A wildlife photographer from Kuching, Malaysia has captured international attention with his stunning image of a glowing pitcher plant, earning him top honors in one of the world's most prestigious photography competitions. Chien C. Lee, a 54-year-old Californian native who has called Sarawak home since 1996, recently won the Plants and Fungi category at the 61st Wildlife Photographer of the Year Awards 2025 with his captivating photograph titled "Deadly Allure."
The competition, organized by London's Natural History Museum and running since 1965, saw over 60,000 entries from professional photographers and wildlife enthusiasts worldwide this year. Lee's winning shot features the Nepenthes Mirabilis species, the most common pitcher plant in Southeast Asia, captured under ultraviolet light to reveal its natural biofluorescence. What makes this achievement particularly remarkable is that the award-winning photograph was taken just 20 minutes from Lee's home in Kuching, practically beside the road.
"This one was only taken 20 minutes from our house in Kuching, almost on the side of the road in fact," Lee explained. "I felt it was a great lesson for me where sometimes you don't have to climb the most remote mountain or you don't have to go so far to find something incredible. It can be something that is just a daily occurrence or it could be just something nearby that's very familiar but if you look at it in a different way, such as this case under a UV light, you can see something really magical about it."
The photographer's fascination with pitcher plants stems from their unique carnivorous nature and ability to absorb ultraviolet light, which creates the ethereal biofluorescent glow captured in his image. These plants use their distinctive luminescence to attract prey, which inspired Lee to name his photograph "Deadly Allure." The image was originally created to complete his "Fatal Attraction" exhibition at GMBB mall in Kuala Lumpur, which opened in July.
Despite the photograph's proximity to his home, creating the perfect shot presented significant technical challenges. Lee had to visit the location exclusively during twilight hours, the brief window when nocturnal animals begin to emerge. "One of the challenges is that I want to capture a little bit of ambient light, such as the fading light in the sky from the twilight and a little light in the leaves and if you wait until too late in the night, that light is gone," he said. "I had a very narrow window from the late afternoon until nightfall of only about five minutes when the light was dark enough that you could see the fluorescent light but not so dark that you couldn't see the sky."
The technical demands of the shot required careful preparation and multiple attempts. As a long-exposure photograph requiring the camera's shutter to remain open for at least 30 seconds, any movement would result in blur. Lee had to set up additional tripods with small clamps to hold the leaves steady and prevent them from moving in the wind. "We had to set up some extra tripods with very small clamps to hold the leaves and to keep them from moving. This was a necessity to keep them from being blurry but even so, if the wind is too strong, it will get shaken, so I just have to keep trying and trying until I am lucky enough to get a sharp image," he explained. The entire process took several days of patient waiting and repeated attempts.
Lee's journey to becoming an award-winning photographer began with his work as an environmental educator at a California park, where he conducted educational programs for the public. His deep admiration for pitcher plants ultimately led him to accept a job opportunity in Sarawak in 1996, allowing him to work directly with his favorite botanical subjects. However, he soon transitioned into wildlife photography, recognizing that he could continue his environmental education mission through powerful visual imagery and the stories behind his photographs.
Over the decades, Lee has ventured into rainforests and jungles across Asia and South America, even discovering new plant species during his expeditions. His work has taken on increased urgency as more animals appear on endangered species lists. "We have more plants and animals on the endangered species lists than ever before. Right now, in 2025, we are very much at the tipping point where actions need to be taken to protect nature and the environment before it's too late. And visual imagery is vital in getting people to understand and appreciate nature even more," he emphasized.
While Lee appreciates the recognition his work receives, he finds greater reward in educating the public and fostering appreciation for the natural world. His "Fatal Attraction" exhibition continues to run at the Darkroom Gallery of GMBB mall, operating daily from 11 AM to 8 PM through December 31, where visitors can view the award-winning "Deadly Allure" photograph up close and learn more about the fascinating relationship between pitcher plants and the animals they attract.
