On board with… Shooting the ocean
1 What to look for in a composition
“First and foremost, how can I bring the viewer into this scene, how can I give them the ability to feel like they’re with me? That’s a huge part of it. If I’m so obsessed with the artistry that I lose sight of giving the viewer an honest perspective, then that becomes challenging for me. Over the years, I have tried to become a little more aware of the viewer and aware of their perspective.”
2 Simplify the process
“Simplifying the process is really important. You know the old adage about the best camera being the one you have with you? I don’t believe that’s true. I think the best camera is the one you’re willing to pull out, the one you’re willing to use. I’ve been in a beautiful area in a really remote location, but unwilling to pull out my camera because it was too cold or it was at the bottom of my bag.”
3 Choose the tool that suits you
“Photographers nowadays have so many tools at their disposal… as well as mirrorless cameras and DSLRs, camera drones, camera phones and GoPros are all great for documenting what you see. The older I get, though, the less I feel I have to stick to a certain medium or format.”
4 Make the most of camera tech…
“I would be lying if I said that technology has not helped play a role in what I feel I can create now. There was a time when I felt limited by camera technology, but the constant improvements in what cameras can do have made it a little easier to realise my creative vision.”
5 … but don’t let it be the main focus
“We have access to so much technology, it’s overwhelming. In many ways, it doesn’t do us a service; in fact, having so much tech might even do us a disservice. I never like it when people feel in some way that they need technology to get the image. Of course, I feel that technology is a part of it – if it’s for a specific image or a specific photo and it helps you tell the story you need, then it’s a great tool to use. But I don’t think the technology needs to become the singular focus.”