Brian Brake

Brain Brake was born and raised in New Zealand in 1927. When he was born, he lost his mother just six weeks after his birth. Further, he was adapted by mother’s grant aunt and her husband. Brain attended school at Christchurch. He was fond of photography since his childhood, he was a school club member in Christchurch Photographic Society. At age of 20 he already achieved the honor of being an associate of Britain’s royal photographic society. He is the most successful international photographer and director. He worked for the Magnum cooperative and snapped famous shots of Pablo Picasso at a bullfight and the Monsoon series for life magazine. His work appeared regularly in the journals Paris Match, National Geographic, Life, and more. He was also rewarded as a director and producer, he shot many classic films for the National Film Unit in the late 40s and early 50s.

After attending a talk by National Unit Director Michael For long, brake decided to try motion pictures, and he was successful in that work. He directed twenty films. In October 2010, Te Papa Press published Brain Brake’s; Lens on the World, the first book to display and critique work across the breadth of brake’s career. The book contains a touring exhibition of Brake’s photographs. Brake reviews his lifelong quest for mastery over life from an Arthur’s Pass childhood to a fascination with Asia. He recalls time at National Film Unit for capturing waka huia. Egyptian tombs, and Castlepoint’s beach races for a new version of book gift of the sea. He took his last breath on 4th August 1988, he died of a heart attack. His documentary is an inspiration to youth. Brain Brake was one of the most successful international photographers. His career spanned forty years, from the 1940’s to his death in 1988.