![Portrait of a Silverback western lowland gorilla by Vincent Lagrange](https://mymodernmet.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Vincent-Lagrange-The-Silverback-Western-lowland-gorilla-Gorilla-Gorilla-1.jpg)
Silverback Western lowland gorilla
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Photographer Vincent Lagrange doesn’t take your standard animal portrait. His remarkable images don’t just capture the details of each animal’s anatomy, but also strike much deeper into their unique characters. His new book, Between Us: Animal Portraits, hones in on the connection between himself and his animal models as he takes these evocative images.
Working from his Antwerp studio with the help of biologists, veterinarians, and zoo keepers, Lagrange moves slowly and deliberately. This is critical in ensuring the comfort of every animal sitting before his lens. Using minimalist lighting and hand-painted backgrounds, he focuses on adjusting his setup to fit the needs of the animals.
“Initially, I hang the backdrops near the animals to observe their reactions, as even the smallest change can be significant for them,” he tells My Modern Met. “For special animals, I bring my crafted decors to their location, ensuring the setup creates a feeling that suits both the animals’ comfort and my artistic vision.”
From a Western lowland gorilla’s intense gaze to the otherworldly look of a Shoebill stork, the finished portraits are a dignified look at the animal kingdom. At the same time, they also allow us to enter into a relationship with these animals in a way that is not often possible, as through his lens, he allows us to see their emotions.
Featuring 150 of Lagrange’s photographs, Between Us: Animal Portraits is an incredible way for anyone to feel closer to the animal kingdom. Hopefully, it will also allow people to reconsider our shared role in this world.
“Careful observers will note that each animal possesses unique characteristics and behaviors,” reads the book’s introduction. “They experience life as we do, from the caring relationship between mother and child to the playfulness of youth, the challenges of adulthood, and the wisdom of old age.
This again highlights that we are no different from other sentient beings.”
Between Us: Animal Portraits, published by teNeues, will be released in September 2024 and is now available for pre-sale.
Photographer Vincent Lagrange is known for his emotive portraits of animals.
![Portrait of a red panda by Vincent Lagrange](https://mymodernmet.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Vincent-Lagrange-The-red-panda-Ailurus-fulgens-IIII-1.jpg)
Red panda
![Portrait of a sphynx cat by Vincent Lagrange](https://mymodernmet.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Vincent-Lagrange-Sphynx-Felis-catus-1.jpg)
Sphynx cat
![Portrait of a meerkat by Vincent Lagrange](https://mymodernmet.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Vincent-Lagrange-Suricate-Suricata-suricatta-1.jpg)
Meerkat
![Portrait of a walrus by Vincent Lagrange](https://mymodernmet.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Vincent-Lagrange-The-Walrus-Odobenus-rosmarus-1.jpg)
Walrus
![Portrait of a black and white ruffed lemur by Vincent Lagrange](https://mymodernmet.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Vincent-Lagrange-The-black-and-white-ruffed-lemur-Varecia-variegata-1.jpg)
Black and white ruffed lemur
The portraits, taken in a studio setting, are executed carefully and deliberately to put each animal at ease.
![Portrait of secretary bird by Vincent Lagrange](https://mymodernmet.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Vincent-Lagrange-secretary-bird-Sagittarius-serpentarius-kopie-1.jpg)
Secretary bird
Lagrange’s new coffee table book, Between Us: Animal Portraits, pulls together 150 of his best images.
![Photo of a rhino by Vincent Lagrange](https://mymodernmet.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Vincent-Lagrange-Little-Rhino-1.jpg)
Rhinoceros
![Portrait of Sumatran orangutan by Vincent Lagrange](https://mymodernmet.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Vincent-Lagrange-Sumatran-Orangutan-Father-Pongo-abelii-1.jpg)
Sumatran orangutan
![Portrait of shoebill stork by Vincent Lagrange](https://mymodernmet.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Vincent-Lagrange-The-shoebill-Balaeniceps-rex-kopie-1.jpg)
Shoebill stork
![Portrait of bald eagle by Vincent Lagrange](https://mymodernmet.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Vincent-Lagrange-The-bald-eagle-Haliaeetus-leucocephalus-1.jpg)
Bald eagle
![Portrait of Guinea turaco by Vincent Lagrange](https://mymodernmet.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Vincent-Lagrange-The-Guinea-turaco-Tauraco-persa-1.jpg)
Guinea turaco
![Portrait of a marabou stork by Vincent Lagrange](https://mymodernmet.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Vincent-Lagrange-The-marabou-stork-Leptoptilos-crumenifer-1.jpg)
Marabou stork
![Photo of a two-horned chameleon by Vincent Lagrange](https://mymodernmet.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Vincent-Lagrange-West-Usambara-two-horned-chameleon-Kinyongia-multituberculata-1.jpg)
West Usambara two-horned chameleon
Now available for pre-sale, Lagrange hopes the book will allow people to establish a new connection with the animal kingdom.
![Portrait of a mantled guereza by Vincent Lagrange](https://mymodernmet.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Vincent-Lagrange-The-mantled-guereza-Colobus-guereza-1.jpg)
Mantled guereza
![Portrait of a snowy owl by Vincent Lagrange](https://mymodernmet.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Vincent-Lagrange-The-snowy-owl-Bubo-scandiacus-1.jpg)
Snowy owl
![Portrait of a Valais blacknose sheep](https://mymodernmet.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Vincent-Lagrange-Valais-Blacknose-Ovis-aries-1.jpg)
Valais blacknose sheep
![Portrait of a vulture by Vincent Lagrange](https://mymodernmet.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Vincent-Lagrange-Vulture-1.jpg)
Vulture
Vincent Lagrange: Website | Facebook | Instagram
My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Vincent Lagrange.
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