Fatih Morgül, a former architectural restorer, quit his job to pursue his true passion, visual creation in nature. Always immersing himself in his surroundings and savoring the moment, Fatih shares some tips for capturing impactful footage with a drone or camera, strategies to grow as a landscape photographer with the right mindset and using collaborative processes, and his favorite photography spots in Turkey, his country of birth.
My name is Fatih Morgül, and I have been living in Germany for the past 20 years. For a long time, I worked as an architectural restorer because I was drawn to the artistic elements of the job and the fact that every assignment was unique. It was a wonderful experience to restore historical buildings and bring them back to life. During my time as a restorer, I enjoyed researching the art history of each returned item and developing my materials to best restore it.
In my free time or during vacations, I loved taking mountain tours in the Swiss Alps, which always gave me a sense of peace. As I hiked through the mountains, I began taking photographs of the beautiful landscapes to create a personal guide for myself. My dream was always to visit Norway, and I was finally able to make that dream a reality.
Eventually, I decided to quit my job and replace it with my true passion: photography and videography in nature. I began taking wedding photos to earn money, and over time, I developed collaborations with different brands, particularly in my home country of Turkey. Speaking of Turkey, I originally come from the Black Sea region, specifically the city of Rize. My ancestors were of Caucasian origin and lived in the highlands of the region.
Growing up in Istanbul with my grandparents, I was heavily influenced by my grandfather, who was an analog photographer and collector of stamps and antiques. He ignited my love for art, and I’ve been creating my own art in nature since the year 2000. Nowadays, I always plan my trips with careful attention to detail and discipline. As a child, I loved reading encyclopedias and geography books, and this love has carried over into my travel planning. I research the geography and history of each country I plan to visit and make use of tools like Google Earth and the Photo Ephemeris application to determine the best time to photograph the seasonal sunrise and sunset positions.
Spending ample time in nature, especially walking in the rain while listening to music, ignites my creativity and triggers new ideas. Whenever I need to reset my brain, I often solve puzzles for hours on end, which is one of my favorite ways to clear my mind.
I am a dreamer, and I always imagine things before I even experience them in real life. Sometimes, I like to follow my impulses and be spontaneous, but most of the time, I plan my activities carefully. I never take my camera with me when I’m not in the mood to take pictures because I prefer to immerse myself in my surroundings and savor the moment.
I prioritize quality time in nature above anything else. Photography and videography came later, and I only started pursuing these passions while walking in nature. I don’t want to ruin my day by solely focusing on capturing visuals, and I believe that being present at the moment and enjoying nature is essential.
When I’m in the wild, my confidence makes me strong and resolute. I believe there’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes, and I always come prepared. Despite the rain, wind, or snow, I never give up on the chance to witness the beauty of nature. In fact, some of the most unforgettable sunsets I’ve seen were in inclement weather. I don’t let the weather discourage me, I embrace it and take whatever Mother Nature provides, knowing that every moment is unique and precious.
In my backpack, I carry essential gear including a Mavic 3 drone with three batteries, a Sony A7VI camera with GM 2.8 24-70MM and GM 2.8 70-200MM lenses, a Zeiss 1.8 55mm lens, and a gas cooker with coffee. I love capturing photos and videos from unique perspectives, and I always strive to keep my backpack as compact as possible, although sometimes it can be a challenge.
Before starting my shoot, I like to explore the landscape and test my drone’s flight capabilities to ensure I can position myself correctly for the best lighting conditions during sunset or the blue hour.
Here are a few tips I would offer to anyone seeking to capture impactful footage with a drone or camera:
Shooting video and photos simultaneously involves capturing both video footage and still images using the same camera. This technique can be useful in various situations, such as capturing a video of a live event while also taking photographs of the same event for promotional or archival purposes. However, it can also present challenges, particularly with regard to the need to frequently adjust camera settings. For example, while capturing video, the camera settings such as shutter speed, ISO, and aperture may be different from those required for capturing still photos. As a result, switching back and forth between the two modes can be time-consuming and may lead to missed shots or footage. Therefore, it’s important to acknowledge the potential difficulties associated with shooting video and photos simultaneously and to plan accordingly to achieve the best possible results.
Selecting the right lighting is critical for effective shooting. I prefer to shoot during the blue hour when the light is softer than at sunset, although this is a matter of individual style.
Setting up the frame with test shots or flights before the actual shoot can help save time during the shoot itself. By doing so, you can determine the best camera settings, angles, and lighting to use and make any necessary adjustments before starting to shoot. This allows you to avoid wasting time during the actual shoot by making constant adjustments and potentially missing important shots. Additionally, by testing your frame beforehand, you can identify any potential issues, such as distracting backgrounds or poor lighting, and make necessary changes to ensure that your final shots are of the highest quality.
Don’t let inclement weather discourage you from capturing breathtaking footage. Some of my most unforgettable sunsets have occurred during bad weather conditions. When shooting, it’s crucial to shoot in raw or logged formats to develop your style and experiment with color dynamics. And for higher-quality footage, choosing the right ND filter can make all the difference.
Forests possess a certain magical quality with their darkness, stillness, and the feeling of being completely isolated. It’s amazing how light and fog can effortlessly transform the environment. Personally, I am enamored with the grandeur of towering trees. This image of a road bordered by trees in the Elan Valley stands out as my preferred segment, particularly when the light subtly filters through.
When I’m on the go, I rely on Lightroom Mobile and the Videolap app for quick and efficient editing. However, when I’m at home, I prefer to use programs such as Photoshop, Premiere Pro, and After Effects. When it comes to my editing style, I like to keep things simple and organized. I take great care in sorting my files and approach each photo and video with discipline. I don’t rely on presets, as I believe that developing unique colors and tones that match the lighting conditions of each shot is crucial to creating a cohesive aesthetic. Once I’ve finished editing, I take a break for a few days before making any final touches. This allows me to approach the content with fresh eyes and ensure that it fits seamlessly with my other work.
Surrounding yourself with like-minded people is also crucial to improve and create your best work. I am a member of @showmetürkiye, a team of 7 friends whose goal is to showcase the real Turkey to the world. Our founder, Halil Bekar, is a talented cinematographer, and each member of the team brings their unique talents and skills. For example, Burak Altiparmak is the best FPV pilot in Turkey, while I focus on drone content creation, drawing on my outdoor experience and artistic perspective.
Every member of our team is incredibly valuable, and together we strive to uncover Turkey’s hidden and secret paradises. We are proud of our latest film, “Show Me Türkiye Rize,” which showcases the natural beauty of Rize, Turkey.
We follow the ideas and plans of our friend Halil Bekar, who is our video editor. Each member of our team brings their unique perspective and creativity to create a diverse range of colors and imagery. Our team camaraderie is founded on our shared love for spending time in nature, and our mission is to accurately represent Turkey to the world. We often find ourselves challenging false stereotypes and misinformation about our country, no matter the project.
Despite our dedication to our work, we never lose sight of our amateur spirit and have fun together. Time flies when we’re working, and we often find ourselves surprised by how quickly it passes. As for the future, we can never be sure what it holds, but we are optimistic.
From our experiences, I’ve learned that being selfless and humble are important qualities for success, especially when working in a team. Without them, it can be difficult to achieve long-lasting success.
I have been studying travel destinations carefully and exploring Turkey for more than five years now, and the following are some spots I recommend in my home country:
1) Rize: I originally come from the city of Rize, located in the northeastern region. The green mountain ranges tower over the province, providing a picturesque backdrop to the lush landscapes. The true gem of Rize is its tea production, as it is known as the “tea capital” of Turkey. The province is covered with tea gardens and is the largest tea-producing region in Turkey, producing around 85% of Turkey’s tea.
2) Soumela Monastery: A Greek Orthodox monastery in the Pontic Mountains. The monastery is built on a cliff, 1,200 meters above sea level, on Melá Mountain, overlooking the Trabzon province. It is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and is a pilgrimage site.
3) Avusor Yaylası: A high-altitude pasture located in Rize situated at an altitude of around 2,000 meters above sea level, surrounded by the Caucasus Mountains – a natural border between Europe and Asia, home to over 50 different ethnic groups and cultures, each with their unique customs, traditions, and languages.
4) Altıparmak dağları: Believed to be the region where the Prophet Noah’s Ark landed, this range is situated in the Black Sea region and is known for its diverse landscape, which includes glaciers, alpine meadows, and deep valleys.
5) Artvin: Located in the Eastern Black Sea region, Artvin is a province famous for its green landscapes, including the high-altitude pastures, dense forests, and fast-flowing rivers, and is home to the endangered Caucasian bear and the Eastern Imperial Eagle.
One of the most remarkable experiences I had was four years ago when I spontaneously decided to go camping in the Swiss Alps. The weather initially seemed only slightly rainy, but during the night, a violent storm set in and the temperature dropped unexpectedly.
My tent, a tunnel tent, was set up wrong upwind, and I was on top of the mountain with all sides open to the wind. As we weren’t expecting a storm, I didn’t tighten the tent ropes well, and it was a very scary moment. In the middle of the night, my friend and I made an emergency decision to leave the tents and descend from the Alps. While doing so, I accidentally hit my knee on a hard rock and it immediately swelled up. I realized that it was a fracture or tear, but I took a strong painkiller and with the help of my friend, we were able to descend from the 2800m mountain at night.
After the incident, I couldn’t get up for a week, and it took more than a year for my knee to heal. This event taught me the importance of having a friend in such high mountain camps, and it could have resulted in death. I learned to plan meticulously and carefully for the future, thinking not just once but five times to be safe and sure. This incident will forever stay with me as a valuable lesson.
I aspire to explore new places and uncover new landscapes during our limited time on this planet. Making a positive impact and leaving a lasting impression are also important to me.
I aim to improve myself in areas where I may be lacking and strive to cultivate my unique style. One of my main goals is to create my own cinematic short film projects both in Turkey and other countries. In my home country of Turkey, I am glad to inspire and motivate young people who are eager to explore the great outdoors. It’s fulfilling to know that my contributions have the power to impact people’s lives, even those whom I have never met. This is one of the reasons I love using social media.
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