Des oiseaux

In this book from the "Des oiseaux" collection, South Korean photographer Kyunghee Lee takes us into the winter forests of the extreme south of her country to meet the crows. As night falls, motionless, waiting for the birds during their migration from Siberia, the photographer hides among the trees, her tripod protected from the intense cold that prevails at this time of year.

Flocks of crows emerge from the distance, as if choreographed by an invisible choreographer. The air is filled with their powerful cries, drowning out any other sounds in the forest. The photographer knows she has little time; she carefully presses the shutter button, focused, controlling even the slightest noise. Suddenly, complete silence descends, darkness is total, and the cold air becomes almost solid. The forest extends its hospitality to the birds.

In a powerful black and white with velvety gray nuances, Kyunghee Lee immerses us in the mysterious world of these birds that inhabit our myths and legends. Standing out in powerful choreographies against milky skies or pristine snow, far from any human presence, Kyunghee Lee's crows captivate with the grace of their presence.

This book is part of the "Des oiseaux" collection, which celebrates, through the perspective of various artists, their immense presence in a world where they are now vulnerable. Ornithologist Guilhem Lesaffre provides an original essay to accompany each set of photographs. Other titles in the collection include: Albarrán Cabrera, Roger Ballen, Graciela Iturbide, Leila Jeffreys, Rinko Kawauchi, Michael Kenna, Christophe Maout, Byung-Hun Min, Yoshinori Mizutani, Paolo Pellegrin, Bernard Plossu, Pentti Sammallahti, and Terri Weifenbach.