"He has made a hitherto unseen world of the human body visible and photographed objects measuring about one millionth of a millimeter." - Rune Hassner, Ph.D
For decades Lennart Nilsson has taken breathtaking photographs of the human body using a powerful scanning electron microscope. He has been declared a top photographer in Sweden and he is proud to have two of his photographs engraved on the back of the current Swedish 100 kronor bill. He began taking unique and terrifying images of the HIV- virus and " killer cells" using this microscope. In the mid-1950s Nilsson started to experiment with new photographic techniques that allowed him to focus on sea life and ants. A coulpe books including Myror written in 1959, and Close to Nature in 1984 were published by Nilsson revealing these macro studies. Fortunately, a specially designed endoscope was developed in the 1960's and it made it possible for him to photography blood vessels within the body. He was also able to shoot cavities inside body with the necessary depth of field. In 1970 a scanning electron microscope was used for the first time and it greatly enhanced his work.
"It is interesting to follow how he, with every advance in equipment, step by step, has closed in on smaller and smaller objects in his studies of the world around him, as more powerful microscopes have become available and opened new fields for his research.
Behind his quiet and somewhat shy exterior, there is an iron will—and a streak of fanaticism that seems to enable him to overcome all obstacles in order to get the picture he wants."
Nilsson has received numerous awards including Over the years, Lennart Nilsson has received a number of awards, medals and other forms of recognition for his achievements, including the Art Directors' Club Award in New York, 1965, 1972 and 1976; tthe Emmy Award 1982, 1983 and 1996, and The ICP Master of Photography Award, New York 1992.
Hassner, Rune. An Unseen World. 11/12/08.
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