“Throughout the night, the volcano erupted, gifting me with the most incredible birthday candle I could have ever wished for.” With this fantastic photo, Adam won ‘Best of the Week 11’ at #nomadict! In this article, Adam shares the background story of the photo and the creative approach, while inspiring us with his most valuable experiences as a professional photographer.
It all began with my graduation from high school – that’s when my love for photography and travel ignited. I managed to save up enough money to embark on a guided trip across Europe, and I decided to purchase an inexpensive camera to capture the amazing sights I would witness. I intended to share my experiences with my loved ones once I returned home.
During my travels, I was mesmerized by the diversity of cultures and breathtaking landscapes of different parts of the world. I felt the urge to convey this excitement and beauty through my photographs, so I experimented with angles and compositions. Although it was just a hobby at first, my passion for travel photography grew with every new destination I visited, and I became more proficient with practice. As time passed, my passion transformed into an obsession as I explored as many places as possible. Today, I take pride in being a seasoned traveler and photographer, thanks to my dedication and love for both.
Following my Europe trip, I realized my desire to travel more, but it wasn’t until I transferred colleges and relocated to Australia that I truly began to explore.
In Australia, it’s common to take study breaks and travel to nearby destinations like New Zealand, Thailand, Bali, and more. This lifestyle made it clear that travel did not have to be limited to an annual occurrence.
Additionally, I gained valuable knowledge on how to travel cost-effectively, which allowed me to seize every opportunity to venture out. My passion for photography also flourished during this time as I visited increasingly stunning locations.
(1) There are numerous individuals engaged in my line of work, and therefore, I must consistently strive to improve and produce exceptional content. However, I must also possess confidence in my abilities and recognize that my work is distinct from the millions of others out there. Avoid comparing yourself to others in the field, and instead, focus on doing your best and being true to yourself.
(2) The storage of your photos is critical; investing in high-quality hard drives is essential. This work is my livelihood, and I have lost countless hours of content due to attempting to save a mere $30 on a hard drive.
(3) Connect with as many like-minded individuals as possible; you would be amazed by what you can learn from others who have grown from distinct situations. Collaboration with other creatives can also be beneficial as there are numerous approaches to the same task, and having another creative eye can help refine the final product.
(4) Always pursue new opportunities. In February 2020, a small travel company approached me to be their tour guide and photographer for a trip to Fiji. Despite being nervous about it being my first gig and never having been to Fiji before, I accepted the opportunity and worked hard to create some amazing content for the company. This experience made me realize that photography could be more than just a hobby for me; it could be a full-time profession. It motivated me to reach out to other companies and market myself as a professional photographer.
The photo that won ‘Best of the Week 11’ holds immense value to me. It was taken on my 25th birthday, in February 2022, while I was in Guatemala. Before that, I had set an ambitious goal for myself after my guided trip to Europe, which was to visit 30 countries before turning 25. Although it seemed unrealistic at the time, I decided to pursue it anyway. And as you may have guessed, this photo represents the fulfillment of that goal as Guatemala was my 30th country.
It was an unforgettable moment for me, as it showed how much I’ve grown and how committed I am to achieving what I set out to accomplish. Throughout the night, the volcano erupted, gifting me with the most incredible birthday candle I could have ever wished for.
Reaching this location requires hiking up a dormant volcano, Acatenango, and then traversing a saddle that links it with another volcano. I had planned to capture multiple exposures of the erupting volcano with its lava illuminating the night sky, while also featuring the stunning Milky Way in the background. To achieve this, I positioned myself at the lower point of the saddle, ensuring a clear view upwards and the perfect alignment with the Milky Way.
In the dead of night, in between two volcanoes in Guatemala, all the pieces fell into place, resulting in an unforgettable shot.
Furthermore, my vision for this image was to incorporate the concept of yin and yang, blending elements of cold and warm. The original Milky Way shot lacked a cold tone, so to add contrast to the image and emphasize the beauty of the Milky Way and the volcanic intensity, I opted for a cold blue hue and the warmest of reds and yellows to represent the volcano.
In this sense, the most crucial step in the process was the ability to seamlessly stitch together multiple exposures to create a cohesive image.
It’s essential to revisit your archives from time to time. I edited this photo over a year after capturing it, and I was amazed at the quality of content I had found, especially with an evolved perspective and mindset looking back at my older work.
My goal for the next decade is to continue traveling the world while having a permanent home base to return to between trips. However, I would like to achieve more financial freedom so that I am not always worrying about my monthly income. To accomplish this, I have implemented a strategy of consistency. I strive to consistently produce high-quality content and proactively seek out companies for collaboration. While I am not yet at the point where companies reach out to me constantly for work, that is my ultimate objective.
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