nautic legends

Nautic Legends is a long-term portrait series capturing the people who have shaped the global nautical world - world-class sailors, Olympic champions, America's Cup winners, yacht designers, boatbuilders, and entrepreneurs.

Since 2013, I have been photographing these personalities in my studio and on location, building a growing archive of portraits and conversations. What connects them is not fame - it is mastery, dedication, and the courage to push beyond what seems possible. The project is about the people behind the achievements, captured at close range, over years of trust.

I travel with a full studio setup to create consistent conditions wherever the session takes place - from Saint-Tropez to Barcelona to the Southern Ocean.

The black-and-white format strips away distraction and puts the focus where it belongs: on the person.

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read more about Jürg Kaufmann

download project documentation