Inspiration: Photographer Nick Brandt

Yesterday we spent our work-day doing an inspiration search at the mall… shopping around in competitor clothing stores and other artsy and creative shops. The very best thing I took away from our day was the name of a photographer that I am – and till the end of time will be – in love with. I found the book of his work entitled “On This Earth, A Shadow Falls” at Neiman Marcus.. and was instantly breathless. The intimacy and emotion radiating from every single image was just stunning.

Brandt has spent about a decade photographing the wilds of East Africa. It’s his passion to capture the beauty of this place and it’s animals, and you can tell his heart is in it. Using no more than an old Pantex camera, some B&W or infared film, and only two lenses.. Brandt creates this greatness. What impresses me even more, is that he does not use telephoto lenses to zoom in on the animals. He states “You wouldn’t take a portrait of a human being from a hundred feet away and expect to capture their spirit; you’d move in close”. And that’s exactly what he does when capturing the wild and untamed animals of Africa. His work is the kind that truly inspires me and gives me hope of the power that photography can hold. I hope it’s touched at least one person who’s reading this even half as much as it has me.

View more of Nick Brandt’s work at his official website.