DC: You started your career as a model and then made the pivot to become an internationally renowned photographer. Describe the moment when you discovered that there was more power behind the lens versus being in front of the camera.
NB: I never intended on becoming a model, rather ironically, I fell into it after my mother entered me into a televised model search in 1989. Instead of heading straight to college I took a year off to try my hand at modeling to make a little money and see the world. One year led to two which led to several more and instead of a university life I experienced the school of life. After 6 or so years traveling and living in cities like Paris, Milan, London, and New York, it became increasingly obvious that a modeling career wasn’t sustainable for me. I am a big guy at 6’4” and as the mid Nineties approached ushering in the era of androgyny and heroin chic, I knew I would have to pivot. As it happened I had always been a creative person and had studied fashion design, tailoring, weaving and pattern cutting as well as photography whilst at high school. So it was pretty clear from working as a model that I would really be more fulfilled and have greater staying power if I transitioned from one side of the lens to the other. For several years I did both modeling and photography and because of my experience as a model I was able to use that knowledge to help empathize with my subjects and I believe help them relax in front of my lens.