Melanie shares her insights on building a career in photography, embracing opportunities, connecting with like-minded individuals, and staying true to herself and her dreams. The article showcases Melanie’s personal growth, professional accomplishments, and aspirations for the future.
In a world where many photographers discover their passion for travel and photography early on, my own story took a different course. Born and raised on a secluded farm in Northern Germany, I was shielded from the wanderlust that beckoned beyond our land. My parents, tied to the responsibilities of the farm, never ventured far with my siblings and me. It wasn’t until I reached the age of 20, standing at the crossroads of possibility after completing school, that my dormant spirit for exploration began to stir.
After school, I always wanted to learn something creative, so I decided to study product design. It was during my first year of university that I saw a photo of a gorgeous waterfall from Iceland. There was an inexplicable magnetism in that image, drawing me into its allure and etching Iceland’s majesty deep within my consciousness. I started to google the landscape of Iceland and with every image, I felt more impressed and curious. Driven by an insatiable desire to witness it firsthand, I made a pivotal decision: to embark on an adventure to that mesmerizing island. Little did I know that this would mark the genesis of a lifelong love affair with nature’s wonders.
This was my first real travel. As I traversed Iceland’s rugged terrain, my senses were inundated with scenes of unparalleled grandeur. I felt so fulfilled that I wanted more. Fueling this newfound passion, I eagerly booked my next flight, as soon as I came home, destined for the enchanting landscapes of New Zealand. And so, my journey of traversing the world and discovering the wonders of nature began.
It was during my exchange semester in Australia that my ardor for photography found its voice. In my first photography class, I felt a remarkable joy. Immersed in the subject matter, its grip on my heart and mind proved unyielding. Upon completing my bachelor’s degree, I delved further into the realm of photography through internships, investing in my own equipment, and dedicating myself to the craft with unwavering commitment. Today, photography stands as an inseparable part of my life, allowing me to capture the essence of my nature-infused adventures and share the beauty and significance of these fleeting moments with others.
Through my travel photography, I am able to capture the world as I personally experience it. My deep connection to nature has always fueled my curiosity about life in different parts of the globe. I find immense joy in hiking, wild camping, sleeping under the stars, breathing in the fresh air, and immersing myself completely in the solitude of nature. For me, nature is not only vital for maintaining good mental and physical health, but it also helps me to grow personally.
Motivated by this profound connection, I decided to explore the relationship between humans and nature in my master’s thesis. This endeavor allowed me to delve deeper into the subject and further inspired my photography, driving me to capture the diverse landscapes and outdoor activities found across our planet. However, my journey extends beyond nature alone. Through my travels, I have undergone personal transformation, learning valuable lessons about myself and gaining insights from individuals from all corners of the globe.
I have developed a heightened sense of empathy and become more attuned to various global issues. Moreover, my experiences have fostered a profound connection to the world as a whole, enabling me to embrace different ways of life and cultures with an open mind. With my photography, my goal is to showcase the beauty inherent in both nature and life itself. I hope to inspire people with my photos as much as the picture of the waterfall in Iceland inspired me to travel.
It was the trips that I did alone that had the most impact on my personal growth. I was alone in New Zealand, Australia, Nepal, Norway, and Switzerland. Nevertheless, I especially remember my trip to Switzerland. In countries like New Zealand and Australia, I met a lot of great people, because there are simply a lot of backpackers out there. In Switzerland, on the other hand, I was completely by myself for a week. I drove to Switzerland in my own car and camped the entire week alone. Sometimes I hiked up a mountain with all my camping gear (which was really heavy) and camped on top of a mountain, and sometimes I slept in my tiny little car. I started to reflect a lot and realized that I can do everything on my own if I want it and that I´m not dependent on other people. Experiences like this one made me stronger and more self-confident. I think everyone should travel alone once in a while.
In addition to the valuable life lessons I acquired, I also gained profound insights into building my career in the photography industry and finding my place. Amongst all my experiences, one significant project stands out—the collaboration with Olympus and the outdoor magazine The Female Explorer. I was commissioned to test an Olympus camera, along with various lenses, during my trip to Indonesia. Normally, I take pictures with a Nikon, so I was initially unfamiliar with the new camera. This small and handy camera was designed specifically for travel. However, the image aesthetics is significantly different from my Nikon, and it was more challenging to good results in low-light conditions. Nevertheless, I had complete creative freedom in the execution of the photographs, which I thoroughly enjoyed. This project reaffirmed that it is not solely the camera that determines the quality of a photograph, but rather one’s personal perception and how we see the world through our eyes. In the end, my photos made it into the magazine, I received new requests for client work, and hiked a volcano for the first time!
The Rinjani volcano hike was full of epic moments and views. This expedition requires a guide, and we embarked on a three-day journey to reach the summit at an elevation of 3,700 meters before descending. The entire hike was characterized by steep inclines, dusty trails, and slippery paths. On the first day, we trekked for approximately seven hours, making our way to the rim where we set up camp. The view was incredible because we could look at the crater lake covered with clouds during a dreamy sunset. At 2:30 am the following morning, we commenced our ascent to the summit, a three-hour hike. The last hour of the hike was like walking through sand dunes, because of all the volcano ash. Despite the toughness, the reward awaiting us at the top made it all worthwhile. There was a little volcano inside the big volcano; I have never seen that before. As the sun gradually rose, its rays illuminated the crater and the mountains encircling the volcano. On the opposite side, the dance of sunlight upon the clouds created a mesmerizing spectacle. After having returned to our camp, we hiked for another six hours to some hot springs. On the last day we hiked back to the finishing point. The hike was physically demanding and left us covered in dirt, but the landscapes we encountered along the way were simply extraordinary.
One of the highlights of this adventure was the opportunity to share it with a dear friend. I am grateful for the companionship and the chance to create lasting memories together. This experience epitomizes the essence of travel—sharing precious moments with both familiar faces and strangers alike.
Besides shooting in Indonesia for the collaboration with Olympus and the outdoor magazine The Female Explorer, one other professional gig that I consider significant to my growth as a professional was a shoot for a husky farm in Norway, two years ago. I had already imagined the images in my head; fantastic morning and evening moods and forests flooded with fog and light. I didn´t know that I was in the rainiest region of Norway and of course, it rained the whole week. As a result, I had to rethink and skilfully integrate the rain into my photos. I photographed the raindrops against the light of car headlights, worked with reflections from puddles, and chased the huskies through the water. The final images that turned out, are still one of my favorite ones.
As a result of those early career challenges and gigs, I’ve learned the following:
If you aspire to build a career in photography, it requires a significant time investment. Success doesn’t happen overnight, but if you genuinely desire it, you can achieve it by staying committed to your goals. While I’m still at the early stages of my photography journey, I’ve already made considerable progress and collaborated with renowned brands such as Helly Hansen, Olympus, and the German travel company “Hüttenleben.”
Seizing opportunities is incredibly important, even if they require spontaneity. You may never encounter the same chance again. I vividly recall a shoot on the Baltic Sea in Germany when I was just starting out in photography. The company’s original photographer had to leave unexpectedly, and they reached out to me through a mutual contact. Despite feeling unprepared for the job, as I was still a novice, I didn’t want to miss the opportunity. In the end, the final photos turned out remarkably well, and it became a strong reference in my portfolio.
Networking with others who share the same passion allows for information exchange, support, and mutual learning. It also opens doors to new friendships and potential travel companions. Many opportunities arise through contacts, and you never know who knows someone that can lead to exciting projects or collaborations.
This lesson holds immense value for me. There will always be people who discourage you, belittle your dreams, or fail to take you seriously. However, if you believe in your vision and it brings you joy, you have the power to make it work. It’s your life, not someone else’s, and you should follow your own path, regardless of others’ opinions.
I know I will keep learning and growing with dedication and purpose as long as I follow my dreams. In 10 years I would like to live in a wooden house in nature and travel the world for new photo projects. At the moment it‘s still a mix of outdoor and travel jobs as well as weddings and medium-sized companies in my area that I work with to finance my life. In the future, I would like to be able to focus fully on outdoor and travel jobs. I would like to work with companies and well-known brands that suit me and I would also like to be able to market my own photo projects. I guess the best way to do so, is to go out and show my work to the world and network with more and more people from the same niche. This year alone, I‘m taking part in a few photography competitions, I‘m at a workshop with other outdoor enthusiasts and well-known brands, I travel a lot to create new photos and I‘m always sending out inquiries to potential clients. It´s also important to me to develop my skills and refine my own photography style. In order to do that, I‘m taking part in Max Muench‘s mentorship in Mongolia this fall and I‘m really excited about what´s to come. I think there are many ways to get to my goals. Every year I look at what I can do next to get a few steps closer to it.
While I have numerous aspirations for the future, I also value and acknowledge my current position and creative abilities. Whenever I embark on the task of capturing a photograph or creating a reel, I strive to adhere to certain principles that I believe contribute to the creation of exceptional pictures:
1) The story
In my view, the narrative behind a photograph holds the utmost importance. It is crucial to consider what message or story you intend to convey to your audience through your captured images. The story within a photograph is what truly adds value and significance to it.
2) Light
Light is the most powerful tool to express a certain emotion or atmosphere in your photos. As I always say: Light changes everything. Keep in mind what you want your photos to look like. With light, you have the possibility to create a lot of tension but also to direct the focus of a photo to a specific part of it.
I would like to share this photograph as an illustration of the significance of light. This particular shot was taken during a sunrise hike in Madeira, Portugal. Prior to embarking on any trip, I make it a point to research and identify suitable locations and hikes that offer the potential for capturing exceptional photos. I also take into account the work of other photographers who have captured images at these locations, ensuring that my photographs bring a fresh perspective rather than replicating what has already been done countless times.
The day before a hike, I diligently check the weather forecast to ensure favorable lighting conditions for my photography. Upon reaching the designated spot, I strive not to overthink but rather focus on capturing those unique moments that resonate with me personally. Each location presents a myriad of possibilities, and I make use of various focal lengths to capture both intricate details and expansive landscapes. I also experiment with different perspectives, constantly on the move and exploring every corner of the spot. This allows me to discover captivating details that catch my eye.
As the sun rises, the interplay of light and colors evolves with each passing minute, transforming the entire environment before my eyes. I firmly believe that the essence lies in how one experiences and feels the moment. It is through this personal connection that the true essence of the scene is captured.
3) Colors
colors and light go hand in hand. The colors of an image also affect the overall mood of an image. But light also has the power to change these colors. The golden hour for example changes everything into warm orange and yellow tones and the blue hour instead changes everything into colder blues and light pink tones. You also need to know which emotion and which color are connected. Blue for example is the color of calmness, red is the color of attention, and yellow is the color of happiness. You have to think about what you want to express with your photos and which colors you want to use to achieve that expression.
To illustrate my approach to color, I can share the below reel with the steps I took in regard to color grading:
As I already had perfect light conditions and beautiful colors in the videos, the only edits I did are:
– more contrast through the gradation curve
– increasing the highlights and decreasing the shadows
– white balance warmer and pinker
When editing my pictures, it is particularly important to me to leave the natural colors in the photo. If I‘m shooting in a green forest, I still want the forest to be green in the final image. I don‘t want to alienate the environment and create an idea of something that didn‘t really exist. Most of my photos are also a bit darker and warmer to make them more atmospheric. I especially like it when my pictures look calm and clear.
4) Enjoy
It´s really important to enjoy a shooting session and to get into a flow. When I´m in the flow, all my attention is on that one moment and I can be fully focused. If you enjoy what you do, you and everyone else will notice it in the final images.
To underline this point, let me share this photo of my best friend.
Although this is not an impressive photograph, it holds great significance to me as it captures a moment from my very first shoot. On that day, I borrowed a camera and set out at sunrise with my best friend to practice and explore. I had no concrete plan in mind, but I was immediately captivated by the beauty of light and its transformative qualities.
This particular photo holds a special place in my heart, as it represents a joyful experience of experimenting and trying new things alongside my closest companion in a stunning natural setting during the magical hours of sunrise. From the very beginning of my photography journey, my friend has been by my side, providing unwavering support. She has graciously posed as my model countless times, accompanied me on numerous adventures, and consistently offers the right words of encouragement in every situation. It feels as though we are on this creative path together, sharing the ups and downs, and I am immensely grateful to have her as both a friend and an integral part of my photographic journey.
A great landscape photograph will look different for each and every one. The most important question is to ask yourself what you think makes a captivating image for you and work from there. Applying theoretical knowledge and tips of others is fine, as long as you keep the connection with your image, your story, and your emotions.
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