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Carl Brightman
@carl_brightman
Landscape photographer based in England
My father’s recent passing had a huge impact on my path today of giving up my job and following my dream of being a full time creative. I realized after a conversation with my dad near the end of his life that I didn’t want to miss any more opportunities or just go through life on cruise control. Time is one thing we have no control over.
"I’ve had a passion for photography and travelling since my early teens travelling to Spain and other parts of Europe."
I wanted to capture the essence not only of the different cultures but also the landscapes and this led me to study photography for five years. I did a foundation year in art and design and then went on a BTEC in photography. I then went on to do a degree. So before I changed the direction of my life, after that talk with my dad, I was already active on Instagram and had gained a very good following. I had also just been contacted by Merrell to be an Ambassador. In addition, I wasn’t having a good time at the job I was in at that moment – I did not feel fulfilled or motivated. When my dad was ill we spoke about life being short and he had regrets about not doing some of the things he always wanted to do. He knew I was unhappy and said I should follow my heart and do what I loved. You spend the most part of your life working, so it should be something you are truly passionate about.
"I decided to move to Cornwall and give up my job. I’m using my savings to fund me initially. Sometimes in life you have to take chances."
I would say my good friend Scott Garrod (@blackkiteproductionsuk) has played an important role here. He encouraged me to get back into photography after I had a break from it. We talked about the many possibilities of using drones for photography and filming. Since I first flew a Mavic Pro I haven’t looked back and mostly do drone photography. Although I’m now looking to get back into using a normal camera as well, where everything started with. My studies were film based and I did all my processing and printing in the darkroom. I feel this has been a great learning curve as most of these principles can be applied in Lightroom. Editing for me is probably just as enjoyable as capturing the image. With the advances in Lightroom, it has become my new darkroom. It allows you to do so many creative things and create the image from your mind’s eye when you first pressed the shutter button. It’s one of the main reasons I came back into photography. The process in Lightroom is just the same as being in a darkroom for me. The process is the same – whether I’m processing an aerial shot or camera shot.
During my studies I also had the chance to work in lots of different areas of photography from landscape to portraits. Outside and in the studio. Using 35mm, medium and large format cameras. I also got to work and create with many great photographers. I feel this has given me a greater grounding than if I was self-taught. But in today’s world there is so much information, learning and opportunity to collaborate – it’s now easier with so much info and help at hand. I also like to give back and help others where I can. But I am always learning and trying new things.
"The most important step I have taken is getting my work seen on social media, Instagram being the biggest step with regards to exposure and being recognized. It opens doors to many opportunities and gets your work out there."
You could be the best photographer in the world, but if no one sees your work, you won’t get work. I have participated in many ambassador programs, competitions, blogs etc. It’s how you get your work noticed. With all the thousands of photographers out there, it’s a great way to stand out. I was featured a few times on Agora in the top fifty; my favourite one was from the love2020 competition. My ambassadorship at Treedom (@treedom_trees) is important for me as they are not only planting trees but also helping out socially. You buy a tree and follow its life online. All trees are planted directly by local farmers and bring environmental, social and financial benefits to their communities. I use my photography to bring awareness of this project, highlight other issues with the environment and celebrate our planet with days like World Earth Day. There are also some great brands with ethical mindsets that I love collaborating with.
So, being on Instagram and making good friends who all have the same interest as me has ignited a passion and drive to achieving quite a few goals I would have never thought to be possible.
I believe if you put in hard work and follow your genuine interests, you can achieve your goals. Finding my style and fine tuning my skills has been one of those goals for me. Once, when I posted one of my images on Instagram, someone commented that he knew it was one of my images before he even saw who had posted it – he recognized my style. I have for a long time pondered what my style was, is… It was there all the time!
Also, drone photography is constantly pushing the boundaries and seeing others work and feedback I get is always driving me forward. My favorite drone shot is one I’ve taken at Mupe Bay in Dorset. That day the sunset was perfect – I had waited all afternoon and into the evening for the sun to be in the right position. I got the drone shot I had imagined, it’s close to my heart and brings up good and bad memories. The good memories because it was a beautiful day and I got the shot I had planned. But also, bad memories as my drone ended up in the sea… There was a technical glitch with the geofencing and I was unable to get the drone to dry land and had to sadly watch my Mavic pro (Manny) run out of battery and bleep all sorts of painful warnings and finally land indignantly in the sea. I thought I had seen the last of Manny, but the drone was found and kindly posted back to me. The drone was dead, but I managed to get the memory card and even though it had been in the sea for a week the card still worked and I had my images. So, all wasn’t lost.
Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.” I think it is always important to not listen to the negative chatter of others’ opinions of you or something you have a passion about. Don’t let people put their thoughts in your head. I have decided to follow my passion and give up a very good job so I can be in charge of my own life. Yes, it’s a risk, but if you want something then you have to go get it yourself.
"Follow your own intuition and don’t be put off by anyone or anything."
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