Statement:
My work is informed by time spent observing wildlife in Tanzania and South Africa, where moments of stillness often carry more weight than action. I am drawn to animals as they exist within their environment—grazing, pausing, or moving through space without spectacle.
Each piece begins with a photograph made on location and is developed to emphasize form, texture, and presence. Visual elements are refined to reduce distraction, allowing the subject to remain grounded within the composition. Rather than illustrating a moment, the work seeks to suggest continuity—an animal shaped by time, land, and instinct.
The images invite slow viewing. They are not meant to dramatize wildlife, but to honor it through quiet observation and deliberate restraint. These works function as fragments of longer narratives, offering space for reflection on coexistence, endurance, and place.
Biography:
Joshua Lehmann is a wildlife artist and photographer based in San Diego, California. His work is informed by field experience in Tanzania and South Africa, where he photographs wildlife in natural environments and later develops those images into archival prints.
Working from his own photographs, Lehmann creates pieces that balance photographic realism with a subtle, painterly sensibility. His process emphasizes tonal control, texture, and restraint, allowing form and presence to take precedence over spectacle. The resulting works focus on stillness and character, presenting animals as enduring figures within their landscapes rather than moments of action.
Lehmann’s work has been shown in juried exhibitions and online galleries, and he is a member of Artists for Conservation (AFC). He produces both limited and open-edition prints with an emphasis on craftsmanship, material quality, and longevity. His practice is centered on quiet observation, inviting viewers to engage with wildlife through clarity, atmosphere, and respect for the subject.
