The three majored in journalism and graduated in 2005. They are now working as cameramen for Southern Metropolis Daily, Yangcheng Evening News and Southern Weekly, respectively.

'Before entering university, I had never touched a camera,' Lu recalled. 'But in college, I became hooked. The three of us came together because of our common interest in cameras.'

Zhang agreed. 'I'd never thought our common interest would turn into our careers,' he noted.

Mr Chen, one of their former lecturers, recalled the three students' passion for cameras.

'Every time I saw them, they were together studying and speaking about cameras. I encouraged them to develop their interests further,' he said.

Song said they spent most of their free time honing their skills. 'We began searching the internet for pictures by different photo agencies and studied the pictures together,' he recalled. 'We learned a lot from that.'

After graduation, the three young men were offered newspaper jobs in Guangzhou.

The trio covered events at last year's Asian Games which was held in the province.

'Many young people complain that it is hard to get a job these days,' Lu said. 'My advice to them is: Find your own interest and work hard at it so you master your craft.'

That way, he says, you might well be able to walk out of college and right into a job.