Carl Evans

@evansabovephotography

Best of the week 1 at #nomadict 2023

Carl is a photographer from Swansea, South Wales, specializing in landscape photography and capturing unique moments in his home country and abroad. He won ‘Best of the Week 1’ at #nomadict thanks to your votes, and in this article, we learn about his winning photograph and creative approach.

I started photography around three years ago when I bought a drone to take aerial photos for a website I was making. I was suddenly hooked as the mix of creativity and the technical side just appealed to me. A year later I bought my first camera and I’ve never looked back. Photography has taken me to so many places and I have witnessed things I would never have thought of before I took up photography. From full moons rising on the Gower Peninsula to starry nights in the snow up on the Brecon Beacons, I now see Wales differently and try my best to showcase the beauty of my country in my images.

Cornwall, England

This is how, eventually, I captured my winning photograph:

One morning during my stay in Cornwall, I walked the length of the 2-mile beach at Perranporth to check out the rock pool known as Chapel Rock. It’s a very popular beach so I had to get out early and I arrived as the sun was rising around 6 am. I knew an aerial perspective would show this place off. I then decided to place myself in the shot, to give a sense of scale alongside the pool and I knew that the low sun would also give a cool, long shadow pointing towards the pool. Then, when it comes to drone photography, I typically follow this guideline:

1) Shoot in RAW
2) Keep the ISO as low as possible (< 400)
3) Bracket exposures in strong light
4) Use vertical panoramas

As I finished shooting the rock pool, a surfer walked past, heading out for his morning surf so I quickly turned the drone around and took another vertical panorama. This image illustrates the length of the beach and these are 2 of my favorite images to date.

Winner
Best of the Week 1

Back home, editing is my favorite part of the process, I love how you can bring an image to life during post-processing. When editing my images, I like to use complementary colors and make them punchy, with high contrast. My favorite colors to work with are blues and oranges, I try not to include too many colors in my images and always ensure that the colors bring out the best in the subject.

For the winning photo, I wanted to create a warm, vibrant look to emphasize the feeling of sunrise. I use Lightroom and Photoshop for my edits and always start my workflow in Lightroom. I begin with basic edits and then enhance the image using masks, this is a powerful way to bring out the best in the image. I will then finish the image in Photoshop and for this particular shot, I removed a lot of distractions and cleaned up some of the elements on the beach.

@evansabovephotography_Winning photo

Before and After

Move RIGHT or LEFT to compare

In this regard, there are a few elements that can help you capture a great photograph. The four factors I pay the most attention to are:

Composition – composition is key to a great landscape photo. I always try to simplify a scene, if there is too much going on the eye can wander. Remove any distractions and try different angles, think about the placement of your elements, and think about techniques such as the rule of thirds, leading lines, depth, symmetry, and negative space. Some of my favorite photos are based around minimalism, sometimes less is more.

Light – light plays a huge role in photography, the same scene can look drastically different depending on the light. I always plan my shots to know what direction the light will be coming from, whilst also keeping an eye on the weather. The time of day plays a key role in this, my favorite times to shoot are at sunrise and sunset when the light is softer and the sun is lower in the sky, which can also create long, interesting shadows.

Tell a story – draw your viewer into the image by telling a story. Make them feel like they were there. I always try to portray a mood, bringing out the emotion in the viewer will give them an attachment to the image. This can also be added in the editing stage, using bold colors, photographing in the fog, going out when it snows, or anything that adds that extra bit of spice to an image.

Subject – I always try to make sure that my photo has a strong subject. Images lacking a subject will lose the viewers’ interest. I see a lot of images shot too wide, trying to include everything that can be seen. If you have a big scene, try using a telephoto lens and picking out specific details.

THE LATEST STORIES

WRITEN WITH PASSION TO INSPIRE YOU
@withmazur_Maksym Mazur_Nomadict 2024_10

Maksym Mazur (@withmazur): Best of the week 35 at #nomadict 2024

Mazur’s journey intertwines his love for travel with a deep commitment to capturing the world’s fleeting beauty. His work often reflects his awe of nature, such as in his image of the jungle that won Best of the Week at Nomadict, taken from above at sunset with perfect timing and serendipity.

@katarina_mandarina_Nomadict Best of the Year 2023

Katarina Batuta Višekruna (@katarina_mandarina): Best of the Year 2023 at #nomadict

From the wild beauty of Vermillion Cliffs to the depths of Mexico’s cenotes, Katarina’s work reflects a deep connection with the environment and a love for visual storytelling. With 18 years of experience and the co-founding of her production company, HiishiiPhoto, Katarina continues to evolve her craft. Katarina’s photo of the Vermillion Cliff was chosen for Best of the Year 2023 by the Nomadict community.

Azores-Bird-Photo-@alexpantela

Alex Pantela (@alexpantela): Photographer based in Cyprus

In this article, Alex Pantela shares strategies to deepen your connection with nature through content creation, his favorite environments to stay creative, techniques for storytelling, the vision behind his work and editing style, and most valuable lessons! 

@arnaud_ribeiro_OrangeLines

Arnaud Ribeiro (@arnaud_ribeiro): Best of the week 26 at #nomadict 2024

Arnaud’s journey into photography began in 2023, inspired by a friend’s breathtaking road trip photos. Starting with a basic drone and a desire to capture the beauty around his home, his passion quickly grew, leading him to invest in a camera and fully immerse himself in the craft. Though still early in his journey, Arnaud’s dedication to practice, patience, and embracing mistakes has already shaped his evolving style. One of his images won the Best of the Week at Nomadict.

@cunodebruin_Nomadict 14

Cuno de Bruin (@cunodebruin): Best of the week 33 at #nomadict 2024

From his early days experimenting with a DSLR to capturing breathtaking drone shots in the mountains, Cuno’s work reflects his love for storytelling through images. In this article, he shares the experiences and lessons that shaped his career, from winning awards to balancing his creative pursuits with family life.

@harrysohalphoto - Nomadict

Harry Sohal (@harrysohalphoto): Photographer based in Canada

In this article, photographer and creative director Harry shares his journey from a college hobbyist to a professional creative, rediscovering his passion during the pandemic. He delves into his approach to capturing authenticity, his techniques for brand promotion, and the tools he uses to achieve a distinct, film-like aesthetic.

@liam_alford_photography_Nomadict 11

Liam Alford (@liam_alford_photography): Best of the week 33 at #nomadict 2024

Liam Alford is a self-taught nature and wedding photographer with a passion for capturing the special moments in the world through his lens. In this article, we learn about his journey, valuable lessons from his outdoor experiences, and his shooting + editing approach to the image that won the Best of the Week 33, 2024.