Nick Brandt: Inherit the Dust

I am a big fan of Nick Brandt's photography. Particularly, his first, three books, which make up the On this Earth trilogy. Inherit the dust, is Brandt's forth book, and for me, the most forgettable, to the point, where I bought a second copy because I forgot, I already owned a copy. This is not to say the images are bad, they certainly are not, but where as, with the original trilogy, you could just enjoy the imagery, without thinking of the story Brandt is trying to tell (Though, there is a growing story over the trilogy). With this book, the story to each image is fundamental to understanding the image, and reading the book, helps inform the reader much more.Whilst, I am a fan of the book, I do have issues with some of the book design. I am not a fan of photos going over to a double page. Which, due to the concept of the book, probably was always going to happen. For the most part it is handled well, with the subject of each image, not cutting through the double page. The book is a lean 128 pages, and this also helps flatten the image on the page more, which makes viewing double pages easier.As for the rest of the book quality, as with all of Brandt's books, is incredibly high, with high-quality prints, on a 38" x 33.5" page. Sadly, my copy arrived second copy arrived with a bit of wear on the dust cover and a little damage to the hard cover, but not enough for me to send the book back.As for the images. They are stunning, and powerful, but I don't love them in the same way I loved the images from the first trilogy, and whilst, Brandt's message has become stronger with each book he has released, he has lost some of the beauty and magnificence. At the heart of this book is the people of Africa, the land and the effects on nature. Something, that Brandt has explored more over with each book.The images in this book, reflect a rapidly changing Africa, and the tale is very sad. I think I forgot I owned this book because I hadn't gone back to view the book since the first time I viewed it, because the story of this book is not a positive one, and with his next book 'The Empty World, he moved to colour, which was very different. This for me is akin to the forgotten middle child, I love the book, but not as much as the trilogy and it isn't difference enough to his later books, but that is not a criticism of this book, and more of me.

Nick Brandt is one of my favourite wildlife photographers and this book does not detract from his usual black and white atmospheric style. I would actually go as far as saying this is my favourite of his photography books simply because the compositions are so provocative and emotionally charged.The African continent is multi-cultural, multidimensional with an ecosystem which houses someof our planet's most iconic wildlife and while Brandt has captred the beauty of each species he also captures the devestation and loss caused by human infliction and the impact hits you hard with every page turn. Each image is as raw and explicit as it is breathtaking and beautiful serving as a powerful reminder if what we had, what we are detroying and what we are losing. Many of the animals featured (such as rhinos) have walked this vast planet for more than 50 million years, yet Africa stands to lose them within the next decade due to habitat degredation and rampant poaching.Brandt tells a harrowing story without the need of digital enhancements, a testiment to his artistic and photographic skills. He also has an incredible ability to draw the viewer deep into the psyche of the content, something many wildlife photographers are unable to achieve. I can not recommend this book enough.

This is another monumental epic journey presented here that has never been done previously in this format, by Nick Brandt. Without any Photoshop application or digital photography that most would imagine a must, this book with its jaw dropping photos narrates the heart wrenching loss in front of our very eyes, right now, and gives us not only the destruction of what we had inherited but what will be inherited by our children if we continue and do nothing. The book brings closer to home in the most explicit manner, what has been, not so very long ago, and is continuing to be lost daily in case of wildlife and the dust and misery that is inherited by humans. There is however inspiration from the deep abyss of each of these incredible plates that urges us to go and do as much as possible and for each of us to contribute to the reduction of any loss around our planet. Brandt speaks about the fantastic work of Big Life Foundation that he co founded in 2010 to protect the wildlife in Kenya and Tanzania. This huge work presented speaks louder than most wild life photography for the necessity to act, and to act now. I take my hats off to Brandt for his courage and risk taking devotion to pull off yet another artistic visionary spectacle. This book must be shared with everyone we know!