Clyde Butcher
National Medal of Arts recipient Clyde Butcher with President and First Lady Biden. Photo courtesy of White House
Bio
Clyde Butcher is a renowned American photographer known for his iconic black-and-white landscapes, particularly of the Florida Everglades. Butcher began his career in architecture but soon shifted his focus to photography, driven by a passion for nature. In the 1980s, after moving to South Florida, he discovered the fragile beauty of the Everglades, a landscape he has since documented with large-format, black-and-white photographs. Butcher's work captures the grandeur and intricate details of the Everglades, emphasizing the interconnectedness of its ecosystems. His images, marked by dramatic use of light and shadow, create a timeless sense of awe and connection to nature. Over the years, his work has gained national and international recognition, appearing in exhibitions, books, and documentaries. Beyond his artistic achievements, Butcher is a committed environmental advocate. His photography raises awareness about the importance of preserving natural landscapes, and he has participated in numerous conservation initiatives to protect the Everglades and other fragile ecosystems. Throughout his career, Butcher has received many prestigious awards, including the Ansel Adams Award (2000), the Lifetime Achievement Award in Nature Photography (2005), and the Theodore Roosevelt Award (2018). His legacy as both an artist and environmentalist continues to inspire others to appreciate and protect the natural world.
White House citation:
For focusing the lens on Mother Nature. From humble beginnings as a self-taught photographer, Clyde Butcher is considered America’s most acclaimed landscape photographer today. From the Rocky Mountains to the Everglades, and countless pristine places in between, his images inspire and challenge us to respect and defend our natural wonders.
I am truly honored to receive this award. Photography allows us to capture and freeze a moment in time, but it's more than just seeing what's in front of us. It's about feeling and interpreting the world. A photograph can evoke emotions, tell a story, and convey a message through composition and lighting. As photographers, we must not only see the world but feel it—and translate those feelings into our work. This recognition inspires me to continue exploring the depths of this craft while advocating for conservation, reminding others of the beauty we must protect for future generations.