I hope my images serve as a gentle reminder to protect the purity and beauty of natural ecosystems.

Astrophotography allows me to look in the opposite direction—from the microscopic to the cosmic. On remote mountain ridges, I align my equatorial mount and let the camera linger in the darkness, capturing light that has traveled millions of years to reach us. In those moments, technology becomes a bridge, connecting human curiosity with the vastness of the universe.

Living between precision and poetry, I value this balance between rational creation and natural immersion. Photography is both a release from the pressures of R&D and another way of understanding the world. Through my work, I hope to share the richness of life that exists far beyond circuits and equations.

Journey with William Optics

At the beginning, it all started in a company photography club, where I listened to an instructor explain the mysteries of deep-sky astrophotography. Those distant and pristine lights ignited a quiet desire within me to explore the universe. Through the instructor’s introduction, I was surprised to discover that Taiwan is home to an internationally respected astronomy brand—William Optics—one that represents both exceptional craftsmanship and a rare sense of warmth and accessibility.

An even more remarkable coincidence emerged as I learned more about the brand: its founder, William, turned out to be someone I had once briefly met in another setting. This unexpected connection led me to visit William in person. During our passionate exchange, I brought home the FLT91, a telescope that embodied the dedication and vision of its development at that time. From that moment on, I not only owned my first telescope, but also officially embarked on a long journey of chasing starlight.