Tim Flach is a photographer known for his stylized animal portraits and long-standing commitment to biodiversity and conservation. Throughout his career, he has used portraiture to foster empathy for non-human life, asking viewers to reconsider how animals are seen, represented, and understood.
This curated selection brings together a range of Tim's portraits that apply the visual language of human studio photography—direct gaze, controlled light, and deliberate framing—to animal subjects. Stripped of narrative context, each animal confronts the viewer as an individual rather than an illustration of species or behavior.
Tim's work has been exhibited internationally, including at natural history museums from Paris to Beijing, and published across seven award-winning books translated into multiple languages. His most recent publication, Feline, was released in fall 2024. Alongside his photographic practice, Tim collaborates with scientists to research how imagery can encourage pro-environmental outcomes, reflecting a belief that attention and empathy are central to conservation.
By presenting animals as subjects rather than symbols, Tim's portraits subtly shift the balance between observer and observed. These images do not rely on spectacle or sentimentality. Instead, they ask for a slower, more considered form of looking—one that acknowledges presence, individuality, and shared vulnerability.
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Panthera leo
This lion’s expression may say “don’t mess with me,” but the scars on his nose suggest that others have. Adult males routinely engage in violent fights when attempting to take over or defend a pride, and serious injuries are far from uncommon.
Despite the familiar title “King of the Jungle,” lions rule open savannas, not forests, standing as apex predators alongside tigers in the woods and jaguars in the tropics. The male’s iconic mane fuels his royal image: it begins growing in adolescence, reaches full length by around four years of age, and darkens over time.
Felis catus
Masked like a bandit, Boy’s striking appearance and direct stare have made him a global internet sensation. The “masked” social media star from Indonesia, reminds us of the secret lives cats lead. His unique facial marking, though a chance result of his particular genetic endowment, reflects the independence cats maintain alongside their bond with humans. The concept of the masked hero is deeply embedded in storytelling, with masks serving as cultural symbols of hidden identities. Boy’s face speaks to the idea that every cat possesses an independent side. A private world known only to them.
Larosterna inca
For these comical-looking birds, an exquisite handlebar moustache is much more than a fashion statement - it’s an advertisement of good health. Like all other birds, these terns can only grow out their plumes while molting, an extremely energy- intensive process during which they sequentially replace all of the feathers on their bodies. Pulling it off means you’re healthy, well-fed, and genetically impressive. In tern terms, the rule is simple: the bigger the moustache, the better your chances of landing a mate.
Macaca nigra
Endemic to Indonesia, the critically endangered Celebes crested macaque peers outward, its gaze compelling the viewer to acknowledge its sentience. The expression feels strikingly relatable, unsettling the boundary between observer and observed. Tim Flach’s work focuses on the natural world, seeking to bridge the gap between otherness and sameness. He feels that it has never been more important to connect people to nature; our future depends on it.
Cardinalis cardinalis
This character may seem familiar, looking as if he could have flown straight out of Angry Birds. Despite their brilliant red robes, northern cardinals often seem tormented by their own appearance, and each spring, these birds are frequently encountered apparently assaulting their own reflections in the windows of houses and cars.
Pteropus sp.
Good bat, bad bat! On the one hand, you have Batman, a vigilante who strikes fear into criminals in the guise of a bat, and on the other, there’s Dracula, a blood- sucking vampire. This image plays with our perceptual habits. By turning the bat upside down, it becomes more human.
Ailuropoda melanoleuca
As Ya Yun (“Elegant”) the giant panda pauses to eat an apple, the gesture feels almost performative, like a karaoke interlude.
The panda is what conservationists call an ambassador species, an instantly recognisable symbol of environmental concern, both literal and metaphorical. It is difficult to separate him from familiar cultural references such as Kung Fu Panda or the iconic logo of the World Wide Fund for Nature.
Yet, many globally celebrated animals like the panda, ever-present in films, books, and as cuddly toys in children’s bedrooms, have come alarmingly close to extinction. Their familiarity can obscure their fragility, reminding us that visibility does not equal security, and that even the most beloved species depend on continued protection to survive.
Canis lupus familiaris
The Hungarian Puli is an ancient herding dog recognised for its dramatic, corded coat, developed to work livestock. Coat care requires soaking, sudsing, and thorough rinsing, followed by a good conditioner; bathing should be done at least twice monthly. The coat may take up to six years to reach full maturity.
Flach captures the Puli mid-jump using high-speed flash, suspending the moment as the dog’s cords transform into an ambiguous, mop-like form.
