The people he takes pictures of are very authentic and pure, live in isolated places and are not yet influenced by technology. They mostly live in such remote places that they know little about smartphones, wifi and apps, electric cars or wine coolers (translated to Dutch: wijnklimaatkast 2 zones).
When Nelson takes pictures he afterward shows them to these people. When they see themselves, the photographer makes them aware of their cultural heritage. "This personal artistic documentation is a way of re-igniting the fire and pride within and for indigenous people, of creating mutual respect for all people, and of empowering future generations all over the world to illuminate their cultural heritage," he tells us on his ow website.
Where I can feel that I belong
Nelson's father was a geologist who traveled all over the world. As a kid he traveled with him until he had to go to school. Which he left because that was not his place to be. No schoolbag of Ted Baker tas filled with books for Nelson. Now he is doing the same as his father did, going around and meeting people from all over the world. He says: "personally all of my travels and photographing have a lot to do with searching for a place where I can feel that I belong."
After the success of Before They Pass Away he started his own company and a foundation in 2016, based in Amsterdam in The Netherlands. Het created a second book: Homage to Humanity, with a lot of stories about the people portrayed.
How long will it take
He means that technology and globalizing threatens cultural diversity. Living in a tent, like we do two weeks a year has nothing in common with living live nomads all year round, in the middle of nowhere. It's like comparing glamping Andalusië with traveling on a horse through Mongolië and really living there.
The people which he took pictures of are still very authentic and pure. Still... how long will it take before they lose their specific identity and culture? That is constantly the question.
An adventurer with a camera on his neck
Already in his youth, he traveled through Tibet. It was his first adventure on his own. From that moment on he was an adventurer with a camera on his neck. He became a professional photographer for magazines among other things. In the last couple of years, he follows his passion: making pictures and stories about people and their natural environment. People that live in isolated places, all over the world.
Exhibitions with his works can be seen all over the world. And of course, there are his books. Not only look at the photos but also read the stories about it. And take notice of his foundation. "I will be continuing my voyage of discovery. To conceive the definitive multi-media experience to enable the viewer to come as close as possible to experiencing true human empathy with the other."
