Daniel Öberg
@articstudios
Best of the week 43 at #nomadict 2020
I have been into photography for as long as I can remember. It all started with nature photography and 35mm film. Back then the result was not that important, I was there to experience the moment. Over the years I have been into action, documentary, sports and wedding photography. And now I am back where it all started, nature. I think our honeymoon to the Caribbean islands opened my eyes to nature photography again.
"I relived the feeling I had in my teenage years when I first discovered photography."
It is a way of taking a break from life. A way where I can recharge my batteries and spend some time alone or with friends surrounded by the silence and pureness of nature. When I took the winning shot, we spent the weekend at some very good friends’ house by a lake. I had researched the location on Google Maps so I knew the surroundings were perfect when it came to sunrise and mist. We slept in a small cabin with windows facing the lake and that morning I woke up early, overlooking a lake covered by fog. I went out before sunrise, it was a very cold October morning, and it was for sure the best drone experience I have had in Sweden ever. The feeling when I took off with the drone was amazing. When I got above the fog the view was clear all the way to the horizon. And it got even better once the sun started to rise, and magical sun rays appeared through the mist. It felt like the time stood still.
WINNING PHOTOGRAPH
BEST OF THE WEEK 43
I took that photo in Vimmerby, in the south of Sweden, not that far from Stockholm where I live. It’s a city where it’s never quiet. Even when you’re in nature closer to Stockholm you could always hear traffic, airplanes and noise. That is always the first thing I notice when traveling north in Sweden, it gets so peaceful and quiet, I just love that. If I had to choose one place to shoot for the rest of my life, it would be there! The midnight sun, the northern lights, the archipelago, the seasons, the wildlife. No matter what mood I’m in, I can always find something to shoot.
Besides landscapes, I specifically love wildlife photography. To me it is sort of a sport. You have to study the animals you are looking for. Dedicate a lot of time to scout locations where these animals could appear. And be very aware of your surroundings to see the animals, maybe after hours of waiting. But when you get the shot you were looking for it’s so rewarding and all the hard work behind it is so worth it. I guess to me it’s the same feeling as winning a competition. When you have spent a lot of time on a goal and you reach it, it is very exciting.
I am always eager to learn more. For me Instagram has helped me a lot with that; it has given me a lot of inspiration and I have gotten to know some very talented photographers. But Instagram has also given me performance anxiety. In the beginning when I could not put the finger on it, it was a difficult feeling to deal with. But over time I have been more aware of this and tried to turn it into motivation instead.
"I think we all deal with anxiety all the time, to a smaller or bigger extent, especially when you are starting out with something new. To be aware of it is one huge step forward."
You have to remind yourself not to compare yourself with others. I learned it the hard way by comparing, trying to do better and failing over and over again. My wife has been an invaluable support to me when it comes to my personal development, she has also been very encouraging of my professional evolutions. She is not happy every time the alarm rings at 4am, but I can probably not ask that of her either… My parents should have the greatest praise for noticing my interest in the early days. And for motivating me and helping me get some gear to get started.
Their unconditional support, my passion for photography and the outdoors, together with my curiosity, drive me to keep growing and enjoying it meanwhile. I won’t let anxiety take any of this away from me, as these are the pillars of my life that bring me happiness.
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