Walking lies at the core of Isabelle Kettner’s work, a way to steady her restlessness, sharpen perception, and pursue freedom. This approach has led her to centre her practice as a black-and-white photographer on the everyday life of nomadic peoples, the terrains they call home, and the small moments that define them.
DRYLANDS
Travel is integral to her work. Venturing into remote areas within the Sahara and Sahel, she often sleeps under open skies alongside nomadic pastoralists, following their daily rhythms and challenges at a time when many of these communities are shifting towards a more settled way of life.
Joining their world of continuous movement demands endurance and flexibility, teaching her to work with only the essentials. Using a Leica Monochrom and a 50 mm lens — closely mirroring the human eye — she maintains a disciplined perspective, remaining present but unobtrusive.
