Artist's Statement

Artist's Statement

My primary subject is the landscape, both the natural and the industrial, photographed from the land and the air. In a sense, I do not want my images to look like photographs. However, I do not use special techniques or effects to try and achieve this goal, and I do not use special filters or equipment. Rather, it is through trying to see these subjects in a different way, and by seeking different viewpoints, subjects, and approaches. In this way, I strive to produce images which challenge traditional assumptions of landscape photography and beauty.

"Garth’s visual style to me is a blend of bold use of color and strong graphic compositions. Whether from the air or on the ground, Garth creates relationships between elements in the image, both spatially and metaphorically, to tell an ecological story. His images have a crafted, fine-art quality feeling - even "disturbing" content like his tar sands images. As important as his visual style is the content that Garth chooses to focus on, his understanding of complex environmental issues allows him to make powerfully relevant and important images. To me, it is the combination of his visual style and his choice of content that makes Garth a special photographer.

Melissa Ryan

Deputy Director & Senior Editor, Photo & Design, Nature Conservancy Magazine

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Garth Lenz professional biography

Garth's Fine Art and editorial work has received the highest international awards and appeared in many of the world's leading international publications. In 2008, Garth's work won top awards in both the Pris de la Photographie Paris - second and third place in the category of photojournalism/environment - and in the International Photography Awards - first in Nature/Trees and third in Landscape. In 2009, Garth was named a Fellow to the International League of Conservation Photographers. Garth is one of only is one of only 60 photographers worldwide to receive this honour.

Garth's work has been widely exhibited. His work from the canadian boreal region and the Alberta Tar Sands is the subject of a major touring exhibition currently showing in Los Angeles.