tips

I had always loved beautiful images and found natural landscapes inspiring, but in my home country of Malaysia I had never really thought about making them myself. When I arrived into Perth, Western Australia more than a decade ago I found myself in a very different landscape – one that I couldn’t resist photographing.

Perth itself sits on a sun-drenched piece of coastline with picture perfect white sand beaches, and a river whose bends and cliffs must make it one of the world’s most beautiful bodies of water flowing through the middle of a major city. Once you leave the city, you find yourself in a vast and often empty expanse which can take your breath away with its sheer scale alone. The landscapes vary from dramatic coastal rock formations to towering forests and deep red desert. All along the coastline the sea is an arresting turquoise – unlike anywhere else – which contrasts with (but compliments perfectly) the almost blinding whiteness of the sand. There are places in this State where it would be hard to come away without a beautiful photo, no matter what your level of experience.

It was the beauty of these landscapes which inspired me to take up the camera and pursue the passion seriously. Every time I visited somewhere new, I had the urge to capture that landscape. It is about as different as it is possible to get from the tropical jungles of Malaysia, and I would send photos of the exotic places I visited home to friends and family. I soon found that I had the same desire when I travelled further afield, both within the rest of Australia and everywhere else. I had been focussed on building a business in web and graphic design, but I realised that photography added a new and exciting skill to my creative belt.

Nine years ago a friend, seeing that I had discovered my passion, bought me a tripod for my 30^th birthday and it opened up a whole range of new possibilities. Although it took me a year to really discover how useful it could be, I learned that this simple piece of equipment is an essential tool to make your landscape shots superb – rather than just great.

Shooting at night or at sunrise and sunset for example often requires a slow shutter speed, and the slightest shake of the hand can turn your postcard image into a blurry mess. Deciding where to set up the tripod also forces you to stop and think about the composition of the shot, and your photos usually end up better for it. I have been through four tripods now, and they have become an essential companion whenever I am out with my camera.

Shooting sunrises and sunsets has been one of the most enjoyable aspect of my work, and doing it has consistently provided me with spectacular photographs. There is a reason that they are featured in so many prints, brochures and websites. The sky is at its most vibrant and dynamic, and luckily for me Western Australia produces particularly impressive examples. No two sunrises or sunsets are ever the same, so each time you go to photograph one you never know exactly what you will come away with. The oranges, reds, yellows and pinks are dramatic, and when they combine with the natural blue of the sky the result is always spectacular.

Besides the fun of photographing them, I also find just experiencing them immensely satisfying. They bookend the day, and inspire reflections on what you have done or will do. Gautama Buddha said that “every day we are born again, it is what we do today that matters most”. Watching a beautiful sunrise is a perfect way to remind yourself of this, and to inspire you to leave yesterday’s troubles behind. Fortunately I have always been a morning person, and so have never had a problem getting up and into position before the sun comes up. Another wise person (although I am not sure who) said that “sunsets are proof that no matter what happens, every day can end beautifully”. Photographing this beauty only makes the experience even better.

In many ways I have found that photography suits my personality. It’s not just the early starts. To be a really good landscape photographer, the work and research you do before you get the camera out is as important as knowing how to use the equipment itself once you are ready to take your picture. This means doing more than just stopping like everyone else at the signposted beauty stop and taking the same photo as a hundred other people. It means going out and finding the best views, and these often aren’t the publicised ones. More often than not it means walking.

This has never been a problem for me, as I love being outside and surrounded by nature. Whether I am hiking through Tasmanian forests to find waterfalls, up a mountain in Austria or wandering around the historic streets of a quaint European city I am happy, and I have also stumbled unexpectedly onto some of my best photographs this way. The exercise I get while taking photographs helps keep my mind, body and soul in good shape and, although I would still try to get out and hike otherwise, I am glad that photography gives me a reason to do it more.

Of course you don’t always have people willing to come out on long walks with you, or to stand around in one spot while you wait with your camera and tripod for the exact moment that the colours of the sunset line up perfectly. Most photographers will agree that it can be a very solitary pastime, and it is also a tough career to get into – something that can be dispiriting at times. One of the things I have realised on my journey is that the support of family and friends is invaluable. Luckily mine are incredibly supportive, and they provide me with encouragement and constructive criticism whenever I need it.

So what have I learnt on my photographic journey? And what would I tell people hoping to get into the field themselves?

First of all, there is no substitute for learning the basics. You have to take the time to learn how to use your equipment, and to understand concepts like aperture, white balance and shutter speed. You have to learn to use Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop, and what the various types of filters and lens are used for. If you really want to take the craft seriously, you will never get the results you want with your camera on automatic mode. It can take time and some trial and error, but it is essential.

Once you have a handle on that, it is important to honestly assess the quality of the photos you are taking. Understanding the concepts of photography will make them better, but there are other types of quality to consider. What do you want to capture? What do you want your photos to say? Anyone with enough patience can eventually learn how a camera works, but not everyone can delight and inspire with their choices of subject and the way they compose their shots.

That said, don’t be discouraged early on because these things take time. If you love photography, have belief in yourself and your ability to get better. If you enjoy it enough to want to master it, and you believe that you have ability to do so, you will find yourself putting in the time required without even meaning to.

Having the right attitude is key. While photography itself is fun and engaging, making a career of it takes persistence and dedication. There are a lot of great photographers out there, and unfortunately not enough opportunities for everyone. Go the extra mile to get your work out there. Take the time to learn not just the basics of photography, but the quirks of your specific camera and equipment. If you can’t find the time or the money to get to the things and places you want to shoot, try to find a new perspective to photograph your local area with.

I plan to use all of these things, as well as everything else I have learnt for my next set of projects. This year I am excited to be travelling to the Western Hemisphere for the first time. Alongside a visit to the Andes of Peru and Chile, I will be spending time in USA and South Pacific. As well as the joy of experiencing a new part of the world, I can’t wait to photograph one of the most dramatic mountain ranges in the world and the vibrant culture of the people who live there.

Some of my work will be exhibited in places as far afield as Amsterdam, Milan, Barcelona and Las Vegas. Having already had a few artworks featured in exhibitions in recent months, I am excited that more people will be able to see my photography. Showing off my work to the public is an extremely rewarding experience, and hopefully I will get many more chances in the near future.

Finally I am in the early stages of a photography book which will document my adventures around the world so far. More details to come about that in the near future!

Exhibitions

2022

• Dramatic Lighting, Espaço Espelho D’Água, Lisbon Portugal, 15 to 17 July 2022 [Print]
• Nature Photography, Modeka, Manila, the Philippines, 16 to 19 April 2022 [Digital]
• My Perfect Shot, Agora Gallery, New York City, USA, 25 to 27 February 2022 [Digital]
• Your Favorite Exhibition Shot, Bridgeport Art Center, Chicago, USA, 21 January to 18 February 2022 [Digital]

2021

• Landscape Photography, Atelier Now, Dublin, Ireland, 14 to 17 October 2021 [Digital]
• Landcape Photograhy, 6×6 Centre for Photography, Limassol, Cyprus, 2 to 4 July 2021 [Digital]
• Travel photographer of the year, In the Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark, 24 to 26 June 2021 [Digital]
• Dramatic Lighting, ALMANAQUE fotográfica, Mexico City, Mexico, 10 to 13 June 2021 [Print]
• The Beauty of Earth, Milan Image Art Fair, Milan, Italy, 28 April to 2 May 2021 [Digital]
• Creative Composition, Laurent Gallery, Melbourne, Australia, 16 to 18 April 2021 [Print]
• Powerful Lighting, Valid World Hall, Barcelona, Spain, 9-11 April 2021 [Print]
• Powerful Composition, Blank Wall Gallery, Athens, Greece, 19 to 21 March 2021 [Digital]
• Your Favorite Shot – Premium Exhibition, Agora Gallery, New York City, USA, 11 to 13 February 2021 [Digital]

2020

• Best of Black and White, Laurent Gallery, Melbourne, Australia, 11 to 13 December 2020 [Digital]
• Travel Photography, Galleri Kontrast, Stockholm, Sweden, 23 to 26 July 2020 [Digital]
• The Beauty of Earth, Blank Wall Gallery, Athens, Greece, 28 February to 1 March 2020 [Digital]
• Your Exhibition Shot, Valid World Hall, Barcelona, Spain, 14 to 16 February 2020 [Digital]
• Powerful Composition, Laurent Gallery, Melbourne, Australia, 17 to 19 January 2020 [Digital]

2019

• Less is More, Laurent Gallery, Melbourne, Australia, 20 to 22 September 2019 [Digital]
• Your Exhibition Shot, Valid World Hall, Barcelona, Spain, 7 to 9 June 2019 [Digital]
• Powerful Composition, Xpozer’s Gallery, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 12 to 14 April 2019 [Digital]
• Minimalism, Piazza Lina Bo Bardi, Milan, Italy, 21 to 25 March 2019 [Digital]
• Urban Scenery, Valid World Hall, Barcelona, Spain, 8 to 9 March 2019 [Digital]
• Exhibition Shot, Mandalay Bay Hotel, Las Vegas, USA, 27 February to 3 March 2019 [Digital]
• Your Exhibition Shot, New Moment Gallery, Belgrade, Serbia, 7 to 9 February 2019 [Digital]
• Solo – Single Subjects, Valid World Hall, Barcelona, Spain, 25 to 27 January 2019 [Print]

2018

• Power Composition, Qlick Gallery, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 14 to 16 December 2018 [Digital]
• Your Exhibition Shot, Berlin Blue Art Gallery, Berlin, Germany, 16 to 18 November 2018 [Digital]

My gear

• Camera: Sony A7II
• Lens: Zeiss Vario-Tessar FE 24-70 mm F4 and Sony FE 70-200 mm F4
• Filters: Nisi Filters – circular polariser (CPL), 10-stop ND and 6-stop ND
• Tripod: Manfrotto Be Free
• Backpack: Peak Design 20L Everyday Backpack

Where I have been

• 2019 – Adelaide, Peru, Santiago, USA, New Caledonia
• 2018 – Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Sydney, Melbourne, Tasmania
• 2017 – Norway, New Zealand, Melbourne
• 2016 – Japan, Finland, Iceland, Sweden, Melbourne
• 2015 – Indonesia, Sydney, Melbourne
• 2014 – England, Spain, Melbourne
• 2013 – Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Melbourne 
• 2012 – Japan, Melbourne, Sydney
• 2011 – Tasmania
• 2010 – Sydney, Melbourne, China
• 2009 – Darwin, Melbourne
• 2008 and prior – Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, New Zealand, South Africa, Thailand and Vietnam