5 Top Landscape Photographers on Getting the Perfect Shot

5 Top Landscape Photographers on Getting the Perfect Shot

Every job has its highs and lows. When we see incredible landscape photography we often forget about the 4 a.m. wake up calls after camping in extreme temperatures, the hikes through mountains lugging camera gear, and the frustrations of finding wifi signals in remote locations. Maybe the goal is to make it look easy – to clear out any distractions and focus on the beauty of the subject. But we can’t help but wonder, what does it take to get these incredible shots?

We asked 5 of the top landscape photographers, all members of The List, about their favorite and least favorite parts of the job. Each photographer had different things to say, but we admire their common passion to instill in every viewer an appreciation for our world and a responsibility to take care of it. Take a look.

Feature photo by Tobias Richter

 

Tobias Richter

Primary location: Saxony, Germany
Instagram | Facebook

“With my pictures, I try to bring the viewer closer to the beauty of untouched areas, to arouse interest in wild nature, and perhaps contribute to their preservation. I am concentrating on European mountain worlds, and I am always looking for impressive moods.

Despite the use of modern digital recording techniques, it is important for me to create a natural image of the landscapes and to restrict myself in the image processing. The documentary part of photography is important to me.

To capture the best light, I spend many nights in the mountains or begin my tours well before sunrise. Approximately four months a year, I travel outside of Germany. But even in the nearby Elbe Sandstone Mountains, I am almost always behind the camera under the most promising conditions. Over the years I have developed a deep connection to this grandiose landscape in the east of Germany.”

What are your favorite and least favorite parts of the job?
“For me the best part about being a professional landscape photographer is the freedom to choose my locations, subjects and schedule. Being in nature is great most of the time, even if you have to work.

On the other hand this lifestyle on the road or in nature brings some disadvantages. You have to run your office and do all the paperwork and emails regardless of where you are. Sometimes, especially when the weather conditions are great, and the hiking tours are long, I run out of time to capture everything, and I don’t get much sleep.”

Photo by Tobias Richter

Photo by Tobias Richter

 

Brynjar Ágústsson

Primary location: Reykjavík, Iceland
Instagram | Facebook

“Brynjar Ágústsson is an Icelandic freelance and self-taught photographer based in the Reykjavík area. He knows every corner of Iceland from his long experience traveling around the country in his camper with a camera and a tripod and capturing the unique light and scenery of the Icelandic wilderness. He is an adventurous and experienced traveler, being a former parachute jumper, windsurfer, rescue team member and mountain guide. Outdoors in the wild, he is at his peak.”

Photo by Brynjar Ágústsson

Photo by Brynjar Ágústsson

 

Kyle Jones

Primary location: San Francisco, Callifornia
Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

“I am a landscape photographer living in the San Francisco Bay Area. I create images that show our world in its most beautiful form. Starting with special locations, I seek out great light and carefully compose to draw the eye into the scene.”

What are your favorite and least favorite parts of the job?
“My favorite thing is when I make the effort to travel to a certain location, and I’m rewarded with beautiful light. It is wonderful to just enjoy the view sometimes.

My least favorite thing is that early morning alarm waking me up for a sunrise shot. Sunrise is probably my favorite time to photograph landscapes, but that alarm always hurts.”

Photo by Kyle Jones

Photo by Kyle Jones

 

Russ Bishop

Primary location: Ventura, California
Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Vimeo

“For over a quarter century, my stock and fine art images have illustrated articles, defined ad campaigns, and graced the walls of homes and offices. My goal is to capture the essence and emotion of a place by drawing the viewer into the frame as an active participant in the journey.”

What are your favorite and least favorite parts of the job?
“I’d have to say that my favorite part about being a landscape photographer is connecting with the natural world on an intimate level. I grew up hiking and climbing in the local Sierra Nevada Mountains, and outdoor photography became an extension of that – a way to share my love for the wild places with the rest of the world.

My least favorite part is probably when the alarm clock goes off at 4 a.m. on location. I’ve never been a morning person, but it’s funny how the sweet light of dawn and the excitement of what the new day will bring always energizes me and fuels my creative juices.”

Photo by Russ Bishop

Photo by Russ Bishop

 

Bertus Hanekom

Primary location: Loxton, South Africa
Instagram | Facebook

“I am a self-taught amateur landscape and outdoor photographer living near the small town of Loxton, South Africa. I am inspired by capturing and creating artistic images of nature, with a fondness for long exposures and the ocean. I have always had a fascination with nature and the great outdoors. From a young age, being outdoors felt better than being indoors. Photography has become the medium through which I attempt to communicate this love for the natural beauty all around us.”

What are your favorite and least favorite parts of the job?
“My favorite part about being a landscape photographer is the time spent in nature. Sometimes taking the photo almost becomes secondary to the whole journey of reaching a specific location.

The toughest part for me is switching off. As landscape photographers we tend to always have one eye on the sky, but in certain situations it’s good to leave the camera in the bag and just enjoy the moment. This is, of course, easier said than done.”

Photo by Bertus Hanekom

Photo by Bertus Hanekom

 

Check out our Instagram for more beautiful shots from these photographers and the blog for more highlights from other members of The List.

Next Post:
Previous Post:
This article was written by
There are 3 comments for this article

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *