While the end result may look simple enough, the process behind South Korean photographer Myoung Ho Lee‘s tree portraits is anything but; channeling Richard Avedon, the artist (with some help from a production crew) erects a white canvas backdrop to separate his solitary subjects from their natural surroundings, later removing the necessary ropes or bars through digital retouching. Thanks to the optical illusion created, the viewer is confused. Is what we’re looking at a real tree? A painting? A large-scale drawing? A photo of a tree on a billboard?
As Lee explained to The Morning News back in 2008, “Trees are attractive objects in that they enable people to think philosophically and appreciate aesthetically. But too often, we don’t recognize the value of ordinary mundane objects around us. Seeing trees in a refreshing way or restoring the value of trees is to awaken all beings on earth in my work.” Click through to check out a selection of the elegant photos from Lee’s Tree series, and let us know in the comments what you think of the concept.
Myoung Ho Lee, Tree #2, 2006. From the series Tree. Archival Inkjet Print. 50″ × 40″. Courtesy of Yossi Milo Gallery
Myoung Ho Lee, Tree #14, 2009. From the series Tree. Archival Inkjet Print. 50″ × 40″. Courtesy of Yossi Milo Gallery
Myoung Ho Lee, Tree #6, 2008. From the series Tree. Archival Inkjet Print. 20″ × 16″. Courtesy of Yossi Milo Gallery
Myoung Ho Lee, Tree #15, 2009. From the series Tree. Archival Inkjet Print. 10″ × 8″. Courtesy of Yossi Milo Gallery
Myoung Ho Lee, Tree #3, 2006. From the series Tree. Archival Inkjet Print. 40″ × 32″. Courtesy of Yossi Milo Gallery
Myoung Ho Lee, Tree #10, 2006. From the series Tree. Archival Inkjet Print. 10″ × 8″. Courtesy of Yossi Milo Gallery
Myoung Ho Lee, Tree #13, 2007. From the series Tree. Archival Inkjet Print. 20″ × 20″. Courtesy of Yossi Milo Gallery
Myoung Ho Lee, Tree #8, 2007. From the series Tree. Archival Inkjet Print. 25″ × 20″. Courtesy of Yossi Milo Gallery
Myoung Ho Lee, Tree #12, 2008. From the series Tree. Archival Inkjet Print. 30″ × 24″. Courtesy of Yossi Milo Gallery
Myoung Ho Lee, Tree #1, 2006. From the series Tree. Archival Inkjet Print. 50″ × 40″. Courtesy of Yossi Milo Gallery