Nick Brandt is an exceptionally talented man in terms of photographing animals. Africa’s wildlife seems to be an arm’s reach away. Whether lions, gorillas or elephants, he has captured their natural grace and beauty in his photos. His pictures are especially charismatic due to the fact that they are captured in black and white. Light and Shadows work harmoniously together, refining the pictures and presenting them a certain character which makes me think of the beginning of photography when photos were still processed with metal plates.

Truly standing out in his portfolio, however, are the pictures of already dead animals. In East Africa, Tansania, a large salt sea for instance is located. Especially birds are attracted to it in belief that the water is edible. But in the highly salty air, the animals perish and transform into salt statues. Nick Brandt portrays these dead animals and immortalises them in his unbelievable photographs. In fact, you can in no way expect ordinary photographs of nature full of beauty. Through motifs like death, he gives his pictures an inherent whimsical touch.

For all whose interests have been aroused by me: The pictures can be viewed live in the Camera Work Galerie, in Berlin.

Copyright and Source: http://camerawork.de/ und http://www.nickbrandt.com/