Gonzalo Baz
@gonzalo.baz
Travel and outdoor photographer based in Spain
My parents have always loved traveling and nature, they are biologists and since I was little I have accompanied them on their excursions and they have taken me with them on most of their trips. I remember that I truly enjoyed these trips; being free in nature. So from early on I learnt the importance of our natural world and to respect it. They had different cameras to take photos of these trips and I always liked to play with them. Though it was only years later when I saw a photo from Alex Strohl and saw what he was capable of creating with a camera that I thought “maybe I can do this too.” One month later I bought my own camera and started to practice. Alex is the one who inspired me to enter the world of photography, who inspired me take photography courses and live a more adventurous lifestyle.
"Being outdoors and photography are two passions that create a perfect togetherness; I am not sure if I travel to photograph or photograph to travel. Maybe it’s both ways."
"I am truly grateful for the support that I have been receiving from my family and friends from the very beginning to make this work."
My parents, who always took me on their trips when they could. My friends, who would accompany me whenever they could even if they had to wake up early. And of course my grandparents who helped me to buy my first camera and always stimulated me to keep learning. Actually, I am doing a photography course at a school in Madrid now, mainly to learn and practice in other ambiences. I am shooting landscapes for several years already but I would like to learn how to apply my photography in other genres as well to broaden my skills. For example, having always worked with natural light, I am now learning how to work properly with artificial light which can help me to be more creative in different situations. Though my main learning strategy is still to go outside and practice. Whenever I can I escape, I jump into my car with my camera in search for new spots.
"Usually I would look for mountainous areas, or somewhere by the sea, a lake or a river. That always gives a special touch to a place, and therefore to the photo."
I also try to see enough photos of the place I plan to go, to get to know it before I go and think of some ideas already. Just roaming around the place and getting lost is interesting too, but I would often prepare myself a little because it can help with finding the best routes, spots and compositions. I would be disappointed if I go somewhere and only at the end of the day I find the best spots. Or worse, when I come home and I suddenly discover places I should have gone. Besides obtaining information about photography spots, looking at work of other photographers inspires me artistically. I learn, get ideas and go outside to try to carry them out in my own way. By looking at others, I discover new perspectives, new tools and new ways of editing.
However, before being solely positively inspired by work of others, it used to generate a lot of uncertainty within me. I was comparing myself with other photographers and not being able to achieve the kind of visual content they created was frustrating me a lot, until the moment that I understood that it is a process and that, like everything, it requires apprenticeship and time. I had to be patient, had to give myself the opportunity to grow.. I wouldn’t expect from someone else either to be pro overnight.
Looking and analyzing work of other photographers became a source of inspiration and energy, a tool to improve my own work, instead of something I compared myself with, that would made me feel incapable and therefore limit my potential. When looking back at photos I did three years ago, I am proud of my progress.
In my photography I mainly focus on three factors. First would be light, of course. I favor taking photos at sunrise or sunset, but find cloudy ambiances with shadows really interesting to shoot too. The second would be composition; whether I am going to include a specific subject in my photograph or not and from which perspective I am going to capture it. And finally the focus, making sure that the photo is correctly focused on what I had in mind. Thinking about it, these would be the three main factors, but actually many of my photos are improvised.
"And I believe that improvisation is an essential factor in photography too, it makes a photograph more authentic."
"When I edit a photo, I often try to stay true to the original photo while editing the image according to how I remember the place."
Starting with adjusting the basics, then the tone curve, colors and at the end some specific alterations. However sometimes I like to experiment, play with different tones and do something new. Letting my creativity free to go and see what result comes out. It can be very surprising and it helps to evolve. I believe that even once you have found a style you like or that represents your brand, it is important to keep exploring other possibilities. Shooting together or doing an editing session with others is a great manner of boosting your creativity; you can basically join the creative process of the other and build something amazing together. As much as I love being outside and photographing the beautiful surroundings, it is always better when being in good company. Going on these adventures together is so much fun and creates not only a special bond at the moment itself, but also great memories for later.
"That is probably what I enjoy most about doing photography, together with watching the sunset, which always succeeds in making me feel relaxed and peaceful, contemplating the landscape covered by a soft light, slowly hiding in the darkness."
"It is one of the moments that I always hope to encounter during my photography trips."
I already imagine myself watching the sun going down and disappearing behind the mountain or drowning in the sea, leaving us alone with these beautiful warm colors until the dark takes over. I quickly learnt that I should be careful with this kind of expectations though. One of the trips that has marked me the most was the Dolomites in 2018, where apart from improving in terms of the photographs I took, I learned to always be prepared to change the plan. I had bad luck with the weather and the plan had to be adjusted on the go. I felt totally frustrated in the beginning, especially because I had been dreaming of going to the Dolomites for a long time. It was hard to accept but of course the weather it is something you can’t control, very often not even predict despite the many sources or apps there are. Over time I learnt that not always everything turns out as how I imagined it and to still get the best possible out of the situation.
"When something similar happens to me now, I try to stay calm and search for an alternative, focusing on what positive the situation can bring me instead of feeling frustrated about what seems to be negative."
I am proud of my journey, as a photographer and as a human being. I have developed myself a lot in the past few years, more than I could ever imagine. As said, my friends and family have played an invaluable role in here. I have learnt what I am capable of; we should never underestimate ourselves and our capabilities! Follow your passion fearlessly and create your own learning opportunities. You will see how far you can get!
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