Klaus Nigge

Photograph by Klaus Nigge

Photograph courtesy Klaus Nigge

Born in 1956, photographer Klaus Nigge grew up fascinated with photography.

He started his photographic career at age 17 with a Super 8 camera mounted on a self-made tripod. After studying philosophy and art and earning a degree in biology, he worked as a biologist for many years. But wildlife photography was his real passion, so in 1992, Nigge became president of the Society of German Nature Photographers, and in 1995, he became a professional photographer.

Nigge is a "slow photographer," returning to the same place until he really knows the environment or species. His aim is to show the animal as an individual with a personality and to achieve an intimate portrait that captures an animal's true environment.

Nigge's work has been published in numerous U.S. and European publications, including National Geographic, GEO Germany, GEO Spain, GEO Russia, and Terre Sauvage. His work has also been published in several books, including Kamchatka, about eagles, bears, and volcanoes; Adlerleben, about the American bald eagle; and Return of the Emperor, about European bison in the primeval forests of Poland.

Currently Nigge is working as a freelance photographer, based in Luenen, Germany.

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