Antoine
@onkwel_photography
Landscape photographer based in France
The moment my partner and I started working and earning money, we went on discovery and traveled to countries we had always been so curious to. Working for months to finally be able to escape and discover the world once or twice a year is a huge luck, or even privilege, that I wish everyone. We traveled to European countries first, and headed further away later on. Japan was our first “far away” destination and until today it has been the most beautiful trip of my life, of our life. The culture, the people, the architecture… A trip I will never forget, such a wondrous country! I’ve only one regret… not having been interested in photography yet back in that time!
Once I started an Instagram account with the idea of sharing my travel pictures taken with my phone I suddenly discovered a whole new world: Photography. I had never been interested in that before, even though I have always loved to take photos as a souvenir of my travels, a memory. I noticed that a photo took on a completely different dimension when being captured with a “real” camera. As soon as I realized how much better I would be able to immortalize and showcase the places I visited I got completely into photography. I spend hours studying the subject via tutorials, guides, and connecting with photographers on Instagram. And I asked so many questions to community members, especially to @alxcrzt (merci à toi l’ami). How to start with photography, which camera to choose, the rules in photography, the traps to avoid… So much to learn!
I had a trip to Canada planned for the end of September, so I had to equip myself quickly. I chose to buy a Canon Eos M50 in August last year, my first camera! Now I had the gear and had gone through the theory it was time to practice and apply all that I had learnt. My ambitious objective was to know how to manage the camera decently before taking off to Canada. Living in the heart of Burgundy, I headed to the wine yards during one month to test the gear and acquire the basic techniques. Soon I realized I would not be ready for Canada… Snapping a photo is easy, but you can’t learn photography in a blink. I had to learn “on the job” so to say, in Canada.
"The Canadian landscapes are incredible, I am sure no one could be insensitive to them. I didn’t stop taking photos as I was amazed by everything."
I would like to thank my partner again for her patience and support throughout the trip, because being a beginner, I am not so quick in setting up and taking photos yet! In the meantime photography has become a significant part of my life and I have become a little quicker over time too… Though I am still a beginner and lots of my time I dedicate to learning about photography and editing. Also, I have made time to practice photography outdoors, leaving for a weekend to great natural and vast spaces in Germany, the Alps or the Jura in France. These kinds of places inspire me; the ambiance of the forest, the calm of the lakes, the magnitude of the mountains… Canada was just perfect for that and will always have a big place in my heart because it is also the first country I saw through my lens. There, I fell in love with nature and I take every chance now to discover the splendor of Europe this time with my camera. With the virus, all the projects are on stand-by. My trips to Lofoten and Greece were canceled unfortunately, but I used the opportunity to go less far and see the beauty of the Black Forest and the French Alps.
I love the post-processing part because nothing is ever fixed, you can constantly evolve and try new things. You can see that on my feed too. With the first photos I posted I tried something, and since then the aesthetic has changed. Right now I’m trying to get a fairly soft touch with light blacks but still in a slightly dark mood. I desaturate the colors to have a less violent effect and ensure homogeneity. I admire the work of people like @withluke or @kylevollaers on this point. But I don’t want to restrict myself to a single style, which is why I’m planning new things for future posts, at least using different tones to renew a little. The location influences the way I edit as well. I realized that in Canada, so many gorgeous views and spots, and I edited my photos depending on the atmosphere and how I experienced these spots.
"I prefer not to have a fixed style, to keep learning new techniques, use different color palettes, but above all to transmit the unique ambiance of the place."
"Photography has opened my eyes to our planet and inextricably related to that, the importance of conserving it."
It’s when being in nature and finding yourself surrounded by its flora and fauna that we realize the impact our way of living has on our planet. I am much more cautious and much more sensitive now to the protection of our environment, wildlife, and active with reducing my personal footprint …I question myself about the frequency of travel or the modes of transport because of the emissions and, maybe not the biggest change in my life but certainly a very important one, is that I am (almost) vegetarian now. For several months I have made lots of effort to change my food diary, so to say. I still eat some meat, mostly for practical reasons when I am invited for dinner or when eating in a restaurant, but I believe I am on the right track. I love cooking and now I try to find delicious alternatives for meat and fish to still enjoy my time in the kitchen and eating; you will be surprised about the possibilities and new ingredients you get to discover when switching your diet.
Photography has oriented me toward this choice, together with a few other influences. I have connected to nature much more than I ever did before and out of respect for the environment and my desire to preserve nature I made this decision. I am aware that one person less eating meat won’t change the world considering the mass consumption everywhere but personally I don’t want to be part of it anymore. And maybe, through exchanging and discussing, two or three others might follow. My passion for the preservation of the Earth is also why for any purchase of a print for sale on my website, I donate 50% of the profits to associations that are close to my heart, to try to help in my own way and the buyers of my art in turn, also help at the same time.
"With photography and the connection with nature, I feel I have found an extra and meaningful purpose in life and will try to link this hobby with work and turn it into a professional activity at some point."
Secondary to my main job at first, but with that idea I created a website and will gradually build my brand. Even though I am just a beginner, I don’t want to waste time. I am already in my 30s and don’t want to have anything to regret. Important is to try, and give yourself the means. Now I am referring to photography, but I mean in general… We should not postpone things that we feel passionate about. Pursuing it may be scary, risky or uncertain, but trying is better than regretting!
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