Though he has no hands, that hasn't stopped Zheng Longhua from mastering the art of photography. Zheng, 49, manages his camera using his wrists. The native of Lin'an, Zhejiang province, lost his hands in an accident as an infant. He has been a photographer for about three decades.

Zheng Longhua, whose exhibition is perfectly timed during the Paralympic Games.

Zheng has prepared a photo essay on the outstanding achievements of 100 disabled people. It is on exhibition at the National Library of China until Sept 8. The essay highlights the successes of people who have overcome physical difficulties, including the loss of their legs or hands. It took Zheng three years to complete the project.

"I chose to portray the 'sunny side' of the disabled instead of articulating their physical deformity, though the latter is more sensational," Zheng says. "I want my work to be more encouraging."

He is familiar with each subject's personal story.

Tan Chuanhua is known as Tan Mujiang ("the carpenter") for the beautiful wooden combs he produces; his disability is less well known. He lost his right hand when he was 18.

He has suffered hardship and discrimination, in Zheng's words, as "a man without a hand who could not take care of himself, let alone others". He began producing wooden combs at age 31. Two decades later, his business produces 42 million wooden combs annually, with about 500 chain stores and 1,700 employees, of whom about 300 are disabled.