Today we’d like to introduce you to Lee Smith.
Lee, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I was born and raised in Miami, FL. I enjoyed the outdoors starting at a young age. My photography career began when I was about ten years old with a little Kodak Instamatic camera. I would take that thing with me everywhere I went but could only take a few photos because the cost to buy and develop film, but I had fun, and my parents and sister enjoyed my photos.
I became a bit more serious with my photography after I graduated High School. In 1974, I would carry a camera when my friends were carrying surfboards to the beach. I would photograph the beach life from the shoreline as they surfed. Made loads for friends and had a great deal of fun. A few years ago, I posted some of those photos on Facebook, and my old friends went crazy looking at the old memories when times were so much simpler.
There was a break in my photography efforts due to work and education. It wasn’t until my marriage that I started shooting again. We would go out to different events, hang with friends and eventually honeymoon in Costa Rica. I would shoot when I wasn’t working. We eventually started our family having two children, and my photography was focused on my wife & kids. I spent a great deal of time capturing my kids growing up from behind the lens and have so many wonderful shots. It wasn’t until 2005 that I started shooting digitally with an inexpensive Canon A620 flip screen that changed my views on photography.
Today, I shoot with a Canon 5D Mark 4 with a select group of quality lens. After my kids moved out, I focus on landscape photography, capturing the Florida sunrises, wildlife, and trips with my wife out west.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
What I create. I really enjoy a beautiful sunrise. I try to visit different places to capture how the morning light evolves into a day with the changing colors of the morning.
I also enjoy capturing the night skies, cityscapes, and the moon on occasion.
How do I create my work?
I use a Canon EOS 5D Mark 4 and a Sony A6500 to capture images and timelapses. I use Adobe Photoshop to process the images to get them looking like what I saw.
Why?
I enjoy making capturing images and producing something that makes people smile and to bring a little happiness back into this world.
What’s the message or inspiration?
My message is to enjoy this beautiful world we live in. To treat it with respect, because mankind is destroying this planet at a rapid pace. The images I capture of places may one day become only a memory of what once stood in that spot.
What do you hope people take away from it?
I hope my photos inspire us to recognize that we all have a responsibility to protect the places we live in. We are all shepherds of this earth. We need to do our best to clean up after ourselves and not pollute the environment. Mankind has done terrible things to this world. It is up to us and future generations to protect this planet.
What should we know about your artwork?
I love what I do, and I spend an enormous amount of time capturing my images. I hope my images inspire people to slow down, take a deep breath and to enjoy the moment.
What would you recommend to an artist new to the city, or to art, in terms of meeting and connecting with other artists and creatives?
Yes, it can be lonely being a landscape photographer, but I think that can be part of the allure of being a photographer.
I have found that it’s easy to meet up with other photographers by simply introducing yourself and find out where others may be on a weekend shoot on social media like Facebook & Instagram, Or just go to the places people post images and you will find people there on the weekends photographing something – Landscapes, wildlife, sports, and events.
Now landscape photography is much different than photographing a wedding, an event, portraits, sporting events, real estate or any other photographic avenues. The best thing about photography is that you can pick and choose what you wish to do and what you like to photograph. Photography is a passion. It can display your character or even your soul. The main thing is to have fun and enjoy the time you are out with your camera.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
I have several Social Media accounts that people can follow me on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/
Flickr – https://www.flickr.com/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/
Currently, I only have my artwork for sale on my website https://www.
I am looking into several galleries to start showing my work.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.leesmithphotos.com/
- Phone: (954) 861-0366
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leesmithphotos2017/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeSmithPhotos/
- Other: https://www.flickr.com/photos/smittysholdings/
Image Credit:
Photography by Lee Smith
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Andrew B. Travis
April 11, 2019 at 2:45 pm
Nice article, Lee. I have been enjoying your photographs for a number of years now. Keep up the good work. I like what you said about how you use Photoshop: “to process the images to get them looking like what I saw.” This is as opposed to manipulating the images to create a unreal result.
Megan V Orr
April 11, 2019 at 3:51 pm
Lee your photography is mesmerizing! I could look at your photos all day!! I especially love your shots of the Everglades and the lighthouses!!!
The Everglades has captured my love since I was a child. I’ve camp down in the woods miles from a road. We went in to my families camp by swamp buggies. They hunted while I photographed. I’ve used Canon’s And more recently Nikon’s. Photography brings life to one!
Barbara Whitaker
April 11, 2019 at 7:53 pm
Awesome dear Lee, your are a true arteest 🌹. Proud of you‼️