‘Wild: Michael Nichols’ exhibit opens eyes for need to save the nature’s wildlife

the first major photography exhibition of his work. Nichols, an award-winning photographer for National Geographic has documented big cats, great apes and elephants capturing their souls within the images. Nichols photographed for many publications including Geo and Rolling Stone and was a member of Magnum Photos for 13 years before joining the staff of National Geographic in 1996. He was named editor at large at National Geographic in 2008. His final work for National Geographic was made at Yellowstone National Park in the spring of 2016. His amazing photographs along with paintings, sculptures and other media from the museum’s collection demonstrate the influence of capturing the wild in all mediums of art.

Nichols wants you to see the wildness of these animals and their fragility that they suffer from the hands of poachers looking for ivory tusks from elephants, fur skins from cats and bush meat from gorillas.

“Lions will let you come close but most cats are secretive. It takes a lot of effort and a lot of failure to get close. I want to make you feel it is wild. It takes month and months for lions to get close to me. They are really dangerous,” said Nichols, explaining about what it takes to get up and close with wild animals.

He discloses all in his book, “About a Wild Life; A Visual Biography of Photographer Michael Nichols” by author Melissa Harris who co-curated the museum’s exhibit at the museum with Peter Barberie, the Museum’s Brodsky Curator of Photographs, Alfred Stieglitz Center at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The book can be purchased at the museum store or online at philamuseum.org.

Nicholas approaches his subjects using innovative camera trap work and other technology to capture them without disturbance and interference facing what his subjects face. He stressed that seeing the orphan elephants are heartbreaking but his mission is to record the moments not to become part the moment.

He has collaborated with scientists like Dr. Jane Goodall and George Shaller

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SUBMITTED PHOTO — MICHAEL NICHOLS Young Lioness with her first Cubs, Barafu Pride, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. Every day photographer Michael Nicholas approached them a little closer. One of the cubs ventured toward his vehicle and the mother picked the cub up.

ANNE NEBORAK — DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Michael Nichols talks about his photography exhibit “WILD: Michael Nichols” at the Philadelphia Museum of Art at the press preview.