Joachim Schmeisser

Born in Germany in 1958, Joachim Schmeisser is best known for his iconic wildlife photography. We are extremely honoured to be able to represent him exclusively in the UK. 

In 2009 he started “Elephants in Heaven”, a major photographic series taken of orphan elephants at the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Kenya, a project which is still ongoing and has become increasingly close to his heart.  

“I see the photos of the elephants as portraits of individuals who are our equals – far removed from spectacular wildlife photography. What interests me is what lies beneath the surface, out of sight, the quiet yet intense encounters. I’d like you to see the images as a window into a fascinating world, where everything is connected to everything else. Protecting this nature is our most important mission.”

He has most recently been working on “The Last of their Kind”, creating exceptionally intimate portraits of species threatened with extinction. They are both a homage and a final warning - visual revelations that sharpen our clouded view of nature in all its infinite complexity as well as recognising what treasures we might irretrievably lose. “There is a very great danger that because of man’s lust for profit and his desire to kill, these stunningly beautiful creatures may become history all too soon.”  

In 2012, Joachim won the prestigious Hasselblad Award for this work. In 2017 his book “Elephants in Heaven” was launched by the publisher teNeues and sold out within 4 months. His latest book “The Last of their Kind” was published by teNeues in Spring 2021.