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Daniel Casson
@dpc_photography_
Landscape photographer based in the United Kingdom
Introducing Daniel Casson
Daniel Casson is a freelance photographer from Sheffield, England. Doing it professionally for three years now, he never thought he would become a photographer before. It was about seven years ago that he started to enjoy hiking in the Peak District, taking photos with his iPhone and uploading them on Instagram. Without any objective but escaping to the outdoors and sharing the nice views with friends his following grew and simultaneously, his enthusiasm for photography. With the growth, emails started to come in: “I think I had around 40/50k followers when Land Rover got in touch with me. When I got the email, I first thought it was fake.” Daniel was still using his iPhone at that time, which shows that gear isn’t always the key to success.
Instead, Daniel beliefs that editing is very important. He recommends to find your style and be consistent, not just in the way you edit, but also in uploading your content to different social medias. “I am on twitter, 500px and I even used Tumblr to put my work out there and gain the biggest reach possible.” Just a small insight in his strategy to grow as a photographer.
Also trying new things, exchanging with other creatives during a photographic outdoor adventure or other challenges help him to stay creative and inspired. That’s how he started to shoot villages and cottages. “They intrigue me and with my photographs I want to make people imagine what it would be like to live there, to provoke the longing to live in these characteristic houses in remote places,” Daniel explained.
Meanwhile he has worked with a several brands and went on a South Africa trip as a WIX ambassador. Whatever experience he is living, he tries to enjoy every bit of it: “…most of these moments you will never experience again.” Living in the present and being grateful is the secret.
Daniel wants to keep building his portfolio and become more experienced in other types of photography such as shooting portraits. His story shows that, unexpectedly, you can become aware that you are good at something you never even thought you would be doing. We all find our talents over the course of life, just like you can’t take all your best pictures at the same day.
Interview
Welcome Daniel!
First of all Daniel, did you imagine you’d become a well known landscape photographer when you were a kid? How did this passion for nature and photography start?
Not at all, I only started taking photography seriously when I was finishing University, that was around 7 years ago now. I have been doing it full time for the last 3 years but before it was a way of getting out and exercising. I would ‘escape’ and go out walking in the peak district, take photos with my iphone and post them to Instagram, and that is where they started to get noticed. I never thought about photography when I was growing up and as an adult. When my work began to get noticed, I began to gain interest more into photography.
During what period in your journey did you realize that becoming a landscape photographer could be more than a passion and that you could take it up as a profession you could earn a living with? What was the tipping point in your career?
I was posting to Instagram more regular and my work was getting noticed more and more. Back then, for anyone that can remember, Instagram had a suggested users list and I was put on that a couple of times and this is where my following started to grow. With the growth, work emails slowly started to come in and my first ever Instagram campaign was with Land Rover and then it went from there.
I think I had around 40/50 thousand followers when Land Rover got in touch with me and when I first got the email, I thought it was fake. Quickly realising it was not fake, I was amazed that my photography was being recognised by someone like that, especially as I was only using my iphone at the time. I didn’t change my outlook, I just kept posting landscape photos and didn’t try to chase after any work.
Throughout your journey, what has been the achievement or step forward that you are most proud of? What makes this one so special and meaningful to you?
The one that springs to mind first is representing WIX last year, as I was their ambassador and we held a competition. The winner would to go on a trip to South Africa with me. The winner was a great photographer and this was both our first time on a Safari, so we actually learnt from each other which was just perfect. The trip was one of the best I have ever had and being picked solely on my photography to go there definitely made me proud.
Of course many of our achievements in life don’t come without any challenges and lows. What have you been struggling with most and how did you approach this? What would be your advice for anyone who is dealing with the same kind of struggle?
The main struggle as a photographer is to keep fresh, you can definitely feel uninspired when you are shooting the same things over and over again. For me, I focused on shooting something totally out of my comfort zone, looking at new styles of photography and trying those out. This way, when you go back to shooting landscapes as I did, it makes you see the beauty again.
For example, I decided to try out street photography. Mainly because the weather plays a big role in my photos, I am always trying to capture some kind of mood. Being a landscape photographer, this can sometimes feel like hard work, always waiting for the piece of light or the perfect conditions. This is when I started to shoot villages, a couple of years ago.
You have traveled to different countries, capturing a diversity of wonderful landscapes. What has been one of your most impressive moments/landscapes during your travels and what made it so special? Also, do you think there is a certain type of landscape that makes you feel better than any other? If so, what emotions does this specific landscape awake within you and why is that, you think?
The most impressive moment, one that sticks out for me was the Africa trip. We had the opportunity to take photos of wild cheetahs walking in the African bush. Only meters away, you had to make sure you were quick and only had seconds to try and get a great shot.
In terms of landscape, I love mountains and there is nothing better than the Alps for shooting this style of landscape. I was lucky enough to travel to the Dolomites with friends and the mountains out there make you feel so small and leave you in awe every time!
What is the most beautiful thing that travel has taught you?
To enjoy every bit of it, because most of it you will never experience again. This doesn’t have to be shooting an epic landscape or a full day hike. This could be at the end of the day, talking with friends about what you just did and reliving those experiences.
Going through your photos, I noticed that you regularly share photos of any kind of house. Can you tell something about your interest in photographing this? Why is that?
When shooting landscapes, I tend to look at some kind of focus point, whether it be a house, a road, a person etc. Then I started shooting villages more and more and the old quaint houses just intrigue me. I always think, what would it be like to live in one of these houses I shoot and would I like photographers taking photos of my house daily! I think when people see the images of the houses I shoot, they also have this idea of what it would be like to live in them. A sense of longing to live in a remote area, like in the middle of the mountains away from everything would be pretty idyllic!
What inspires your art and feeds your creativity? And related to that, how do you incorporate this into your art afterwards?
To improve is always a good place to start, to want to be better with every shot. I guess a good way of feeding my creativity would be to follow people online that inspire me and be with social groups that have the same mindset, when it comes to travel and photography. I remember being with a group of photographers in Iceland and the first morning shooting together was just perfect. Just to see everything for the first time, this definitely gave me inspiration to shoot some amazing landscapes.
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As a photographer, I am sure that you feel attached to all your photos. All your pictures represent unique moments of your life. However, among your works, what is your favorite photo? What makes this your favorite one?
As I have mentioned the Africa trip a few times, the photo that is my favourite is the one of the cheetah walking straight towards me. They were 3 of them and it was difficult to get a good shot, as the bush was thick and to get ahead was hard work. I finally found myself in front of them while they walked towards me and I crouched down quietly and just took the shot as he walked straight towards me and looked directly at me. Shortly after getting the shot, we had to run back to the jeep as the water buffalo came out of the bush and started to attack and run towards us.
Nowadays we see so many young talented artists pursuing a career as a full time travel/landscape photographer. What four pieces of advice would you give them?
Firstly, I think the main one would be to have your own style, editing is a big part of photography. I feel that my edit is consistent and recognisable, even if I did not have my name on the photo.
Secondly being consistent with putting your work out there, I use more than just Instagram. I am on twitter, 500px and I even used Tumblr still to put my work out there, to gain the biggest reach possible.
Third is to be open to trying new things and shooting something you wouldn’t normally, pushing your boundaries. This makes you a better photographer with a better eye, you have to find beauty in the most unusual places and not just to get those “Instagram Photos” all the time!
Finally, do not be afraid to reach out to brands and companies, make sure you have a portfolio put together and tell them why you’re the best for the job.
You have been working with many well known and interesting brands during the last years. Is there any particular project you would like to realize in the future? Maybe you have an inspiring project in mind that you would like to share with us and our readers?
I don’t have one particular brand I would like to work with, I think this allows you to be more flexible and work with brands from all over the world. Of course, I use a Sony and I would love to collaborate with them on a project, as I know that they are pushing the boundaries when it comes to cameras and photography !
Besides, to build my portfolio and expand my experience I think I would love to continue to shoot more portraits, as this is not something I do a lot. I feel you have to be more creative when it comes to portraits and find angles that work well with the person. There’s a lot to learn there as well!
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