DOMINIQUE BRAUD
PHOTOGRAPHER
As a child, Dominique Braud, nature photographer, spent his youth growing up between the wide-open spaces of North Africa and South Atlantic France. He currently resides in Minnesota, USA. He specializes in wildlife and landscapes from his adoptive state of Minnesota, with a strong emphasis on winter imagery. “I love the physical and logistical challenges that cold weather photography presents. I especially delight in the stark simplicity of snowy landscapes, the relative absence of people on the trails when the temperatures tumble, and the wintry silence pierced only by the raucous call of the raven.”
Retired from teaching high school after a 31-year career, Dominique is now free to pursue his passion full-time. He has an intense infatuation with oceans and water in general, “not surprisingly, it is in the less populated northeastern corner of Minnesota, especially along the stunningly beautiful north shore of Lake Superior, that I find the bulk of the inspiration for my photography.”
As a natural history photo illustrator, he has honed his skills behind the camera for over three decades. Dominique’s photo credits include Audubon, Birder's World, Field and Stream, National Geographic World, Natural History, National Wildlife, Outdoor Life, Outdoor Photographer, Ranger Rick and Smithsonian, to name a few, as well as a wide variety of books and calendars. He has also authored numerous articles for nature and photo magazines, including a 12-year stint as a nature columnist for Lake Country Journal magazine based in Brainerd, Minnesota. He has been a contract photographer for the USFWS and, more recently, for the Minnesota DNR. His book, Minnesota Wildlife Impressions, was published in 2008 by Farcountry Press.
As a former educator, “it saddens me to see that, in this age of irrepressible fascination with reality TV, selfies and all manner of hollow entertainment, ignorance of the most basic facts about our natural world is the norm. The real show surrounds us daily, in all its vivid colors, amazing cast of characters and breath-taking drama, and all it takes to have a front row seat to it is to put down the phone, be still, listen and observe. It is my humble hope that my images will inspire appreciation and respect for the infinite natural wonders that populate every square inch of the magnificent planet we live on.”