Brake's images captured all walks of university life

by Jim Patterson

Neil Brake, whose tens of thousands of photographs of the Vanderbilt community over the past eight years will serve forever as a resource for anyone interested in the history of the university, died Nov. 4 at his home outside of Nashville. He was 47. A memorial service was planned for Dec. 3 at 4 p.m. in Vanderbilt’s Benton Chapel.

“Neil was an extraordinarily talented photographer who brilliantly captured many, many very memorable moments in the life of the university and the medical center,” said Beth Fortune, interim vice chancellor for public affairs. “His photos will live on and will be a reminder of his enormous talent and his many contributions to Vanderbilt as a photographer, colleague and friend.”

Joel Lee, associate vice chancellor for VUMC communications, said that Brake had been “a terrific addition to the news and public affairs family.”

“His talents as a photographer are unquestioned, and we will miss him greatly,” Lee said.

Athletes, scientists, doctors, administrators, students, faculty and many staff members at Vanderbilt were captured for posterity by Brake, a gentle and indefatigable presence who was a master at putting his subjects at ease. In the past year he worked as senior photographer for Vanderbilt Medical Center, but during the bulk of his Vanderbilt career he worked for Vanderbilt Creative Services, serving as photographer for the Vanderbilt Register, the science Web site Exploration and many other university publications, as well as covering the full spectrum of events that happen at a major university. He was particularly well known for his work at athletics events.

Brake’s photographs also were published by The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and in Sports Illustrated, The New York Times, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Time, Newsweek, Life and USA Today.

The funeral was held Nov. 7 in Tuscaloosa, Ala.      

Posted 12/01/08