The Art of Nature Photography
From the beginning, the natural world has provided an ever-changing realm of exploration and discovery for humanity. It is immense, diverse, and as beautiful as it is powerful. Early documentation of this spectacular domain was first revealed through storytelling in paint and artists interpretation of their experiences in the field. It was the impressions these paintings made on the public that encouraged new dreams of adventure and scientific study.
Today, a photograph may deliver the same impact as the paintbrush, while presenting a more accurate record of the subject and its environment. The importance of a creative perspective, however, remains the same: to achieve success in every portrait.
With an eye of a seasoned professional, Tin Man Lee has been photographing wildlife for more than 6 years. Even in that short period he has received the recognition most photographers only dream about in a lifetime. Lee has matched art with scientific documentation through his unique ability to capture the intimacy of animal behavior.
Named the Grand Prize recipient of the 2013 Nature’s Best Photography Windland Smith Rice International Awards, Lee’s winning image is now displayed at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC as part of a 20-year retrospective of nature photography.
As one who has viewed millions of photographs over my publishing career I was immediately drawn to Lee’s work. Now published around the world in books, magazines, and multimedia exhibitions, his images reflect a very deep respect for nature and the wildlife it nurtures. Lee’s photographs tell stories, rekindling our love for the natural world and reminding us to protect it.
This exhibition at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology represents the personal connection Lee shares with his subjects and the important message behind every photograph. “I want to awaken people’s empathy and compassion for the wild so that they may see and enjoy nature the way I do.” Lee told me. I believe he has reached his goal, yet his passion for all things wild will fuel future adventures and new images for us all to enjoy.
Stephen B. Freligh
Co-Founder and CEO of Nature’s Best Photography Magazine