Cristian’s journey has been fueled by his curiosity, inspiration from talented creators, and solo adventures. His journey has taught him the value of dedication, stepping out of his comfort zone, and patience. With a keen eye for composition and a love for playing with light, Cristian’s style is characterized by captivating landscapes and a cinematic touch.
My father played a crucial part in my photography journey. We are both passionate about technology, and he encouraged me to purchase my first drone. It didn’t take long for my curiosity about the world of photography to grow, leading me to invest in my first mirrorless camera, the Sony a7IV.
Following creators like Justkay and many others served as a wonderful source of inspiration, expanding my knowledge and allowing me to delve into this amazing industry. Today, I use two drones and choose which one to use based on the type of shooting I aim to do; the FPV for snappy and fast videos, or my Mavic 3 Classic for more cinematic shots. Both allow me to record in D-cine-like color profiles, to have a lot of choice in post-production on the use of colors or Luts, to which I am dedicating a lot of time to create some customized ones!
Ultimately, this visual creation has also sparked my love for traveling. To be honest, the thought of embarking on solo adventures only with a backpack initially frightened me. However, I quickly realized that photography demands dedication, getting out of your comfort zone, and patience. I understood that achieving my desired results requires focus and time. That’s when I decided to venture on solo trips, such as exploring the Dolomites or visiting Normandy. And you know what? The outcome has been truly rewarding.
Exploring Normandy is still one of the most remarkable experiences I’ve had. It was an 1100 km drive, faithfully following the itinerary I had planned. Despite only having two hours of sleep and waking up at three in the morning, I felt energized and determined to visit Mont-Saint-Michel. The tirelessness I felt allowed me to truly appreciate the diverse lighting scenarios and breathtaking landscapes along the way. This experience served as a catalyst for personal growth and a deeper understanding of the world around me.
Today, I embrace every trip with enthusiasm because I’ve come to realize that you’re never truly alone when you travel. This realization enables me to stick to planned itineraries while seamlessly alternating between capturing captivating photographs and engaging in videography, all the while not trying to stress, and keeping calm and patient. I think haste is the enemy of a photographer. I understood that there are many schools of thought in this sector and each of them is a world unto itself! Studying, understanding, and learning play a fundamental role and personally, my strong curiosity gives me an indescribable boost of energy!
As I kept improving how to plan and travel, I also learned how to plan and shoot. I’ve developed the ability to envision the final outcome of a photograph before capturing it.
Considering the weather conditions and visualizing how I want the image to look after post-production, I adjust specific settings on my camera. This allows me to align the captured result with the envisioned image in my mind.
When it comes to colors, I tend to intentionally underexpose the scene, bringing it closer to the desired outcome I have in mind for post-production.
I loved working on my image from Mount Saint Michel. Saint-Michel truly stands out as one of the most unique landscapes I have ever encountered. The vast stretches of sand, the presence of water, and the many shades of colors create a mesmerizing scenery. In addition, the ever-changing nature of Saint-Michel offers different perspectives depending on the day or season you visit it.
To me, the place, the weather, the composition, and a good dose of creativity are key for a great photograph. And of course, light, which is indispensable for each photograph. For the below image, I observed the changing light from three to five in the morning. I’ve seen several variations of the place depending on the evolution of the light and I obtained this magenta sky at the start of dawn. It was so satisfying! Generally, for these types of photos, I wait for the first light of dawn or take advantage of the sunset, these are the best moments to play with the lights!
I like to play with the composition the most when it comes to mountain images. I take advantage of lenses with a wide focal length approaching a small subject like a person close to a mountain, for example. When I use long focal-length lenses I observe the landscape and its details particularly well as this allows me to compose the scenery as a spectator. I prefer to use these lenses in landscapes that give a sense of depth.
This image was taken in the Dolomites, a heaven for mountain photography. I maintained earthy tones to give it a natural feel. The post-production and color grading process is very important to me; it makes from a photographer a brand, and it is a sort of “identikit” of the creator!
Generally, I love giving a dark, almost nostalgic effect in photos, therefore I play a lot with lights and intermediate points. I have been expanding my studies on color-grading both in photography and in the video department for a long time, I love cinematic looks and photos that give an almost dramatic touch!
One of my photos, taken in the volcanic crater of Mount Etna, is a good example too. I love this photo not so much for the quality of the shoot or the image, but for the moment itself and how the final result feels. I remember that I decided to walk at four in the morning to capture the first light of dawn; witnessing the different variations of colors that morning, slowly lighting up the volcano, has been something very impressive.
However, although every photo and trip means something special to me, the most important is the overall journey that I’ve embarked on since the beginning. I’ve learned so much and there is still so much to study, figure out, plan, and achieve! It is essential to be curious, feed your curiosity, and provoke your own enthusiasm. It’s how you excel whether it is at your work, or enjoying life.
I want to reach as many people or companies as possible with landscape photography, and to achieve this I must certainly continue to study and personalize my style. I want it to be as unique as possible! Traveling and collaborating with other creators is the way to achieve this. I’ve so far only collaborated virtually – which is amazing already thanks to technology – and I will have my first physical collaboration in the Canary Islands soon which I am very excited for! I aim for broadening my view with anything I engage in, letting myself be surprised by others, and increasing my understanding of the world.
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Joshua’s passion for travel and photography has always been intertwined, each inspiring the other. Photography drives him to explore unfamiliar terrains in search of the perfect shot, often leading to spontaneous adventures. The unexpected moments he captures reflect his belief that the best frames are found off the beaten path, where unique compositions and fresh perspectives set his work apart.
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Arnaud’s journey into photography began in 2023, inspired by a friend’s breathtaking road trip photos. Starting with a basic drone and a desire to capture the beauty around his home, his passion quickly grew, leading him to invest in a camera and fully immerse himself in the craft. Though still early in his journey, Arnaud’s dedication to practice, patience, and embracing mistakes has already shaped his evolving style. One of his images won the Best of the Week at Nomadict.
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