Nate Gowdy (b. 1984; Elkhart, Indiana) is a Seattle photographer of 14 years whose work examines the performance of American politics and identity through a documentary fine-art lens.

A former staff photographer for Seattle Gay News, Gowdy began his career documenting the city’s queer nightlife and drag communities. From 2011 to 2024, he served as the official photographer for the Seattle Pride Parade, contributing to the visual depth of the city’s vibrant LGBTQIA+ history. In 2012, he dedicated himself to Washington state’s campaign for marriage equality.

Since 2015, Gowdy has self-funded coverage of hundreds of political events across 27 states and Washington, DC. His portrait of Senator Bernie Sanders ran on the cover of TIME in 2016, and editorial clients include Rolling Stone, Mother Jones, and other national outlets. His long-form projects often foreground the spectacle and polarization of partisan gatherings, particularly on the American right.

In 2019, Gowdy launched The American Superhero, a collaborative portrait and storytelling series featuring individuals across the cultural spectrum. The following year, he co-authored Our Students, Their Stories, a 100-page coffee table book celebrating LGBTQIA+ students, families, and staff—the first publication of its kind commissioned by a U.S. school district.

In 2023, he published INSURRECTION, the only photojournalistic monograph to chronicle the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Featuring Gowdy’s timestamped photographs and contextual captions, the books offers a visceral, ground-level account of the attack. It has sold over 1,500 copies and is distributed at nategowdy.com and Elliott Bay Book Company.

Gowdy holds a journalism degree from Indiana University.  He is the founder of Pigeon Editions, a small press focused on photobook publishing, and his fine-art prints are represented by Monroe Gallery of Photography in Santa Fe. Beyond his projects, he divides his days between teaching, kayaking, being with loved ones, and wondering what happens next.

For work and print inquiries:
nate.gowdy@gmail.com