Nick Brandt: This Empty World

In his new book, "Empty World," Nick Brandt uses dramatic staged photographs to showcase the animals and people of East Africa as victims of environmental degradation. The project is a technical tour-de-force, combining two moments in time captured weeks apart from the same camera position. The images vividly illustrate a world in which there is no longer space for animals to survive, raising questions about what kind of world we will live in when stripped of its natural wonders.

\n Format: Hardback
\n Length: 128 pages
\n Publication date: 07 February 2019
\n Publisher: Thames & Hudson Ltd
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Nick Brandt's captivating new monograph, "This Empty World," presents a series of stunningly staged photographs that seamlessly bring together and expose the animals and people of East Africa as victims of devastating environmental degradation in a profoundly emotional and cinematic manner. This groundbreaking work marks Brandt's foray into color photography, showcasing a remarkable technical prowess and an ambitiously ambitious project on a scale typically associated with film production.

The photographs in "This Empty World" are a captivating blend of two moments in time, captured weeks apart from the exact same camera position. Brandt meticulously constructs and lights partial sets, patiently waiting for the animals that inhabit the region to enter the frame. Once captured on camera, he constructs the complete set while keeping the camera fixed in place. The sets encompass a wide range of environments, including bridge and highway construction sites, a petrol station, a bus station, and even a lifeless forest. To complete the scene, Brandt photographs a vast cast of individuals from local communities, adding depth and authenticity to the images.

When viewed as a whole, the photographs in "This Empty World" paint a vivid picture of a world where the relentless pace of human development has left no room for animals to thrive. The images evoke a sense of urgency and contemplation, raising the question: what kind of world will we inhabit when stripped of its natural wonders?

The photographs in "This Empty World" were taken on unprotected, inhabited Maasai community land, after the sets were dismantled and their elements recycled. The landscape now remains devoid of any evidence of the images, emphasizing the transient nature of human impact on the environment.

In conclusion, "This Empty World" by Nick Brandt is a powerful and thought-provoking exploration of the devastating consequences of environmental degradation on the animals and people of East Africa. Through his stunning photographs and meticulous storytelling, Brandt compels us to reflect on the urgent need for sustainable practices and conservation efforts to protect our planet's natural wonders for future generations.

\n Weight: 1984g\n
Dimension: 337 x 388 x 19 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9780500545140\n \n