Photographer Nick Brandt's images of mummified and almost charred corpses on a lake in Tanzania, East Africa, are horrifying as they are eerily beautiful.
Due to a deadly combination of temperatures that can rise to as high as 60 degrees celsius and the high alkalinity levels in Lake Natron -- a result of the dense accumulation of volcanic ash from the Great Rift Valley -- the carcasses of these birds and bats are calcified and almost frozen in time. When the birds submerge beneath the water into the pH 9 to pH 10.6 level water -- composed of high soda and salt content -- the animals die and are arranged in such a way that all that persists is the blackened, singed remains.
Nick Brandt's shots, documented in his new book 'Across The Ravaged Land' use a monochromatic shots to highlight the ghostly animals that will remain perched, lifelessly, along the lake.
What's Driving This Trend
- Calcified Photography
- Opportunity for photographers to explore new methods of capturing unique, haunting imagery of mummified animal remains through innovative and creative photography techniques.
- Extreme Environment Tourism
- Opportunities in the tourism industry to offer guided expeditions to remote, high-temperature environments where visitors can witness the haunting beauty and rare calcified remains.
- Conservation Awareness
- Using Nick Brandt's images as a starting point, organizations and businesses can create educational initiatives focused on conservation awareness to protect endangered species and their habitats.
Who This Affects Most
- Fine Art Photography
- Nick Brandt's 'charred carcass portrait' images offer a new digital fine art photography genre, giving fine art professionals an opportunity to experiment with unexplored and distinct techniques.
- Ecotourism
- Emerging niche market for adventurous individuals who want to explore extreme tourism destinations in remote and unique settings.
- Wildlife Preservation
- Conversations and awareness regarding wildlife preservation need to occur both at the local and international level in order to provide stronger protection for endangered species and the places they inhabit.
