Relaxing mono

Víctor J Rincón explains how to enjoy capturing the essence of nature

Since I was young, I have always paid attention to small details, and liked to look at things in a different way. I think this was indicative that one day I would end up enjoying photography.

My interest in photography started when I was a teenager but it was when I was studying for my degree in environmental sciences when I was able to buy a bridge camera. I learned the basic concepts with that camera; it wasn’t the best gear, but it did allow me to start enjoying nature, wildlife, landscape and macro.

I have always said that nature photography is my ‘yoga’. It is a very relaxing activity, and the time you spend out there makes you stop thinking about other stuff. You forget about problems, about work; you only focus on the picture you want to take. When you shoot in monochrome, you are thinking in black and white, and you look for pictures that will work in that style. Some people might think that shooting nature pictures in black and white is not the right decision, because nature is full of colour. But many artists (like Rembrandt, Degas and Picasso) have done this in the past. Removing colour and playing with light and shadow allowed them to focus on the essence of the paintings. This happens with nature photography in the same way.

I believe that shooting in black and white makes the observer appreciate the essence of nature, then lets their imagination colour the photography. If you haven’t done it already, I encourage you to try capturing nature photography in monochrome: you will enjoy it for sure.