Photo tour in Azores, Portugal
Join us in the Azores for a unique photo tour, where you’ll elevate your creative skills with expert guidance from Ronald Soethje, Bruno Ázera, and Nomadict.
Clifton McWilliams
@_macwill_
Photographer based in the US
Clifton developed a passion for the outdoors due to his frequent moves as a military member. During a challenging period, Clifton found in photography, nature, and travel great tools to manage anxiety and engage in self-reflection. In this article, we learn from his valuable experiences and life lessons and how this new path led him to focus on things that genuinely brought him joy, which inevitably influenced his approach to photography.
Throughout my life, my inspiration has come from various sources, particularly in the realm of creativity such as music, art, dance, and other forms. Although I would use my phone to capture pictures of my journeys, it wasn’t until my friend David began bringing his camera to work that I was compelled to take photography more seriously and invest in a professional camera. Given my frequent moves as a military member, I developed a strong passion for discovering new locations and experiencing diverse cultures. This love for exploring has fueled my desire to see as much of the world as possible, although my home country never ceases to inspire me.
The United States boasts a diverse landscape with breathtaking oceans, majestic mountains, arid deserts, stunning waterfalls, and much more. All you need to do is venture out and explore, or seek out these natural wonders. They are waiting to be discovered and appreciated. Ultimately, nature is our true home.
The more I traveled and captured moments through my camera, the more I felt a sense of tranquility and inner peace
Amidst a host of contributing factors such as the global state of affairs, which seemed to be plagued with nonstop negativity and turmoil, I found myself inundated with bad news and tragic events a few years back. As a result, I started delving into the literature on mindfulness and self-improvement to live a more intentional life with fewer distractions. Additionally, my mental health took a turn for the worse due to a few significant challenges, and I had to explore ways to cope with and manage my anxiety. Eventually, I decided to immerse myself in photography and travel as a means of finding solace. The more I traveled and captured moments through my camera, the more I felt a sense of tranquility and inner peace.
Nowadays you’ll rarely see me without one of my cameras, as photography has become an integral part of my life. It enables me to capture fleeting moments and the beauty of my surroundings, and I relish the opportunity to present the world from my unique perspective.
A unique moment outdoors
In this regard, I had the opportunity to capture one of my favorite photos in the Badlands during a trip to South Dakota. The weather was flawless, which only added to the scene’s allure. At that moment, I realized that this is precisely what I want my life to be about. What made it so extraordinary was the sudden surge of emotions that overcame me. Even after all my travels, that experience remains one of the most cherished moments in my memory.
My fascination and passion for film photography are entirely owed to my friend David, who introduced me to the unique world of film – the colors, the process, and the technical aspects. For me, the film process is a complete experience, from loading the film to metering the scene, and even embracing the occasional imperfections that can occur for various reasons. I revel in the distinct shutter sounds that only film cameras produce, and the thrill of anticipating the final result until the photo is developed. The instant gratification of seeing the photo I created on film is genuinely exciting.
Four valuable lessons
As mentioned earlier, the last few years of my life were riddled with chaos, prompting me to engage in a great deal of self-reflection and take an honest look at myself to identify ways to improve not only myself but also my overall lifestyle.
Focus on the thing that brings you joy
This process led me to focus on the things that genuinely brought me joy, which inevitably influenced my approach to photography. I used to take photos based on what I believed would garner the most attention and likes on social media. However, I eventually shifted my focus to capturing images that resonated with me emotionally, and the approval of others became secondary.
Life is fleeting
It’s a bit cliché, but I learned that prioritizing our happiness is critical because life is fleeting.
Surround yourself with like-minded people
In this sense, the individuals closest to me serve as my greatest inspiration, particularly my friends John and David, who share my love for photography. Observing their growth and witnessing the development of their unique styles motivates me to continue pushing myself to improve. Additionally, hearing my friends express admiration for the beautiful places I visit and the distinctiveness of my photos inspires me to embark on more travels and capture more captivating images.
Learn to embrace unexpected situations and make the most out of them
To my surprise, one of my most memorable trips was a 3-4 day excursion to San Francisco. As those familiar with the city know, the weather can be incredibly unpredictable, with some days being ideal and others not so much. However, this allowed me to adapt and venture out in less-than-ideal conditions to capture some fantastic photos. It’s essential to remember that life isn’t always perfect, and we must learn to embrace unexpected situations and make the most out of them.
On post-production
As a photographer, I strive to capture images that evoke a particular emotion or feeling. When it comes to editing, I make sure to preserve the authenticity of the moment by matching the final edit to what I saw and experienced during the shoot. Unlike some photographers, I prefer to keep my editing to a minimum, particularly with film photography. This is because every film stock has its unique characteristics that I aim to preserve. I believe in keeping my photo edits natural and true to what I saw through the lens, which allows the viewer to experience the same emotions and feelings that I did at the time of capture.
A special image
One image that brings a lot of emotions back features my grandmother holding my son. Although she passed away a few months ago, I treasure this photo of them together. It is a priceless memory that brings me immense happiness whenever I think about the power of photography to capture precious moments.
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