British wildlife photographer Tim Flach visits Chengdu, sharing his wildlife portraits and insights on visual storytelling.
British wildlife photographer Tim Flach recently visited Chengdu, China, for a series of cultural and educational events. On Dec. 21st, he attended a cross-disciplinary salon at Chengdu Museum titled “Visual Storytelling in the Age of AI.” The next afternoon, he met with students at the College of Chinese & ASEAN Arts, Chengdu University, sharing his experiences in wildlife photography and discussing how images can promote conservation.
Capturing Wildlife and Inspiring Empathy
Flach is internationally known for his portraits of animals—from tigers and antelopes to red-crowned cranes, lemurs, leaf frogs, jellyfish, and butterflies. His work captures the unique personality of each creature, creating an emotional connection with viewers. He explained to CNS that by applying human portrait techniques to animals—what he calls “critical anthropomorphism”—he highlights their individuality and emotions. This method breaks down barriers between species and encourages audiences to care more deeply about wildlife protection.
A Deep Connection to China and Conservation
Flach has a long-standing connection to China, both personally and professionally. Beyond his marriage to a Chinese citizen, he has documented endangered species such as giant pandas and golden monkeys in Yunnan and Sichuan. Through his photography and five Chinese-language books, he tells the story of China’s biodiversity preservation and conservation achievements. He also praised China’s practical efforts, including afforestation and nature reserves, calling them crucial steps toward a sustainable future.
Through his portraits, Tim Flach demonstrates how art can inspire empathy and action, celebrating wildlife while reminding us of the importance of protecting the planet’s most vulnerable species.
Written by Chen Wang, additional reporting by Shan Peng.
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