Fun & Famous

FOUR QUESTIONS FOR PHOTOGRAPHER JIMMY NELSON

The British wanderlust Jimmy Nelson has one of the coolest jobs on the planet; he traveled the world for two and a half years, visited the most remote locations to photograph dozens of tribes. He made best selling books, had a TedxAmsterdam presentations and he currently has an expo of his work in the Netherlands.

During his exposition, ‘Jimmy’s VIP’ shots are going to be presented which are a collection of photos of ‘Very Important People’ according to Jimmy Nelson. Time to get to know a little more about him.

You want to capture everything that’s in danger of disappearing, what’s your reasoning for this?

‘I don’t necessarily only focus on things that are disappearing, I just want to show people things I think are beautiful. Unfortunately that includes things that are being threatened to go extinct because of globalization. I hope to be able to show future generations what the past looked like. It’s not that I frantically go and try to avoid all the changes that are happening in the world, because change in inevitable.’

What do you hope to convey with your photography?

‘I want people to feel and see how beautiful the world is. People place so much emphasis on all the negative things in the world and have little understanding for how other people live, understanding each other is the gateway to love.’

Obviously you’re never supposed to pick a favorite from all your kids, but if you had to, which photo (series) are you the most proud of?

‘This definitely is a hard question, because usually it’s the effort it takes to take a photo which is carved into my memory which affects how I feel about a photo. If I have to give an answer anyway, then I’ll say it’s the series I shot in Chukotka, the furthest point North of the world where I spent 50 days in a tanker to reach the area. It was negative forty degrees, my equipment hardly worked, but the photos turned out amazing; I’m extremely proud of them.’

What’s your number one tip for making remarkable and striking photos?

‘The one and only tip is making a connection, take the time and try to focus on one or two great photos than a series of quick shots. It’s also important to work with the light; best early in the morning or at sunset.’