Baldwin Lee Lee is an important photographer born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1951. He has spent his life documenting the life experiences of Black Americans across the deep south. Since moving to Knoxville, Tennessee, in 1982 to teach photography at the University of Tennessee, Lee has taken numerous road trips aimed at capturing the essence of Black communities. His photographs, characterized by their depth and emotion, reflect a unique perspective from an Asian man navigating predominantly Black neighborhoods.
As you’ll hear Baldwin explain in our conversation, throughout his career, Baldwin Lee focused on taking portraits of Black Americans. He frequently referred to these pieces as his most riveting. Lee’s approach involved utilizing a heavy, large format 4:5 camera mounted on a tripod, which he found essential for capturing the intricate details of his subjects. This approach required a deep level of trust and craftsmanship, enabling him to capture stunning portraits that live and breathe the spirit of their subjects.
Looking for the best photographic scenes, Lee would often take long walks through the streets of every neighborhood, meeting and conversing with residents. His presence as an Asian man in these conservative, rural communities often made for surprising interactions. A lot of Americans were anticipating some Chinese or pigeon English. He soon established their trust and rapport. Remarkably, 19 of the 20 people he approached consented to have their photos taken.
As a part of this project, Lee’s photographic journey took him through many southern states. There, he developed a deep eye for expressive portraiture right before this project. His travels were informed by deep visits to Black communities during summer road trips over the course of the decade. One memorable photograph was taken in either Augusta or Valdosta, Georgia, encapsulating the spirit of the people he met along the way.
In many ways, Lee’s work was the fairytale success story — blessed from the start and rolling at full speed. In fact, he got a real taste of what’s going on one intolerable day. A single angry woman tore one of his photographs to shreds in front of him. These confrontations only served to strengthen his resolve to document the life, the culture, and the experiences of those that were trapped within these communities.
Regardless of any challenges faced in his career, Baldwin Lee never lost his determination and commitment to his work. He went out of his way to stop into the local police precinct whenever he checked into a new motel. It was actually his first stop on his world travels. This routine allowed him to get to know his new community and build relationships with the local residents.
“With Minor White at MIT and Walker Evans at Yale.” – Baldwin Lee
These influences went on to inform his artistic vision and approach to photography. Lee’s mission goes beyond documentation. He aims to craft the complicated stories of Black Americans through striking, evocative imagery.
As years went by, Baldwin Lee began to play a greater role in photography than he originally expected. Reflecting on this unexpected resurgence in his career, he stated, “I thought I was retired but instead have been busier than ever!” As his career moves forward, his dedication to accurately and beautifully capturing the complexity of Black life in America inspires students and up-and-coming photographers still.