“Life is either a great adventure or nothing.” – Helen Keller

Artists and adventurers make the best leaders. They are the ones who push us (and themselves) to explore the world beyond our comfortable limits: physically and emotionally. They’re the risk takers and big thinkers we need as our guides.

When I think of leaders, I often envision a middle-aged man wearing a red power tie with his dark blue suit, or someone in a uniform loaded with medals of war – or a silver-haired woman in a designer dress with sensible shoes. But none of these models of leadership fit the best leaders I’ve met – the adventurer and artist.

It’s my group of explorers who don’t let the trappings of power overshadow their intentions. They’re humble and unassuming people like Brian Christensen who makes his living as a National Geographic photographer, artist, and storyteller. Brian has enriched my life by taking me places I wouldn’t otherwise go. Even in his photographs, like the ones I’ve included here, he helps me discover a Nature I wouldn’t find without him in the lead.

I wish I’d have been with Brian when he took the pictures in this story; maybe next time I can hear him talk about the Tatseshini River that flows through the ranges of the Chilkoots and the Fairweather. He can explain how the river later forms Alsek Lake, and how the lake has been in that spot since the close of the ice age.

“It’s a spectacular wilderness cutting between Kluane Wilderness Park in Canada and Glacier Bay Park and Wrangell-St. Elias Wilderness in the United States. While surrounded by moose, bears, wolves and the glacially carved landscape, we marveled at how small we were in the largeness of Nature.”

It’s in Brian’s words that I feel the largeness of Nature; how I’m only a grain on its grand shore. He teaches me why, “… respect doesn’t come down from the top, it floats up from the bottom when we take care to keep the world alive and well.”

Bill Gates once said “As we look ahead into the next century, leaders will be those who empower others.” That’s Brian, helping others become empowered to see the world with new eyes. We need these leaders to help us keep our world alive and well for the future; without letting those wearing the trappings get in our way.

I’ll never journey to all the exciting places The Adventurers describe, or create any great works beside The Artists but I’ll listen to their stories, and study their work and hope to understand how true wisdom always bubbles up from the common.

How have you seen artists and adventurers as leaders in your life? Can you tell me how it’s in risk taking that movements are started?

Can something as simple as street art tell us a story, even start a movement for change?

Epilogue

If you like Brian’s images you can visit his site and discover the perfect image for you; either for your home or a wall as large as a billboard in your office.

Brian Christensen - Submergence
Brian Christensen’s Website – submergence.xyz