Wong attended the University of Wisconsin, where he studied journalism and art. This is when his life began to turn. He learned to conduct interviews, and as a Chinese, he was sent to China to report on cultural topics such as historical structures and Chinese gardens. With his artistic sensibilities, he was able to make a side career for himself as a self-taught photographer.
大學時期，黃效文赴美國威斯康辛大學攻讀新聞及美術，這是他人生的轉捩點，讓他日後有機會從事採訪工作，又因他的華裔身分，被派至中國採訪歷史建物、園林等文化性專題，加上有美學基礎，讓他無師自通，當起了業餘攝影師。