IN MY EYES, he was Minnesota’s best-known photographer. Exceptionally talented. No one even comes close to matching the wildlife and nature photography of Jim Brandenburg. He died April 4 at the age of 79. Not only has Minnesota lost a creative icon, but so has the world. Brandenburg’s prolific work was featured in National Geographic Magazine, earning him the publication’s coveted Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023. His award-winning photos were widely-published internationally. He also published numerous books featuring collections of his photos.
But there is perhaps one lesser-known place where Brandenburg’s images can be found. And that’s in the Brandenburg Gallery inside the historic Rock County Courthouse in his hometown of Luverne. That’s in the extreme southwestern corner of Minnesota. The prairie. My prairie.
Eleven years ago I toured that gallery, studying and enjoying a sampling of Brandenburg’s images. Many in this collection are prairie-themed. Because I’m a photographer, I viewed his photos with a more focused perspective, noticing angles, light, background and all the components which come together in creating an outstanding image.
Every photographer understands that light is the very basic element to consider in shooting photos. Brandenburg challenged himself to take a single picture per day between the autumnal equinox and the winter solstice. The result is his collection of photos, Chased by the Light: A 90-Day Journey, a favorite of mine among his books.
When I traveled to Luverne in 2013 to visit the Brandenburg Gallery and other attractions, including Blue Mounds State Park, I was returning to the wide open land and big skies of the prairie, the place that shaped me as a person, photographer and writer. The same can be said for Brandenburg. He loved the prairie and, in fact, established the Brandenburg Prairie Foundation aimed at southwest Minnesota native prairie education, preservation and expansion. His organization partnered with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to purchase nearly 1,000 acres of untilled Rock County prairie, creating Touch the Sky Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge.
Those environmental efforts are revealing. Brandenburg cared deeply about the land, especially the prairie. After college, he returned to the prairie and worked as a picture editor at The Worthington Daily Globe. While there, he freelanced for National Geographic Magazine. And so his career developed until he became that homegrown photographer whose work so many worldwide grew to appreciate and love.
I admire photographers who excel in the craft. And Brandenburg certainly excels in wildlife photography, a specialized field that requires much more than understanding photo basics. Photographing wildlife requires incredible patience and knowledge of animals. I have neither. But when you look at a Brandenburg photo, it’s like you are right there up close with the subject. Perhaps a wolf—one of his favorite subjects. Or bison. You can see the deep respect Brandenburg holds for these creatures of the wild.
And then there’s landscape photography which, when done well, draws you into a scene and evokes an emotional response. Again, Brandenburg has this seemingly effortless ability to capture the essence of a place and connect it to his audience.
Minnesota has lost an incredibly gifted photographer. But Brandenburg’s legacy lives on in his work, a gift to all of us. And one place to find that is in the Brandenburg Gallery in Luverne. On my beloved prairie. On Brandenburg’s beloved prairie.
FYI: The Brandenburg Gallery, 213 E. Luverne St., is owned and operated by the Luverne Area Chamber of Commerce. It’s open from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday and from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday. Admission is free. All photos featured in this post were taken with permission of the Brandenburg Gallery in 2013.
© Copyright 2025 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
What amazing photographs from a very talented photographer. I am so glad you shared his life with us today—- I am grateful to artists who share their gifts with the world.
I feel the same. Grateful.
what a loss to the photography world. I love the mural of the bison at the top and the 90 equinox project sounds like a fascinating undertaking. what a talent he was –
Jim Brandenburg was truly a talented photographer and a man who cared deeply about the land.
He was an amazing photographer. I loved his work. I, too, have the book Chased by the Light. I was so intrigued by the idea of taking one picture a day. I would like to go see the gallery in Luverne sometime.
You would really enjoy the Brandenburg Gallery and Blue Mounds State Park. I did not visit Touch the Sky when I was in the Luverne area. But given your love of the outdoors, you would definitely appreciate that prairie place. Luverne and that area of sw MN are rather an undiscovered treasure. I think it’s time for me to do a return visit.
He was an amazing photographer, and his environmental efforts are so inspiring. I remember seeing his book ‘Chased by the Light’. Thank you for sharing the Brandenburg Gallery in Luverne. I’ll have to remember this when we go that direction next, it would be wonderful to see those photos.
This may a bit off-topic, but have you put together your own books – of your photography, Talking Stick stories, your newspaper articles, or your most cherished blog posts? These are all areas you excel, and I think it would be fantastic for your grandchildren (and friends like me) to read. Or if you have put together books already, where can we find them?
Your suggestion that I compile my work in a book is not the first I’ve gotten. Thus far I have not been motivated to tackle such a major project. It’s a great idea, though, if someone would just do it for me. 🙂