Inspired by the great outdoors, adventure, and photography, Aaron moved to Banff to accomplish his creative vision and goals. In this article, Aaron shares his most valuable experiences and lessons learned, some of his favorite moments and pics, his four ingredients for capturing a great photo, and multiple pieces of advice to create sharp and natural-looking outdoor images!
I have an inherent desire to explore and travel, to break away from the comfort of my surroundings and immerse myself in unfamiliar territories, encounter diverse individuals and engage in novel experiences. This inclination has become a fundamental aspect of my life, and my fervor for photography amplifies my urge to embark on new adventures. For me, photography and travel are intertwined; my camera serves as an additional incentive to wander, and the more extraordinary locations I visit, the more I capture.
The first took place during my most recent visit to Chamonix in the spring of 2019. During the two weeks skiing with my uncle, the person responsible for instilling my love for outdoor pursuits, we attempted to pack in as much excitement as possible. It was after this trip that I realized I didn’t want to limit myself to merely vacationing in the mountains. Instead, I wanted to pursue the dream of living in a mountainous region and having easy access to these awe-inspiring landscapes right outside my front door. For months, I researched potential ways to achieve this aspiration, and it ultimately led me to my current residence in Banff, Canada.
The second defining moment occurred during a road trip with one of my closest friends to Scotland in November 2019. Our journey took us through Glen Coe and up to the Isle of Skye, where I experienced a profound sense of reassurance in my photography. I captured images of an incredibly inspiring location that I was immensely proud of.
Finally, my move from Wales to Canada marks the last transformative moment. It was an adventure of epic proportions, a daydream that materialized into a reality as I sat on the bus headed for the airport with my camera in hand. Before moving, I had extensively researched Canada, knowing full well that it was a photographer’s paradise. The renowned lakes I had seen on Instagram only amplified my excitement, and I gradually ticked off a lengthy list of locations I wanted to capture. Along the way, I experienced a plethora of unforgettable moments.
Moving to Canada opened up a world of possibilities for me, both creatively and personally. The country’s vast and diverse landscape offers me endless opportunities to capture captivating moments, for which I am immensely grateful.
A) Photography cannot be forced; passion shows in the images. If my heart isn’t in it, I won’t come away with good shots.
B) It’s crucial to not lose sight of the experiences that come with photography. I’ve made the mistake of solely focusing on taking pictures, forgetting to put the camera down and appreciate the moment. My best photos come from planning an adventure and capturing the natural, raw moments along the way.
C) It’s important to appreciate the little moments, as they can add depth to the story I’m trying to tell with my photos.
D) To foster creativity, it’s important to have a plan in place but also to leave some room for spontaneity. Ideas, goals, and storytelling themes can be noted down beforehand, but many aspects of photography are beyond our control. Lighting may not be as anticipated, distractions may arise at the shoot location, or weather conditions may prevent the planned shots. In travel photography, flexibility is key to adapting and improvising when the original plan changes. Although communicating this approach to clients can be difficult, it’s beneficial to hear their ideas and visions, and then ask for some creative freedom.
E) One of my most significant collaborations was with Vallon, an eyewear company specializing in outdoor sports. Being an adventure sports photographer, I reached out to them to shoot their ski goggles and glacier glasses, as I use these products regularly for work and leisure. Vallon was enthusiastic about collaborating with me, and they appreciated my photography and gave me the creative freedom to do what I wanted.
They were a kind and supportive company that shared my values, and I am excited to be working with them. Through this collaboration, I have learned the importance of maintaining a good relationship with the client, being honest with ideas, and constant communication. I hope this opportunity will help me in the future to work with other outdoor and travel-based brands.
The Bugaboo Mountains in July of last year left a lasting impact on me. The desire to climb there had been a long-held dream of mine. The area’s unique and challenging nature, combined with its stunning beauty, made it all the more desirable.
The first night, we camped in the parking lot, sleeping in the back of our cars. The following two nights were spent at the climbers’ paradise known as Applebees Campground. Nearly everyone there was a skilled climber, each with an ambitious objective for the coming days.
The entire region was the most pristine alpine environment I had ever seen, and everyone had great respect for the mountains and the outdoors. At night, the only sounds that filled the campground were the clinking of cams, nuts, and carabiners as everyone prepared for the next day’s early start, the hiss of camp stoves boiling water, and the occasional distant rumble from a falling serac. The few days I spent climbing the massive granite spires were incredible. It introduced me to a new style of climbing that pushed me harder than anything I had climbed before and left me daydreaming about the place for weeks to come.
Kayaking 25 km to Spirit Island in Jasper National Park was an unforgettable experience for my wife and me too. Despite paddling through dense fog for hours, we persisted and hoped for a stunning view of the surrounding mountains. Finally, as we approached the island, I caught a glimpse of the peaks high above us, shrouded in clouds. The sight was breathtaking, perhaps due to being down at the lake’s surface making them appear even larger, or the dramatic effect of the clouds.
As we landed on the shore, we stretch our legs and watched the morning sun begin to burn off the fog. We were rewarded as the clouds lifted like a curtain, revealing the breathtaking scenery around us. It was an incredible moment, feeling proud of our accomplishment of arriving under our arm power at just the right time.
I am also proud of the image you see below. I have chosen this image as it captures a perfect moment where everything came together. I am proud of this shot and feel lucky to have captured it.
Although I had been reading up on weather patterns that could predict a cloud inversion like this, I did not check the weather that morning. However, when I arrived at work and saw the low-hanging fog with a faint blue tint above it, I decided to take the chairlift up the mountain to get above the cloud and see the mountain tops peeking through the fog, like islands in the sea.
With about an hour to spare before meeting my group (I work as a Via Ferrata Guide), I arrived at the top lift station and saw this breathtaking view. Armed only with my camera and without a tripod, I quickly constructed a camera stand out of a plastic deck chair and ran down the hillside to a clear spot. After taking a hundred bad photos, I managed to capture this one perfectly lined-up shot. I love this image because it embodies everything I enjoy about photography – spontaneity, seizing the moment, and the thrill of capturing the perfect shot under challenging circumstances. The weather and lighting conditions were in my favor, and looking at the image still fills me with the excitement of the morning and a sense of accomplishment.
In my personal opinion, a great photo comprises four essential components, namely subject, location, weather, and my interpretation of the image.
A photo needs a clear focal point that draws the viewer’s attention, be it a person, animal, towering peak, or product. My preference is centered subject placement, as it results in a minimalistic aesthetic that I find most appealing.
Location is a significant factor in photography, as a stunning place can make capturing a good photo effortlessly. On the other hand, a seemingly basic location can be transformed into an exceptional image with some skill and a keen eye for detail.
I believe that the weather plays a critical role in photography as it can either make or break an image. I try to embrace all weather conditions, from moody and rainy days that provide a unique atmosphere to sunsets and sunrises that offer the perfect lighting and shadows to enhance scale. However, a clear blue sky can make it challenging to achieve dramatic or cinematic styles of photography.
I recall a specific photo I took on a clear blue day where I used a drone to capture a ravine below. Unfortunately, one side of the canyon cast an enormous shadow, which covered the river, resulting in a contrasting nightmare. However, I returned a few days later on an overcast day and managed to capture the image I envisioned.
Finally, my interpretation of the image I capture is crucial to me. I aim to convey my emotions, effort, and vision through the image. The beauty of editing in post-production is that it provides countless options to create a personal vision within the photograph. There are endless ways to take a photo and edit it, and each photographer has their unique style and perspective.
Canada has many breathtaking landscapes that inspire awe and wonder, but to me, the most inspiring places are the Rocky Mountains in Alberta, the Bugaboos, and the coastal mountains of British Columbia. These natural wonders offer an abundance of stunning vistas, from snow-capped peaks and sparkling lakes to lush forests and rugged coastlines.
On my first visit to Lake Louise in Alberta, I woke up at 4 am to drive from Canmore to the lake and make it in time for sunrise. Despite the early wake-up call, I felt excited about the opportunity to capture some great shots.
As we drove along the highway, the full moon hung above us and illuminated the silhouette of the mountains. When we arrived at the lake, I noticed that it was partially frozen, so I looked for a different perspective that didn’t include the ice. Through the viewfinder of my camera, I scanned the lake for a good shot and eventually settled on one that had a minimalist feel to it. The photo featured just the lake, the trees, and a small reflection.
When I edit my photos, I aim to achieve dreamy but natural tones. I prefer to add clarity and sharpness to my images, which is not a common approach among other photographers. To show my editing approach, I have randomly chosen a photo.
My editing process realistically involves lots of playing around with settings, and trial and error until I achieve the desired result. Most of the time I know how I want a certain image to look before I begin the editing process. But sometimes a small adjustment can open up a new door.
I start by applying a preset that I created. I have around five presets saved that focus mainly on lifting the blacks and adding a fade to the tone curve, increasing sharpness and clarity, and adding a slight teal blue to the highlights and orange to the shadows using split toning. This gives the dark areas a filmic tint that I like.
Once the preset is applied, I adjust the temperature depending on the image, making it warmer or cooler as needed. I also blow out the sky a little bit to achieve minimalism and draw focus to the subject. I lift the shadows to make the image look brighter and more vivid and use the HSL slider to get the colors as accurate as possible.
Next, I add a graduated filter to darken the bottom of most of my images and sometimes add one from the top to brighten the sky or add directional light. I also brighten the subject in the frame, crop the image depending on where I intend to use it (Instagram or website), straighten horizons, center the subject (if that’s my aim) or use the rule of thirds. Finally, I clean up the image by removing any distractions.
Camping is one of my favorite hobbies as it provides me with a sense of liberation. The experience of setting up a tent in the wilderness, sometimes far away from civilization, and disconnecting from social media and technology is incomparable. You don’t need much time or expensive gear to enjoy camping, just the basics. A tent, a hammock, or even just your car with the seats folded down and a pad or Thermarest for a good night’s sleep. It’s also important to bring a sleeping bag rated for the temperature you’ll be camping in and a small camping stove to cook your meals. Cooking while camping is an adventure in itself, and even the most basic food becomes exciting. A packet of ramen with a cooked egg on top is my go-to camping meal, and it always tastes as good as the first time.
Watching the sunset over the mountains while sitting in your sleeping bag and listening to the sound of the wind flickering the flame from the stove is an unforgettable experience. I used to drive to a viewpoint after work and cook something in the light of my headlamp, read a book, and sleep in the back of my car in the UK, and it gave me the mental reset I needed.
If you’re thinking about camping but unsure where to start, just get out there and do it! You can camp in the woods behind your house or even take a hike and camp along the way. Luxury items that I like to bring with me include a good book, my camera, some delicious coffee, a headlamp, hot chocolate, a knife, my bear spray (for camping in the Rockies), spare socks, a beanie, and buff to keep me warm and cover my eyes if I want to sleep in past sunrise.
In the future, I hope to have established a successful career in photography, with a focus on the styles I’m passionate about.
As an avid traveler, I aim to have explored much of the world, with upcoming plans to visit Europe, Nepal’s Himalayas, Peru, Africa, and more. Additionally, I aspire to advance my professional pursuits in the great outdoors, skiing, and climbing while working towards becoming a Ski Guide.
I’d also love to become certified in diving, and perhaps one day, if my partner and I decide to leave mountain life behind, I will venture into the ocean.
My commitment to staying true to myself and my passions will remain steadfast, and I will continue to seek out opportunities to work with like-minded individuals and businesses in the photography industry.
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