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.
I first discovered photography at the age of around 15, during a family trip to Malaysia and Singapore in 2003. It was memorable, not only because I probably dropped my dad’s first digital DSLR camera on that trip – but also because I was using it to take photos. My parents took us to many places, but the ones that stayed with me were always the trips to the mountains. There was something magical about driving through the valleys, looking up at the towering peaks around us.
Fast forward to 2009, I wasn’t sure what to study. I had dropped out of graphic design school and searched for something new and exciting. When I visited the Photo Academy in Amsterdam, I immediately fell in love with the atmosphere, the hands-on approach, and the endless possibilities that followed. That’s when I began taking photography seriously. I initially focused on commercial and fashion photography, working with various companies and doing some incredible shoots. It was always a side job alongside my graphic design work, never full-time.
However, by 2016, I began losing my passion for photography. While fashion photography was fun, it wasn’t the world I wanted to be in. In 2017, everything changed when I got my first drone. Suddenly, I saw a new world of possibilities. Although I had never focused on travel or nature photography before, I must admit it felt so much more fulfilling than fashion photography ever did.
I began to focus on landscape photography and just before the pandemic hit, I had won the Best Landscape Photo award from one of the largest travel magazines in the Netherlands. This opened the door to a few more gigs. When the pandemic made travel nearly impossible, it initially felt like a setback, however, a fellow photographer and I saw an opportunity. We reached out to various regions within the Netherlands and collaborated with the country’s main Instagram account. This resulted in several exciting projects, even in places that might not seem visually remarkable at first. We were able to tell and share beautiful stories about these locations and local businesses.
Through this experience, I gained invaluable insights into storytelling and learned how to create compelling images without relying on epic sceneries. I still use those storytelling skills today, and they have significantly enhanced my ability to craft travel stories through photography.
Another moment that taught me valuable lessons came after the pandemic when I traveled to Uganda. While exploring the country, especially during wildlife shoots amidst its breathtaking nature, I encountered a harsh reality: refugee camps, broken families, and the daily struggles of the local people.
Witnessing this left me speechless. It was a reminder of how often we take our comfortable lives for granted. I realized the privilege of being able to provide my children with a safe environment, education, and material comforts. In contrast, children in these camps play amidst garbage, lack access to proper education, and face vastly different life prospects. Processing this experience took time. It taught me that we can live with less than what we possess now and we must be grateful for what we have. These kinds of experiences shape the way I look at the world around me, how I live the stories of other cultures and countries, and how I tell them to others through my camera.
For me, the best stories always happen in the mountains. They hold a certain magic, which is why my family and I choose them for our summer holidays every year.
On these trips, I spend a lot of time chasing the perfect light – whether at sunrise or sunset – visiting different locations to capture the area’s natural beauty. For the sunrise seen in the photo that won the Best of the Week, I had been initially headed to Val di Funes (Dolomites, South Tyrol), planning to shoot its iconic village. But as I drove, the weather worsened. When I finally arrived in Val di Funes, I realized I had to change my plans and head back towards the Wurzjoch Pass. I could see an orange glow behind Val di Funes and knew I had a small window to catch something special; I drove quickly to make it in time for the sunrise.
At Wurzjoch, I arrived to find the Peitlerkofel peaks wrapped in clouds. Taking a chance, I launched my drone. As I flew further to the right, this scene revealed itself – it was breathtaking and probably the most incredible conditions I’ve ever had in the mountains.
I didn’t have much time to capture this scene since the low-hanging clouds were moving quickly, so I had to act fast. I shot the scene in both landscape and portrait, but the portrait orientation worked better. It gave the peaks more ‘breathing room’ above the sky, resulting in a more balanced composition. Additionally, the path at the bottom became more prominent in this orientation, acting as a leading line, which I really like. Capturing this image felt like checking off a bucket-list moment for me.
When it comes to editing, I always apply a specific color profile preset to my photos. Where needed, I adjust the greens and blues to harmonize them with the overall composition. For this shot, I also slightly increased the highlights and clarity to give the clouds more depth and texture – this really made a difference. Next to that, I always like the specific green tones I use. It matches well with the blues and orange colors in this shot. Fortunately, this photo didn’t require much editing because the natural colors were already stunning.
I’m a bit of a perfectionist, which can sometimes make the editing process longer and curating an Instagram feed more challenging than necessary. Early on, I started posting blue photos next to green or orange ones, creating contrast between colors. I’ve continued this pattern, and it’s helped give my feed a curated look. For beginners, this is a simple and effective strategy—try mixing and matching colors to create balance and visual interest.
As for finding your style, I would advise beginners to discover first what they enjoy shooting. Draw inspiration from others, but also go out and shoot without checking what others have done at a location. This will help you find your unique compositions. Weather conditions can make a huge difference too. I do a lot of research on weather and light, figuring out how it will affect the scene and how I can use it creatively. Apps like Photopills are excellent for checking the weather and tracking the sun’s position, which is super helpful when planning your shots.
Looking ahead, in the next ten years, I hope to publish a coffee table book filled with compelling travel stories and photographs. I want to focus more on meaningful topics, such as climate change, and give a voice to people whose stories are often overlooked. One dream project is to create a visual narrative about surfers in Nazaré, Portugal—something that has always fascinated me.
I also aim to dive deeper into filmmaking, expanding my skills in that area, and host workshops for beginners, helping others discover the beauty of this profession. Among my many ambitions, one of the most important is to maintain a balance between my photography projects and family life with my two children and a wonderful wife. My aim is to keep capturing the world through my lens while preserving the life we’ve built together.
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