Brett J Donnelly Photography

Portrait of an Artist

Brett J Donnelly is a completely self-taught photographer.  His portfolio of rare images represent over a decade of work filming the inhabitants and landscapes of three continents. His limited edition prints present photography as a true art form both through his lens and in final presentation.

Known for his long-exposure photographs, Brett constantly pushes the envelope searching for rare colors in faint light.  Many of his images are captured before sunrise and after sunset.  While the world may appear dark to us, beautiful images take shape in Brett’s camera as his shutter stays open and the dim light of the landscape slowly falls upon the film.

Brett sees our world from a unique perspective.  With a scientific background and a passion for the outdoors, Brett has forged an ability to photograph the most stunning colors and landscapes rarely seen by the naked eye.  His drive to find and capture the grand beauty of our world has taken him to the ends of the Earth in search of that perfect shot.

A Unique Beginning

Growing up with an interest in science and nature, Brett spent many summers hiking the Rocky Mountains and exploring the Southwest with his grandparents. They took photographs everywhere they went not for artistic reasons but rather to document the journey. This was his introduction to photography and he was hooked. He saved up and purchased his first camera when he was only 10 years old.

When Brett was 12 years old he fell ill and battled health problems midway through his teenage years. While he was sick he spent time learning all the technical aspects of his camera. He began to see in his mind what a photograph would look like if he changed the parameters of his shot. It is a skill that he takes with him into the field everyday. Many of the images Brett captures today are far more complex than what he could do as a child, but the same basic principles apply to any type of photography.

Born into a family of entrepreneurs, Brett learned from an early age to dream big and that it’s never “work” if you love what you are doing.  So during the early years of the Internet he started a graphics design firm that created commercial and government websites. As successful as the venture was, his passion was lighting. In 2001, Brett founded a light source design company involved in creating alternative lighting products. He could now use both his design acumen and his knowledge of lighting to create innovative products for the commercial marketplace. Soon he discovered that due to this expertise he was invited to lecture to architects, engineers and interior design firms regarding the interplay of light and human perception with architectural features and building materials. This understanding of the interaction of light and the man-made world is now brilliantly translated to the natural world through his true passion… photography, which he is able to share with you through his limited edition prints.