Who are the most famous and best nature photographers in the world? We’re often asked which other nature photographers have particularly inspired and motivated. Therefore, We have put together a small list of the top 10 with what we consider to be the world’s best nature photographers. Who is the most virtuoso of the themes of landscape, wildlife, and nature with their imagery? Who manages to sensitize society with their photographic work or their commitment to nature and the environment? Whose biography inspires and motivates? Of course, this selection can and will only be a subjectively colored snapshot. One could reproach the list with the fact that classics like Ansel Adams, Eliott Porter, or the German Fritz Pölking are not included. There is no question that the influence of these primeval rocks cannot be mentioned often enough. But this is about the last few years.
- Kind Wolfe
The Seattle-based Art Wolfe no longer needs to be introduced today. After more than thirty years of nature photography, the studied art historian has become a total work of art himself. He owns one of the largest private picture archives in the world from trips to over 100 countries. He has published over 60 books. Art combines his unique imagery with the claim to preserve the dwindling species, landscapes, and cultures in our world in his photos. He is an honorary member of the Royal Photographic Society and a member of the International League of Conservation Photographers. Canon lists him in the elite group “Explorers of Light,” and at Microsoft, he is one of the “Icons of Imaging.” His motifs even adorn the postage stamps of the US Post today. The sympathetic type is also a welcome guest on television. Most recently, in his remarkable production “Travels to the Edge.” This was broadcast in German-speaking countries by the Austrian broadcaster Servus-TV, among others.
- Jim Brandenburg
Jim Brandenburg, who comes from Minnesota, is undoubtedly one of the most legendary nature photographers of modern times. He has been traveling the world for over thirty years for National Geographic, The Times, NBC, BBC, and other greats in the media industry. At National Geographic alone, Jim had over twenty cover stories. But his own publications are also wonderful. Tip: his book “Brother Wolf” is a personal declaration of love for these fascinating creatures and a masterpiece of photographic storytelling and should not be missing in any library of all nature photography enthusiasts. Most recently, Jim was given the honor of being one of the first people to test Nikon’s new pixel wonder, the Nikon D800.
- Peter Lik
In a way, Peter Lik is the rock star of the nature photography scene. His monumental panoramas, which he takes in medium format with PhaseOne, now adorn stars and starlets’ living rooms. They are said to even hang in the palaces of the English Queen. And that’s exactly what impresses me almost more than the quality of his work. Peter knows like no other how to build himself up as a global premium brand. His story: the son of Czech emigrants, Australian self-made man, and muscular warrior. With a leather hat and rocker outfit, he pats confidently on the plaster. That is certainly not exactly common in the scene and should definitely polarize. However, he is undoubtedly very successful with it. His impressionistic “One” recently went over the counter for over a million US dollars. At least, I do not know of any landscape photographer whose work reaches seven-figure amounts intra vitam if you disregard the German Andreas Gursky, who, however, pursues a completely different approach and is also not a nature photographer in the narrower sense.
- Marc Adams
The landscape photographer from Oregon delights with epic wilderness images. Marc deliberately relies on the use of digital image processing using Photoshop & Co. In contrast to many colleagues, he also supports it. The result is artistic images with a wide dynamic range and crisp colors. Marc follows the contemporary approach of nature photography, which is less about simple documentation than about capturing moods. Obviously, this has not done any harm to his reputation. After all, his work has already been published by National Geographic Adventurer, Outdoor Photographer, or the German Four Seasons magazine.
- Sandra Bartocha
Sandra Bartocha’s specialty is to implement natural scenes that everyone can find on their doorstep in an atmospheric, even fairytale-like visual language. Many of her best-known motifs were created around the corner, namely in her north-east German homeland. With her extraordinary style, Sandra has won numerous awards in recent years. Among other things, she was one of the winners of the renowned “Wildlife Photographer of the Year.” The media scientist worked for a long time on the Society of German Animal Photographers’ board, of which I am also a member. At the same time, she has been editor-in-chief of the GDT publication “Forum Naturfotografie” for many years, which Tecklenborg Verlag now publishes. She is also involved in many book publications.
- Frans Lanting
The Dutchman Frans Lanting is actually an economist but turned to nature photography after graduating. He has never done anything else in the last 30 years. That’s a good thing because his visionary and haunting nature images are now state of the art in contemporary nature photography. In 2006 Frans Lanting attracted a lot of media attention with his LIFE project, a “lyrical interpretation of the history of life on earth.” The dramatic pictures can be admired in exhibitions around the world and purchased as an illustrated book. The project is also accessible to everyone on the website www.LifeThroughTime.com, where it will be orchestrated with the congenial orchestral music of Philip Glass.
- Paul Nicklen
There is hardly anyone who has not yet seen his memorable polar bear photos. The Canadian Paul Nicklen has always been associated with the Arctic. He grew up on Banff Island with an Inuit family and is, therefore, an intimate connoisseur of cold beauty. Today Paul is a biologist, conservationist, and wildlife photographer. He dedicates his work to show the influence of climate change on polar habitats with their animal world and their inhabitants. He succeeds in doing this in an imposing way, not only with his pictures but also with his sensitive texts. His moving illustrated book “Polar Obsession” (German: “Polar Worlds”) should not be missing from the bookshelf of photo lovers. His publications are regularly featured in National Geographic and Co. and are regularly recognized at international awards. Also, Paul Nicklen appears worldwide as a speaker to raise awareness of ecological issues. Clearly one of the most influential and best nature photographers in the world.
- Norbert Rosing
The German nature photographer Norbert Rosing, who is certainly the best known today, should, of course, not be missing from my list. Norbert was one of the defining figures in the German nature photography scene. In the nineties, he gave up his job as a nurse and from then on devoted himself only to his passion for nature photography. His focus is on arctic regions and American national parks. In recent years, however, he has also attracted a great deal of attention with National Geographic publications on German landscapes’ beauty (tip: “Wildes Deutschland”). As a patron, he is now also firmly associated with the popular HORIZONTE Umweltfoto Festival in Zingst.
- Adam Burton
Like many other colleagues, Adam Burton is not a trained photographer either but originally from IT consulting. Nevertheless, he is now one of the most popular British landscape photographers. The focus is on British landscapes such as Dorset, Cornwall, or Dartmoor. He has already published several magnificent illustrated books on these regions. I like his pathetic, almost meditative imagery.
- Hans Strand
Hans Strand’s motto, which is as simple as it is ingenious, is “Nature is always true and never trivial.” The Swedish nature photographer, who actually studied engineering, has specialized in nature’s structures and moods. I was particularly impressed by his aerial photographs and ultimately motivated me to implement my own aerial projects long before the era of drones. Han’s publications appear at National Geographic, among others. His great work from Iceland can be admired, for example, in the illustrated book “On Location.” Most recently, Hans was awarded the Hasselblad Masters 2010.
In my selection, I also want to introduce photographers who inspire and motivate me in the here and now. Most of the artists mentioned above have been inspiring me for many years and have partly shaped my own photographic approach. Many other colleagues could have been included in a list of the best nature photographers in the world. But incompleteness is the basic evil of every top 10 list. In this respect, I look forward to furthering suggestions and additions.
