-
OverviewGuardians of the Plains, 2025
"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
As The Storm Draws Near, 2025Archival Pigment Print18" x 29.52"
28" x 45.92"
38" x 62.32"
48" x 78.73"In an age dominated by technology and urbanization, where screens often replace landscapes and the natural world feels increasingly remote, Lewin's new series serves as both an artistic and philosophical...In an age dominated by technology and urbanization, where screens often replace landscapes and the natural world feels increasingly remote, Lewin's new series serves as both an artistic and philosophical call to remembrance. It reminds viewers that in parts of Africa, there still exist communities living much as they did centuries ago - entirely attuned to the rhythms of the land, the seasons, and the wild creatures around them. For these individuals, nature is not a backdrop but a shared home. Their survival and spirit are interwoven with the earth itself.
The series focuses on the Maasai Tribe, whose ancestral lands encompass some of East Africa's most celebrated wildernesses - from the Serengeti to the Maasai Mara. The Maasai's relationship with the environment, defined by reverence and restraint, offered Lewin a natural starting point for this ambitious undertaking. Their way of life - rooted in balance, respect, and coexistence - embodies the central philosophy of the project: that humanity and nature are not opposing forces, but extensions of the same life force.
