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Nick Hannes

 

Nick Hannes (b. 1974, Antwerp; lives in Ranst, Belgium) is a celebrated documentary photographer and educator. With a background in photojournalism, he shifted toward independent long-form photography—publishing acclaimed books like Red Journey, Mediterranean. The Continuity of Man, Garden of Delight, and New Capital.

His work explores urbanization, migration, and globalization across six newly built capitals—astutely observing power, spectacle, and absurdity under the sun.

Camera Gear: Precision, Discretion & Speed

Nick’s long-term projects demand mobility, minimalism, and responsiveness. While most gear details remain private, credible interviews confirm:

  • Primary Recent Work Cameras: Nikon D810 and Sony A7R III are the main tools he uses for documentary projects.

Nikon D810
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Sony A7R III
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  • Earlier Toolkit: During his traditional picture journalism era (e.g. covering local traditions), he reportedly used Nikon D3 and D3x bodies.

Nick's lens choice typically focused on wide-angle or mid-range zooms, to stay close to people and architecture. He has stated:

I have to be very close to people. I shoot with a wide-angle lens… I only carry one camera and one lens—on days I walk 20 km, that’s enough.

That level of mobility shaped his approach during multi-year global projects like New Capital.

Featured Work & Visual Context

Nick’s expansive body of work includes:

  • Red Journey (2009)—one year by bus and train across post‑Soviet Eurasia, documenting life in motion and transition.

  • Mediterranean (2010–2014)—portraits of urban contrasts, tourism-driven development, and the complexities of migration and austerity.

  • Garden of Delight (Dubai)—a critical look at the celebratory spectacle of Dubai’s hypercapitalism; awarded Magnum Photography and Zeiss prizes.

  • New Capital (2024)—exploring six newly built capitals (e.g., Astana, Sejong, New Administrative Capital, Abuja, Nusantara) via human-scale compositions set against architectonic grandeur.

Through all these, his images are characterized by graphic composition, human presence, urban critique, and at times, ironic distance.

Photography Philosophy

  • Simplicity and proximity: He stresses working with just one body and wide lens—enabling agility, rational weight, and closeness to subjects.

  • Open shooting: Rather than hidden photography, Nick often works overtly—asking permission and letting his presence remain visible and transparent.

  • Ethical documentary: He captures social and environmental urban themes without sensationalism, instead using subtle irony and compositional wit to reveal power dynamics.

Why This System Works

  • Durable high-resolution bodies—Nikon D3x/D810 and Sony A7R III provide image quality for editorial and book publication.

  • Adapted to long-term travel and walking—Nick often books, photographs, edits, and organizes travel solo—making lightweight, efficient gear essential.

  • Visual clarity without distraction—single lens setup invites focus on composition and context, not gear switching.

Final Thought

Nick Hannes shows that impactful documentary photography doesn’t depend on elaborate gear. His hallmark is steady focus on subjects, pattern, irony and symmetry, all achieved with a dependable camera, a single lens, and clear intent.

Explore his ongoing projects via New Capital, Garden of Delight, and more on nick hannes.be and Instagram @nick.hannes.

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