Nils's photographs are largely documentary and based on his perceptions of athleticism and physicality, the end result tending towards nature and the beast.
These images range from portraiture to still life and oftentimes emphasize the spirit of sport.
Nils received his B.A. from Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire and earned his M.F.A. from the Rhode Island School of Design.
Nils and his wife Regina split their time between New York, Oregon and Iowa alongside their children Emmet, Faye, Sonnie and dogs Pearl, Edith, and Nellie.