Ely’s Natural Approach to Photography: Taking Photos from the Outdoors to the Red Carpet

Jim Brandenburg, a native of Minnesota who is based in Ely and has travelled across the globe to take awe-inspiring pictures of wildlife and nature, has recently been presented with National Geographic’s Lifetime Achivement Award by the Photo Society, comprised of photographers for the magazine. In a statement expressing his gratitude for the esteemed award, the year old recipient said: I am highly privileged to have acquired numerous awards from different parts of the world over the years; nevertheless, this particular one stands out as it is from my peers – some of the most talented photography professionals out there. The Lifetime Achivement Award is bestowed upon only five others.

National Geographic photographers have been recipients of the accolade over the years. Brandenburg last contributed to the magazine in with his extensive photo essay entitled “ Days of Spring”. He has maintained affiliations with the National Geographic organization for a period of years. Unfortunately, Brandenburg was not able to be present at the award ceremony in Washington last month because he was occupied in Europe where he was involved in two movies projects. Describing these projects, Brandenburg commented “They are the most substantial and intricate of my career”. One of the endeavors is a feature film about Brandenburg’s association with the outdoors, created by a renowned Cannes Award-winning production firm.

Brandenburg Films, a large-screen film production company based in Italy, is collaborating with a crew from the United Kingdom to create a documentary on the natural secrets of the Dolomite Mountains. In an interview with the News Tribune on Monday, Brandenburg commented that the film would largely depict the northwoods, BWCAW landscape and the animals encountered near my home, predominantly wolves. He further elucidated that it will also feature the southwestern Minnesota prairie, where I originally come from, specifically at the Touch the Sky Tallgrass Prairie Preserve. Brandenburg is well-known for his photographs of wolves, both in Minnesota and the Arctic, and hails from Luverne.

After attending Worthington Community College, Brandenburg continued his education at the University of Minnesota Duluth with a major in art history whilst also working for WDIO-TV. In , he left UMD before graduating, to embark on an expedition to Canada’s Arctic accompanied by Duluth pathologist and anthropologist Art Aufderheide. The trip saw them spend six weeks shooting film of Inuit families living a nomadic lifestyle. As recognition for this accomplishment, the University of Minnesota bestowed Brandenburg with an honorary doctorate. On his return to Worthington, Brandenburg began working as a photojournalist for the Worthington Daily Globe.

In , Robert S. Brandenburg became a contract photographer for the prestigious National Geographic Magazine; his work as a freelance photographer had garnered the approval of the renowned National Geographic Society. Subsequently, the National Press Photographers Association named him Magazine Photographer of the Year on two separate occasions. His impressive portfolio was further recognized by the International League of Conservation Photographers in , when four of his wildlife photos were among the top forty nature photographs of all time. This included some of Brandenburg’s most iconic works: a white wolf mid-jump across icy floes in the Canadian Arctic, a gray wolf peering amongst an array of trees in northern Minnesota, and an oryx amidst a sandy desert scape.

John Brandenburg recently achieved international recognition for his incredible nature photography, which was first displayed at Minnesota’s Blue Mounds State Park. In appreciation of using this artwork to increase public awareness of the environment, he was presented with the World Achievement Award by the United Nations Environmental Programme in Stockholm. In addition, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the North American Nature Photography Association. When asked about his current projects, he stated that he is working on several books – trying to get the courage to wrap them up and publish them – retrospective types of subjects. Reflecting on his accomplishments, Brandenburg exclaimed, I am now back in a snowy Minnesota feeling extremely honored and a bit breathless contemplating it all.

What we can learn

In conclusion, Chris Brandenburg’s signature style of photography tells powerful stories to viewers around the world. His unique ability to capture the breathtaking beauty of the natural world has earned him a number of prestigious awards and accolades. Through his work, he has inspired interest and appreciation of our planet’s diverse ecosystems and wildlife species, encouraging greater action on conservation efforts by individuals and organizations alike.