You already got the chance to get to know Daniel since we shared his story a while ago. We have been keeping in touch with him, seeing him growing, and today we welcome him officially to our Talent Pool!
Daniel is from Hungary and based in Munich, Germany. During his sabbatical year he has been searching for the cause of the empty feeling he had, and in his search for purpose he found nature and photography to be the remedy. He has been learning about photography constantly, practicing every day, and is reaching his goal to live from photography step by step. First he found purpose in life, and now he is gradually finding his photography style, experimenting with elements and applying all that he has learned in his own way. He describes this beautifully: “My photography is documenting my artistic journey.”
With his photography, Daniel loves to demonstrate the connection between human and nature in every possible form, transmitting feelings and emotions. In this sense, he is not just referring to landscapes, but also to animals. He would love to do more wildlife photography, and what makes him feel so enthusiastic about this, is again the connection you can feel. His favorite photos are a portraiture of a fox with closed eyes and a capture where two deers are looking at each other, standing in the snow. He says: “Both expressions are almost human like.” We are closer to nature than we think, but we need to take time and being open to see and feel it.
This sabbatical taught Daniel a lot regarding this. He realized how narrow minded we can get in some situations and in our careers; careers can consume us. Seeing the contrast during his sabbatical helped him tremendously to put things into perspective and having a healthier attitude in general. He mentions: “I have a huge amount of trust in life and myself: I know that I can build up a life and a lifestyle I would be happy with and through this I can contribute to this world much more.”
Curious about what other advices and experiences he is shared with us?! Keep reading!
Welcome Daniel! We have already spoken to you a few months ago, and told your story in which you explained what brought you to photography. You have been looking for the cause of the empty feeling you had, and in your search for your purpose you found nature and photography to be the remedy.
We would like to know how you are doing now after your sabbatical, the things you have learned during your travels and off course your secrets behind your growth as an artist! We are happy to welcome you to our Talent Pool Daniel!
First of all let me thank you Nomadict for this opportunity to join this super team in the Talent Pool, I’m honored and very thankful to be a part of such a creative community.
Since I have quit my job last March in 2018 I am constantly learning and practicing photography and editing. I do believe that only through learning and putting this newly gained knowledge into practice one may grow. Sometimes I feel like a sponge which is absorbing the things rapidly.
My sabbatical therefore is not yet over as there is still so much to learn, however I’m gradually shifting more and more towards the path of photography as a way of earning my daily bread. Next big step is to become a freelancer and to take on outdoor related projects.
Your profile demonstrates a very diverse gallery of pictures, colors and subjects. Also, you have taken quite some close-ups of nature and animals (and mushrooms). Can you share with us your strategy to take the best close-up shots? What do you have to take into account and, in case of animals, how do you make sure they take on their best pose instead of running away from you?
Haha, let me start with a funny but true quote from Alfred Stieglitz “The eye should learn to listen before it looks”. This is actually so true, especially when you look at my Instagram feed. For a while I was observing (I’m still doing so) what I like in the work of artists and photographers I like and try to understand why I like them. Then I tried to implement things into my photography and editing just to see if it would work with me, or if I could achieve a certain feeling through the look.
So I would say the feed is representing an experimental and eclectic body of work in every aspect. It is rather documenting my artistic journey.
Close-ups with animals are always rewarding challenges, even if you go out to a wildpark to practice like I did several times. It is rewarding as you may learn a lot about those animals, their behaviors and you will learn to read them. And you will know after a while how to capture the perfect moments with the most emotional potential.
Wildlife photography is obviously a much-much more challenging genre, so my biggest respect goes to those who do wildlife photography! I have as well several images taken of wild animals where I had pure luck with them letting me closer to then than usual. However I would need longer lense for that than my 70-200mm, haha.
Regarding the edit of photos, how would you explain your editing style? Can you explain to us your editing process with an example?
Sure. I love drama, but rather in the pictures and movies than in my personal life, haha.
Therefore I am aiming for a more dramatic look where it is applicable. I have shifted from less contrast to more contrast in my images, and working with more shadows, and accentuating the highlights. I love to play with dualities, and this is what you see in most of my images. However I’m crushing the blacks a tiny bit not to be too harsh, because I love the creamy softer looks as well.
You decided to take a sabbatical year. Explain us a bit more about that life changing decision! How has this sabbatical year contributed to your growth as a photographer and human being?
Well, it was really a life changing decision and a life changing moment when I quit.
Up to the decision it was rather an emotional struggle to be honest. I knew who I am definitely not, and what I didn’t want to continue in my life at that time. And what I felt sure about was that I wanted to bring out my creative side, and work more with people.
On the other hand I have a huge amount of trust in life and myself. I know that I can build up a life and a lifestyle I would be happy with and I believe that I can contribute to this world much more this way.
Building a community with like minded people, and getting to know interesting life stories. I realized through this sabbatical how narrow minded we can get in some situations in our careers, which can consume us. So to see this contrast has helped me tremendously to put things into perspective and having a healthier attitude in general. And of course this sabbatical gave me the time to learn as much as possible. This would have been impossible beside my previous job and lifestyle.
Related to this, what is your approach when it comes to planning your trip and finding your ideal locations?
Weather plays a major role in deciding when and where to go for a trip. For the sake of drama I would rather choose a period of time when the conditions could create some interesting moods and light patterns. And that’s the same with the locations, they need to have the capability of transferring a certain feeling.
I think many of us are wondering how someone can sustain a life full of travels. That is a lifestyle most people are just dreaming about! Is there any trick or tip you can share with us?
There is a major trick to it, which is not a huge secret actually, but it differs from each and every person. In my case it was my previous career which allowed me to build up a financial background supporting lots of things I did and I’m doing.
As a photographer, I am sure that you feel attached to all your photos. All your pictures represent unique moments of your life. However, among your works, do you have any picture that you really like? What is your favorite photo?
This is a very good question! I think the favorite photo of mine will be taken in the future, haha. The images I like the most are the ones with the foxes and the deers. Those are transferring the most amount of emotions.
Especially there are two images. A portraiture of a fox with closed eyes. The other image is where two deers are standing looking at each other in the snow. Both expressions are almost human like.
Imagine yourself at the beginning of your professional career as a photographer. What four pieces of advice would you give to yourself?
1) Go out to shoot more
2) Start to build a body of work early on
3) Reach out to people more
4) Gear is important, but learning to see is crucial
Probably you have lots of places on your wishlist to visit and photograph! Any new projects coming up or countries you will be visiting soon?
Hungary, Slovakia and Transylvania has lots of opportunities for photographers in my opinion. So definitely these countries I’d like to visit next year for sure. But one of my dreams is to go back to Africa to shoot landscape & wildlife mainly, hopefully this will manifest soon in a project in the first quarter of next year.
“Stay curious and motivated. But don’t try to find motivation only in photography looking at other photographers’ work. There are many sources of inspiration such as music or movies for instance.”
“My favorite location I’ve traveled to was the Faroe Islands. It’s just a heaven on the Earth! It made my heart beat faster and I even see it in my dreams!”
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