NikonNet and Legends Behind the Lens Honor James Balog

From the beauty of endangered animals to the destruction of natural disasters, nature has many sides that a photographer can capture. The true legends in this field respect nature's awesome power while working to share its vast beauty with the rest of the world.

It is the secret behind the success of one of the world's most respected nature photographers, James Balog.

This April, NikonNet's inspiring monthly, "Legends Behind the Lens," honors the work of esteemed nature photographer James Balog.

Recently, Balog was presented with an opportunity to photograph the unbridled power of nature and its effects. A month after the infamous tsunamis struck the islands of Indonesia in December 2004, Balog arrived in Banda Aceh, one of the hardest hit areas in Southeast Asia. He spent a week in Banda Aceh, taking photographs and helping with recovery efforts.

"There were pictures everywhere I'd turn," he says. "Visually it was intense, a barrage of impressions. I couldn't stop photographing. Then at night I'd grit my teeth and cringe. I knew it was so visually rich because of so much sadness and horror. I was thinking, there are pictures everywhere, but look at what I'm photographing." Balog photographed not only the devastation, but also the work of body recovery teams, at times assisting them.