Nevada Wier is an award winning photographer specializing in the remote corners of the globe and the cultures that inhabit them. Her work is represented for licensing by Getty and Corbis. She was recently on a nation-wide tour with LIVE…from National Geographic.

What motivated you to pick up the camera and what was the first object you shot?
I grew up in Washington DC and would go downtown to different art galleries to do my homework surrounded by paintings, sculpture and photography. I admired so many artists and photographers. However, I didn’t pick up a camera until I graduated from college. I fell in love with a 5x7 wooden Deardorf camera. I think I also was entranced by the idea of standing at the edge of the Grand Canyon with a black cloth flapping in the wind over my head. So I bought the camera and from then on, it owned me. I first photographed nature details on 5 x7 black and white film that I developed in a darkroom I built. I loved the alchemy of the darkroom.

What according to you are the joys of capturing the nature and the people?
I wouldn’t call myself a nature photographer, although I do have extensive training in climbing, kayaking and mountaineering. So when I first went to Nepal in 1978 to run a trekking program, I assumed that I would continue mountain climbing and photographing outdoor sports. However, I quickly learned that it is much more interesting at the bottom of the mountains, (walking through villages, visiting with people, etc.) than it is at the top. The United States is blessed to have vast tracts of wilderness areas where you can be completely alone; this isn’t true in the rest of the world. There are people living in the wildest, remotest sections of this planet. And, that is what interests me. I am interested in the tribal ecology of humans and celebrating our diversity.

You have travelled to the remotest of places in different corners of the world. What were the unexpected challenges you faced during these visits and how did you overcome them?
Honestly, it is rather easy these days to penetrate into so-called remote areas. Getting to some places demand more ingenuity than others. The biggest obstacles are permits and bureaucratic roadblocks. Borders are problems at times. Tribal cultures are often split right down the middle between countries. Patient persistence, calmness, and unflappability are crucial.

“I am out of The Darkroom and now in The Grayroom. Every day I’m learning new techniques, software, computer programs, etc. I feel more like I’m in kindergarten rather than at the end of a career!”

Shooting people has been your passion. How do you manage to create a rapport with them, given that most of the time, you don’t even speak the same languages?
Even when we speak the same language we still communicate primarily with body language. I have learned to be very clear with mine. I try to “synchronize” with gestures, spatial distances, etc. Each culture has their own ways of relating; it is my job to synchronize with their rhythms. I don’t expect individuals to sit up and say “cheese” for me. I have to create a respectful, open, and honest atmosphere so people feel comfortable and trust me. I do that with my body language and tonality of speech. Digital photography has made it even easier because I can now share an image with someone. That certainly helps, especially because I use wide-angles and often someone has no idea that they are even in an image.

You have a number of books to your credit. Which is your favourite till now?
The first book I photographed was called Land of Nine Dragons: Vietnam Today. Honestly I think the book looks terrible but I had the best time in Vietnam in 1990-1991. At that time there weren’t any guidebooks or tourists in Vietnam. I had to work with a Foreign Press officer and plan my itineraries before I even arrived or knew where I wanted to go. It was a fascinating time to be in Vietnam.

When was the first time you felt inclined towards writing a book on photography?
The next year, in 1991, I wrote a book for Amphoto, called Adventure Travel Photography. It was a lot easier then to write about cameras, film, and other aspects of photography. It was less complicated and didn’t move at The Speed of Light like it does now. I am self-taught and learned so much from reading books about photography. I think it is beautiful that photographers are willing to share their knowledge writing and giving workshops. It is payback time for me to do the same.

Besides shooting and writing books, you are also an eminent speaker and lecturer. How do you manage to do so many things at the same time?
There just aren’t that many assignments any longer. Magazines are folding; online publishing has yet to figure out a pricing system for photographers. Stock is cheaper than ever. So we all have to reinvent ourselves and keep a lot of balls in the air. I like public speaking (more than writing!) and there is certainly a demand for it now.

“There are people living in the wildest, remotest sections of this planet. And, that is what interests me. I am interested in the tribal ecology of humans and celebrating our diversity.”

You have been published in numerous national and international publications and have won many awards. How does it feel to have reached the pinnacle of success?
I certainly don’t feel as if I’m balancing on a pinnacle! I still feel like I am becoming a better photographer. I love the digital advances. I especially love printing again. I am out of The Darkroom and now in The Grayroom. Every day I’m learning new techniques, software, computer programs, etc. I feel more like I’m in kindergarten rather than at the end of a career! That being said, it is gratifying to know that my struggles, hard work, and dedication paid off. There are still so many places I want to visit, cultures to learn about, and clients I would like to work with but I’m so happy that I have been able to manifest my dreams.

Could you tell us in brief about ‘A Nomadic Vision’?
Yes, I am in the process writing a book that discusses the evolution of myself as a traveler and a photographer. A Nomadic Vision is divided into episodes of my travels as a photographer. Each episode depicts an adventure and highlights a metaphor, which is inherent in the travel or photographic experience. It is a challenging book to write but I’m determined to finish it this year! I am also working on a couple of other books that are more photography driven. One called Outer India, about tribal groups in India, and a book on Myanmar, where I have been traveling for over 20 years.

There are a number of budding photographers who are still paving their way to success. Would you like to convey any message to them?
I wrote a blog post a couple of years ago about becoming a professional photographer. What I wrote then still applies: The people I know who are photographic professionals have something else besides great talent and business sense—they have what I call “the tenacity quotient”. They want to be a photographer; they live to be a photographer, and they will die being a photographer. There is no pathway in the field of photography with signposts, hints, or Get Out of Jail Free cards. It is like being dropped blindfolded in the middle of Alaska and being told to find your way to Seattle. Someone who wants to be a photographer will find a way to make a living in this convoluted, underpaid field. And, that is what it takes to be one. No one can tell you how. Each photographer finds a different route to becoming established and solvent. You have to figure it out on your own. All the photographers I know did this. And, you will have to also.

Quick 6:
•    Your Favourite Shoot :  National Geographic expedition The Blue Nile
•    Your Preferred Location:  Any place with energetic and open tribal cultures
•    Favourite Photographer :  Jay Maisel (he is a master of color)
•    Toughest day at work : Whenever I have to sit at a computer all day…like today.
•    Favourite printer : Epson 9900 for its vibrant saturated colors
•    Current photographers you like: Alex Webb, Jodi Cobb, David Alan Harvey, Karen Kuehn, John Paul Caponigro, Art Wolfe, Susan Meislas, the list goes on and on

Photos by Nevada Wier /Fotosocial

	Quick6: Your Favourite Shoot : National Geographic expedition The Blue Nile Your Preferred Location: Any place with energetic and open tribal cultures Favourite Photographer: Jay Maisel (he is a master of color) Toughest day at work: Whenever I have to sit at a computer all day…like today. Favourite printer: Epson 9900 for its vibrant saturated colors Current photographers you like: Alex Webb, Jodi Cobb, David Alan Harvey, Karen Kuehn, John Paul Caponigro, Art Wolfe, Susan Meislas, the list goes on and on