Below the Peak
Each time I drive into the mountains, or climb one, I become enchanted by the beauty of the vistas of magnificent majestic peaks. Their shapes, sizes and colours captivate my imagination. However, once I put the camera up to my eye, I lose this sense of curiosity to noisy, busy scenes. But once I pull myself away from the spell of the peaks and start to scan the Rockies from the valley floor to hanging cliffs, I find my curiosity and intrigue return. I see the intimate, detailed beauty that nature has created for us to enjoy.
I witness the playfulness of light and shadow, the delight of many different tantalizing textures, shapes, contours and forms from nature’s work sculpting snow, ice and rock. The landscape offers compelling scenes, from mirror-like to mind-warping abstract reflections to the rebirth of ecosystems through naturally occurring forest fires.
Below the Peak is an ongoing project to capture these intimate scenes, with the intention of exhibiting the collection and eventually publishing a book. The project is divided into six concept categories, which you can explore below.
"Lee has a remarkable ability to bring together brilliantly-seen composition and a knack for the unusual and extraordinary to create images that delight, stand out, and will stand the test of time. It's been incredible watching his journey, and I can only imagine what the future will continue to bring for this passionate, spirited artist."
-Dave Brosha, award-winning Canadian landscape and portrait photographer
Into the Light
Why am I drawn to deep dark shadows and bold yet soft light? What is it about wanting to create foreboding images in the editing process? These are the questions I have pondered over the years. I wonder if I am partly inspired by the darkness of my images because it is a representation of my mental health battles. Does the movement from the dark shadows to the bright light symbolize my journey in the last few years, from the darkness of depression to the happiness of light? Or is it because the scenes just look cool? Whatever the reasons, I am drawn in both the field and in my editing process to bold visual stories that tell the journey from the deep shadows into the light.
Sculpt
Exploring the Canadian Rockies from the valley floor to the summits of its magnificent peaks has given me the privilege of witnessing the best sculptures in the world, formed by Nature. Often, the first words out of my mouth are “What the heck?” or “How the heck?” I sit and ponder, wondering how the sun, snow, rain, and wind interact together to chisel and model such elegant and mystifying sculptures. I am amazed by the velvety contours, geometry, and faceted grit of Nature’s artwork. After these moments of enchantment, I grab my camera to capture my bold stories of Nature’s sculptures. I walk away, content. knowing that I witnessed a unique moment in nature as the elements continue to sculpt in different forms and when the warmth arrives they will never be seen in the same way again.
In Transition
Water in the Canadian Rockies is in a constant state of change. Whether it is transforming itself from snow and ice to water, water back to ice, evaporating into the air, falling from the sky as rain or snow, or moving from glaciers to most of the major oceans of the world, mountain water is in constant flux. The transitory journey of water is a continuous cycle and as a photographer it's a wonder to behold and infinitely inspiring.
Mesmerizing Mirrors
Reflections are so pleasing to the eyes; the calm of symmetry, the thought-provoking mirrors in abstract, and the imagination of shapes all work to inspire me. Infinite variations of mirrored reflections in mountain pools and lakes draw me back time and again. No reflection ever stays the same, and each visit to my beloved Canadian Rockies reveals a new scene.
Below from Above
Whether standing on a summit or a ridge in the Canadian Rockies or flying my drone, viewing nature below me is a surreal experience. We spend most of our lives viewing the world from eye level. Changing your perspective by sitting on top of a mountain or through the lens of a drone gives you a sense of how small each piece is in the context of the larger world. Looking back at where I came from, there is also a great sense of satisfaction.
Renewal
We live in a world where environmental disasters seem to no longer be the exception. Forest fires are now the norm for us living in the Rockies and nearby British Columbia. Sadly, too many people have lost their homes and life possessions from these fires. Notwithstanding these very tragic events, naturally occurring forest fires in areas not inhabited by people are nature’s way of giving rebirth to its ecosystems. I aim to tell this renewal story from a Canadian Rockies perspective. To provide hope from the destruction we see as we pass by burnt-out forests. To see that fires are one of the tools used by nature to create the beautiful world we see in the Rockies.
