Tyler Shields

Tyler Shields has made a name for himself as one of the most celebrated fine art photographers. But before the world knew Shields as the photo provocateur that he is today, he seemingly lived a life as complex and diverse as his pictures. Growing up in Jacksonville Florida Shields became a professional in-line skater and went on to compete in the x games and win the world championship. At an early age, Shields became custom to success and the unwavering dedication that it takes to be the best.

When the gallery asked Tyler about one of his works, Luke, we were very surprised about what we found:

"Portraits are something I had always loved making, and I believe I have taken somewhere around 5000 portraits, so when I knew I was photographing a lion I thought it would be interesting to also do a portrait of it, I spoke to it as if it was a person, and it was an incredible subject, the only thing that was a little different, was after I took this portrait of Luke which I had to be very still to take, as I slowly advanced the film and the shutter when from darkness to light he had disappeared he was gone I had no view of him through my view finder, how does a 600 pound disappear well the simple answer is they don’t, in that moment I felt hot wind on my face, as I opened my left eye there I was about 3 inches from Luke’s eye ball he had come in to inspect me, I am now face to face with a lion my eye staring into his, for what felt like 10 minutes he looked at me and I at him, in reality this was 10 seconds before he decided I was okay and ran off, this was a moment I will never forget, and every time I see this photograph I can feel his breath on my cheek and see his soul through his eye." - Tyler Shields