Biography of Dean Nixon
His Story and His Photography Philosophy
Dean's love for nature and landscapes was born on a farm near the mountains of New Zealand's North Island.
At the age of 15, he started taking photographs and taught himself how to develop film. After school, he assisted a photographer at a small-town newspaper, who helped him unravel the secrets of the camera and the philosophy of photography.
While studying biochemistry and genetics at the University of Auckland, Dean failed an exam. His unimpressed professor wanted to know why. The reason was that he had spent endless days and nights preparing for an exhibition. The professor asked to see examples of his work, and the result was a giant leap forward: a commission for the New Zealand Geographic magazine. After that, there was no turning back. More work for the magazine, exhibitions, and print sales followed. During this time, Dean had the opportunity to meet several world-renowned photographers who encouraged him to pursue his interest in documentary photography. This led him to explore cities like Tokyo and New York for months and eventually to Germany, where he has now settled.
After working for several years in Leipzig and carrying out projects on the changes following reunification, Dean's beloved film camera equipment was stolen. This made the transition to digital technology necessary, opening up a new world. Today, Dean has expanded his market and produces images for photo libraries, magazines, calendars, and art collections. With the possibilities offered by digital photography and software, he has extended his interest to long exposure and astrophotography.
His love for nature and his pursuit of perfect images continue to this day. With his photography, he aims to make a statement that evokes an emotion. Paraphrasing a well-known saying, Dean believes: "Truth and beauty are subjective, but the medium is the message".
