Jimmy Nelson (UK, 1967) started working as a photographer in 1987. Having previously spent 10 years at a Jesuit boarding school in the North of England, he set off on his own to traverse the length of Tibet on foot in 1985. The journey lasted a year and upon his return his unique visual diary, featuring revealing images of a previously inaccessible Tibet, was published to wide international acclaim.
In 2010 he began his journey to create the iconic artistic document that became “Before They pass Away”. After visiting 35 chosen Indigenous communities, part 1 was published to International acclaim at the beginning of 2014 and received many awards.
Jimmy Nelson is still traveling and photographing to produce part 2 of the project. His communication and his passion are found on a far wider platform. He is exhibiting at International Museums, shows his work at the world’s leading Photographic Art galleries, speaking at international conferences and launched the Jimmy Nelson Foundation in October 2016.
I really like Jimmy Nelson’s work because it is very unique. Not that many people have the chance to travel and experience the countries, communities, culture and other interesting subjects like wildlife that he has, whilst highlighting all the fact that some tribes and communities are fading away and that we should learn about them before we do.
ZAKARIAH 