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Aaron Gibson
@aarongibson_photography
Landscape photographer based in Scotland
I bet I have seen almost every nature documentary that was available during my childhood. As a little boy I was watching them a lot. Later, I discovered photographer Art Wolfe and was heavily inspired by his work. His photographs from around the world motivated me to get out there and start practicing. It wasn’t until the age of 15 I picked up my first camera given to me by a family member. We were on a trip to the island of Isla in Scotland and one of my first photographs was capturing a fisherman on his boat feeding a seal, with the seal gently coming out the water meeting the Fisherman’s hand holding the fish. From that moment on I was “hooked”. On that trip I also met famous landscape photographer Colin Prior, who I was looking up to.
"That trip was really the start of my journey and it is one I hold dear."
"In the early days of my photography, one of my photographs was chosen for ‘BBC photo of the week’."
Being so young at the time, it lightened up a fire within me seeing my work published for the first time. I think I speak for every photographer when I say it gives a huge amount of pride seeing your work published. There is a lot of hard work behind the creation of an image and when someone notices your work and when it affects them in some way, it gives you a feeling of happiness and gratitude. I think it’s important to constantly inspire yourself by looking at and learning from like minded artists around you. I am incredibly fortunate to have really talented artists as friends so I can take inspiration from their work as it both pushes and encourages me to develop myself in the field.
"What also boosted my skills is the decision to go back to school and study for two years to obtain a diploma in photography."
I learned so much from the lecturers and I gained an incredible amount of experience that I wouldn’t have had otherwise. I learned everything in every possible genre in photography and therefore could expand my creativity. Also, through the study I was able to meet some famous photographers who have shared great tips and advice on being successful and having the drive to just get out, shoot and practice a lot.
Living in Scotland, going outdoors to practice and shoot isn’t much of a burden. I am trying not to be biased, but Scotland has without a doubt some of the most incredible sceneries in the world. Being born in Glasgow I have always been aware of Scotland’s beauty but I think you can start to take it for granted after a certain amount of time. Having travelled to different countries I have always come back with the utmost appreciation from where I am from. I am impressed every single time I drive through Scotland and I feel so privileged to be only a couple of hours away from the highlands. Its mountains are breathtaking and the constantly changing weather always makes room for a dramatic shot. Being in the mountains, it’s impossible not to feel motivated and driven to shoot everything you see, although no photograph will do justice to the views.
Scotland is steeped in history and I strive to educate myself on that, helping me to capture and create an image fitting to the location’s story. I try to capture and transmit that with my photographs hopefully inspiring other travellers to experience the beauty of Scotland, whether that is mountains, a 16th century castle or a beautiful traditional village.
"I want to inspire others with my work, and when I feel I am losing that spark to be able to do that I try to ‘renew’ myself."
I think one of the main struggles as a photographer is to keep fresh, you can definitely feel uninspired when you are shooting the same things over and over again. For me, I focus on shooting something totally out of my comfort zone when that happens, looking at new styles of photography and trying those out. This way, when you go back to shooting landscapes as I did, it makes you see the beauty again.
For example, I decided to try out street photography and fashion. Learning the techniques for these specific genres of photography was challenging but I was thankful for the effort I put in as it enabled me to expand my skills further outside landscapes. I eventually came back to photographing landscapes and historic places reigniting my passion for travelling and exploring again. My most memorable moment was in February 2017. I remember the feeling I got when I captured an image of a Scottish stag that would soon win the BBC Wildlife Competition in May later that year. For me I knew this image was special right as I pressed the shutter, as I felt I captured it just as I had seen it in my mind’s eye.
"The sensation I got when I heard I won a worldwide competition is indescribable and something I will never forget."
Finally, to see it published was amazing. I remember being at the shop first thing in the morning waiting for it to open so I could buy a couple of magazines and show it to my family and friends. Being a beginner or more advanced photographer, the pride you feel when your photo is published somewhere, has won a competition, or is simply appreciated by others is great. But it’s even greater when reminiscing about the moment, knowing what the photo means to you personally and what experience the photo represents.
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