Nick Brandt (British, b.1966) is a professional photographer whose work focuses on the destructive environmental impact that humankind has on the natural world. He is best known for his powerful black-and-white photos that are distinct from the coloured, action-packed photos of his contemporaries. 

However, the artist has since moved away from depicting wildlife, instead focusing on the more general impact humankind is having on the environment. Brandt was born in London, England, and he studied Painting and Film at the Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design. In 1992, Brandt moved to California and made a name for himself directing music videos. He has worked with notable musicians such as Michael Jackson, Jewel, and Moby. During a 1995 shoot of Michael Jackson's Earth Song in Tanzania, Brandt was struck by the beauty of the animals and East Africa. 

After that shoot, he felt that he could not sufficiently express his love for animals in any way other than capturing them on film. In 2000, he embarked on a project to capture the beauty of East Africa before it disappeared due to human activity. Brandt prefers not to use zoom lenses because he feels the personality of the animals he photographs can only be well captured up close.

 He has held solo exhibitions at different galleries all over the world, including the Shapiro Gallery in Sydney, Australia, the Bernheimer Fine Arts in Munich, Germany, and the June Bateman Gallery in New York, NY. 

Brandt’s first book, On This Earth, features 66 photos he took from 2000 to 2004. The introductions to this book were written by Jane Goodall and author Alice Sebold. Brandt’s second book, A Shadow Falls, is made up of 58 photos he took from 2005 to 2008, and features an introduction by Peter Singer. Since then, Brandt was working on a third book that would complete his trilogy, and in 2013 with Across the Ravaged Land (the title of each designed to form a single, poignant, message), he did this.

In September 2010, the photographer formed the Big Life Foundation in response to the increased number of elephants that were being poached for their tusks; the foundation was formed to help in the conservation of Africa's wildlife and ecosystem. Brandt currently resides in Topanga, CA.