Infrared – False Color Narrative

An exploration of the unseen elextro-magnetic spectrum combined with a modest selection of visible light

In-Camera Multi-Exposure

Created at the moment of capture, these images reprtesent visual free-play to discover a fresh vision

Invitation to Hallucination

A partnership with artificial intelligence to discover new directions in creative imagery

Legacy Photography

My legacy galleries of professional and personal work

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I’m Lee Varis, photographer, educator and digital imaging artist. I have maintained a website at this domain for over 30 years. I have divided my 55 years of experience almost equally  between traditional film-based  and digital imaging photography. This gives me a unique perspective on the evolution of photographic technology grounded in the tradition of old school craft.

I now work in the Boston area. I have been involved in commercial photography for over 55 years, and started working with computer imaging over 30 years ago. I currently work with photography in conjunction with computer graphics to create images for use in print advertising.

My work has been featured on movie posters, video box covers, CD covers, numerous brochures and catalogs. I was responsible for the moth on the “Silence of the Lambs” movie poster, as well as photos of the Starship Enterprise for the Star Trek movies! The author of 4 books, my best known book is the best seller: “Skin: The Complete Guide to Digitally Lighting, Photographing, and Retouching Faces and Bodies” Wiley Publishing 2006 & a 2nd edition in 2010.  This book has become a must-have reference for every portrait and fashion photographer. See LinkedIn Profile Here email: varis@varis.com

Up Coming Workshops and Travel Tours

Venice Carnival

Start date: February 8, 2026
End date: February 16, 2026
All-day event
Location: Venice Italy
Neighborhoods of New York
Start date: May 3, 2026
End date: May 8, 2026
Time: 8:00 am
Location: New York, New York
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Join Bobbi Lane & Lee Varis on a five-day, small group photographic exploration of the many diverse and ethnic areas that comprise this grand mosaic that is New York. The photo locations are ones that out-of-town visitors and many residents rarely visit. We will walk the streets, ride the subways, and be always in the thick of it. Lunches are in restaurants that are consistent with the ethnic demographic of the neighborhood. The experience offers you many opportunities to photograph the daily life of people and explore colorful and remarkable locations that make up the richness of this amazing city.

People & Places of Santa Fe, New Mexico

Start date: June 16, 2026
End date: June 25, 2026
All-day event
Location: Santa Fe New Mexico
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Join Bobibi Lane & Lee Varis on a ten-day, small group photo-adventure, in Sante Fe and surrounding areas, for an immersive Southwest experience. From the adobe architecture of the historic Plaza and centuries-old mission churches to the vivid sunsets painting the desert sky, every scene radiates with color and texture. We’ll explore the dramatic high-desert landscape—red rock canyons, juniper-studded hills, and sweeping mountain vistas. Our journey also includes a visit to the awe-inspiring Very Large Array (VLA), where the sculptural forms of massive radio telescopes rise from the plains like a science-fiction monument to human curiosity—a truly unique photographic experience blending art, technology, and the vast New Mexico sky.

Nova Scotia

Start date: October 1, 2026
End date: October 9, 2026
All-day event
Location: Nova Scotia, Canada
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Discover the rugged beauty and rich history of Nova Scotia on this unforgettable photo tour. From the lively waterfront of Halifax to the timeless fishing village of Peggy’s Cove, every stop offers dramatic coastal scenery and cultural charm. Journey through the breathtaking highlands of Cape Breton Island, where winding roads reveal sweeping ocean vistas, and step back in time at the reconstructed Fortress of Louisbourg, a living museum of 18th-century life. This tour blends maritime landscapes, historic treasures, and vibrant local culture—perfect inspiration for every photographer’s lens.

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