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OverviewSerengeti Shall Never Die, 2024
"Applying my signature style of capturing portraits without a telephoto lens from close proximity brings the depth, drama, and emotion I needed to convey the impressiveness of my powerful subject."
James Lewin is an internationally acclaimed photographic artist based in Kenya. He has built a reputation for creating timeless masterpieces that bring a unique perspective into the lives of some of the world's most iconic inhabitants.Entirely self-taught, Lewin picked up a camera after working with anti-poaching and research units on the front line of conservation in Kenya. Soon after, he abandoned a real estate career in London to pursue his passion for wildlife with his camera in hand. Lewin has since received more than 25 international awards for his evocative work.Lewin has spent nearly a decade exploring remote areas of Africa, following his subjects for weeks, waiting patiently for extraordinary compositions that will likely never reoccur. All his photographs are of wild animals in their natural habitats, with multiple artworks captured within a few feet of his subjects using customised vehicles or on foot. The captivating levels of intimacy, emotion and drama allow the viewer to experience his subjects' magnificence and unique characters. His artistic approach aims to engage people and inspire new appreciation and respect towards the natural world.Lewin's work has raised substantial figures for conservation projects across Africa, which has helped safeguard wildlife corridors, protect Africa's last "Big Tuskers" and critically endangered black rhino, and, more recently, multi-media campaigns to promote coexistence.Realising the ever-growing need to tread lightly on our fragile planet, Lewin supports community-focused carbon projects in Africa to ensure his adventures are carbon-neutral whilst ensuring indigenous forests and habitats are restored. -
Works
James Lewin
Land of Lions, 2023Silver gelatin print18 x 26 in
Ed of 8
28 x 40 in
Ed of 8
38 x. 54.5 in
Ed of 6
48 x 69 in
Ed of 6James Lewin’s photographs of lions are a powerful tribute to one of Africa’s most iconic and endangered species. Captured in rich black and white, his images reveal the strength, vulnerability,...James Lewin’s photographs of lions are a powerful tribute to one of Africa’s most iconic and endangered species. Captured in rich black and white, his images reveal the strength, vulnerability, and dignity of these animals with an emotional depth that goes beyond traditional wildlife photography. Often taken at ground level and at close range, Lewin’s portraits offer an intimate, almost human perspective on lions - emphasizing their presence, personality, and the silent majesty they carry in the wild.
Using large-format film cameras and working in natural light, Lewin’s process is slow and deliberate, allowing him to fully engage with his surroundings and his subjects. The resulting images are not just visual documents, but meditations on coexistence, survival, and beauty. Each photograph invites the viewer into a moment of stillness and connection - whether it’s a solitary lion staring into the distance, a pride resting in the grass, or a powerful gaze locked directly with the lens.
More than just aesthetic works, these images carry a strong conservation message. With lion populations rapidly declining due to habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, and poaching, Lewin’s work seeks to inspire awareness and action through the power of visual storytelling. His lion photographs are both an homage and a call to protect what remains of the wild.
