You may use your iPhone to take photos at a café or your outfit, but professional photographer Chien C. Lee was commissioned by Apple to take pictures of the amazing wildlife of the Bornean rainforests. This has propelled local wildlife to a global stage on Apple’s official Instagram account, which has 31.9M followers.
The commissioned project, titled "Masters of Disguise" used the 48MP Main camera on iPhone 15 Pro to catch the phenomenal detail of the camouflage of the creatures such as the Kinabalu Gliding Gecko, Long-nosed Horn Frog, and Mossy Stick Insect. In fact, you’d be hard-pressed to spot the gecko in the video until its pink tongue darts out.
But note that additional hardware and software were used and Lee is a professional, so it would probably take a lot of practice for you to replicate the images and videos.
"Everyone has their special place. For me, it’s the rainforest, home to more life than anywhere else on the planet. Not all the secrets of the forests are revealed at first glance. Many hide in plain sight. Some creatures seem more leaf-like than animal. I rely on images to share the wonder and importance of this vital ecosystem. Having the right camera in hand is essential. The 48MP of the iPhone helps me to push the limit of what the eye can see, making it easy to share the intricate details of these masters in disguise,” said Lee.
Sarawak is home to some of the planet’s most precious biodiversity, with most of the state being protected land through a system of 30 protected areas including national parks and nature reserves. Amongst its must-see animals include the Rhinoceros Hornbill, Orang Utan, Proboscis Monkey, Clouded Leopard, and Rajah Brooke Birdwing. Sabah is also one of the world’s oldest rainforests which has been around for 130 million years, and it is home to flora and fauna that are unique to the jungle of Borneo such as the Borneo Pygmy Elephant and Sunda Clouded Leopard.
The conservation photographer grew up in the Bay Area of northern California chasing insects and following animal footprints around local parks. He moved to Sarawak in 1996, ‘fulfilling a lifelong dream of living in the tropics, and this has been my home ever since’, as he wrote on his website. Lee is part of the jury for the Wildlife Photographer of the Year and his images have been featured in publications such as Nature, the world's leading multidisciplinary science journal. Earlier this year, ‘Masters of Disguise’ was held as a photography exhibit in GMBB KL.
We’re proud of the beauty of our country’s wildlife! *claps*
Follow Chien C. Lee and Apple on Instagram.
Image credit: Chien C. Lee, Apple