Steven V-L Lee is a Malaysian freelance photographer based in London, UK. He began his photographic career as a documentary and travel photographer in the late 90's when began writing travel related articles for magazines and journals. In 2000, he published his first coffee-table book titled Outside Looking In : Kuala Lumpur, which received the Asian Prize at PhotoCity Sagamihara Festival of the Image, Japan in 2007. Part of the collection is held with the City of Sagamihara National Photographic Archives. His commercial portraiture and fashion work has graced the covers of License! Europe, Country Club UK and Masterpiece and Asiana magazines.

In 2002, he was approached by AntiSlavery International UK to photograph specially prepared Indian recipes by Chattar Singh of Rajasthan for a fundraiser book titled A Taste for Freedom.

In 2007 he published his second coffee-table book MALAYSIANS. In 2008, MUSEO, comprising a collection of black & white abstract studies of antiquities, statuary and architecture photographed in Europe from 2001 - 2005 is now available as a print-on-demand publication. LUMINA is his current book released in 2011. Partnering Andy Craggs, in 2008, they both set up EXPLORENATION.NET World Photography Travel Workshops dedicated to photography tutorials combined with the enjoyment of visiting photogenic destinations, such as Rajasthan, Cuba, Borneo, and several European cities.

In 2009, Steven initiated the KUALA LUMPUR INTERNATIONAL PHOTOAWARDS, an annual international portrait photography competition centred in Malaysia, focussing on the best in contemporary portrait photography and has attracted the participation of some top international photographers. Steven continues to run photography educational workshops through EXPOSURE+ Photo Mentoring platform in Kuala Lumpur with other photographers, and has been a portfolio reviewer at the Mt Rokko International Photography Festival in Kobe, Japan, as well as Auckland Festival of Photography.

Focussing on personal work, Steven has over the last 5 years been developing several projects and narratives founded through personal travel and thoughts about the wider effects of photography and re-discovery, beginning with MUSEO and then LUMINA. He is currently working on his latest book 'IDIOSYNCRASY 1' and COMMONSCAPES.

Steven served as a nominator for the 6x6 Global Talent Program at World Press Photo and currently, Leica Oskar Barnack Awards. In 2020 he co-founded KL20x20 Photo Festival and EXPOSURE+ PHOTO FESTIVAL in Kuala Lumpur. Steven was involved in reviewing portfolios at PHOTOLUX, AUCKLAND FESTIVAL OF PHOTOGRAPHY, FORMAT FESTIVAL, UPPA, YAKUSHIMA PHOTOGRAPHY FESTIVAL and as a judge in PHOTO:MARATHON by Photo Is:rael, Dodho Magazine and IWPA.

Commercial Work​

f1 Recruitment
Ashley Isham
Eric Way
Minh Mang
Female Magazine Singapore
Talibenang Batik Haute Couture
ENC Communications Malaysia
United Nations Development Programme Malaysia
Anti-Slavery Organisation
Warner Brothers Merchandising  
Beatrice Von Tresckow  
License! Europe  
Titina Penzini
Beacon Fellowship Charitable Trust  
Emeyu Fine Teas 

Personal Photography

2011 AOP Open Finalist
2008 AOP Open Finalist
2007 Asian Prize Award, PhotoCity Sagamihara, Japan

Collections

2020  MUSEO and LUMINA books - Lightbox Photo Library, Taipei, Taiwan collection
2007  Outside Looking In : Kuala Lumpur - part collection held with the City of Sagamihara National Photographic Archives.

Exhibitions

2020  TOKYO CURIOSITY - SHIBUYA 100 Photographers exhibition, Bunkamura Museum, Shibuya, Tokyo 
2017   TOKYO-CURIOSITY - SHIBUYA Joint exhibition, Hikarie Building, Shibuya, Tokyo
2008  Outside Looking In : Kuala Lumpur, Nikon Salon Gallery, Shinjuku, Tokyo
2007  Outside Looking In : Kuala Lumpur, Sagamihara Civic Gallery, Sagamihara City, Japan
2005  PHOTOGRAPHS, Lightgallery, London
2004  Tribute to HCB : 2 Views of Paris, Lightgallery, London
2003  Fourshow, 54 The Gallery, London
           Telling Trees, SKFS Studio, London
2002  23 & 1/2 Days of Bollywood, Insidespace, London
           Transcendence, Kare Kare restaurant, London
           Thaipusam Portraits, SKFS Studio, London
           Pertemuan - Wajah Kuala Lumpur, National Art Gallery, joint
2001  Parisian Moments, SKFS Studio, London
           A Quiet Life, BSC Concourse, Kuala Lumpur
           Outside Looking In : Kuala Lumpur, Suria KLCC, Kuala Lumpur
2000  In Black & White, Valentine Willi Fine Art, Kuala Lumpur, joint
           Jalan di Jalan, Isetan Gallery, Suria KLCC, Kuala Lumpur, joint
1999  The Ruins of Ephesus, The Coffee Gallery, London


Publications

2011 LUMINA
2008 MUSEO
2007 MALAYSIANS
2002 A Taste for Freedom - Chattar Singh chef recipes for Anti Slavery International
2000 Outside Looking In : Kuala Lumpur

Prints displayed

LUCIO Italian restaurant, London
DIANA Hotel Spa, Molsheim, France

Projects

2009  - 2023 Kuala Lumpur International Photoawards for Contemporary Portraiture (KLPA), Initiator and Project Director (www.klphotoawards.com)

2023 EXPOSURE+ PHOTO festival - co-founder, Kuala Lumpur, September 2023
2021 EXPOSURE+ PHOTO festival - co-founder., Kuala Lumpur, February 2022
2020 KL20X20 Photo Project - co-founder. Exhibition of 20 Malaysian photographers in multi-venues in Kuala Lumpur (www.kl20x20.com)
2018 Two Mountains Photo Project 3.0, Initiator, project director. Exhibition at ILHAM Gallery, Kuala Lumpur
2017 Mt.Rokko International Photo Festival : Portrait History workshop : Review
2017 PhotoSymposium Asia, Founder (www.photosymposiumasia.wordpress.com)
2014 KL-Ga.org (www.kl-ga.org)
2014 Two Mountains Photo Project, Initiator and Curator (www.twomountains.wordpress.com)
2013 KLPA Exposure+ Photo Mentoring Program, Initiator and mentor role (www.exposureplus.wordpress.com)

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