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Harrison Candlin

@harrisoncandlin

Landscape and lifestyle photographer based in New Zealand

Introducing Harrison Candlin

Harrison Candlin has always had interest in creating and bringing things to life, and this is why he decided to study Industrial & Graphic Design. Although he has used this knowledge to create websites and media kits, he never really did something with these studies. He preferred to focus on his photography, improving his work and enjoying the journey that came with that. His hard work and dedication paid off: After setbacks, rejections and product-for-photo deals, he got full time into photography in June 2019. 

Harrison is inspired by the idea of roaming around with no plans and a camera. So it’s not surprising he traveled around in a van for the past six months in the US, before moving to New Zealand. When we asked him about ‘home’ he said: “Home is what you make it, wherever you are. Being stagnant in one place is the last thing I want; I would start to feel uninspired. Home to me is a feeling of contentment, joy and the unforeseen moments of gratitude. You can feel when something is right, and this is how I feel when I’m on the road.”

Harrison is a laid back traveler, it has to be affordable and practical, using as little stuff as possible. Though with all the must-bring items he mentioned, his backpack seems to get quite heavy, starting the list with a 16-35mm lens for action and movement photos and a telephoto, ideally a 100-400mm, for tight shots. The weight of the backpack is part of the challenge that comes with adventure though; there’s put a lot of effort in each image and that’s what Harrison wants to show with the videos he creates besides his photography: “Shining light on the fact that for images like these, a lot of work is required, from planning and research to the physical strain of hauling yourself up a mountain.” But at the end of the day, Harrison says, being in the mountains, pushing himself physically and mentally, just brings him a crazy amount of happiness and a sense of purpose. “To be in nature, the very thing that my business couldn’t run without, is the greatest thing of all.”

Interview

Welcome Harrison!

You are a freelance outdoor adventure & lifestyle photographer and an industrial designer. Can you introduce yourself a little to us by telling about how you got to become a photographer, traveler and industrial designer? How did you know this was your calling and where did it start?

Hey there, of course. I have always had an interest in creating and bringing things to life, focussing on a process, an idea, exploring ways to improve something. I guess this is where my love for Industrial Design came from. I studied a degree in it and even completed a graphic design course in the process. That was 3 years ago when I graduated and since then haven’t touched my degree yet. However I’ve been living the last 3 years working multiple jobs and focussing on improving my photographic work and the journey that goes with it. Along the process, I’ve used my graphic design knowledge all the time, to help create media kits, website content and I’ve even done the odd graphic design job. I’ve only recently gone full-time into photography as of June 2019, and it feels so good. 

The travelling aspect just came with the beauty of to going places and photographing them, so I fell in love with the idea of seeing places, which sparked so much wonder in me, and the idea of roaming around with no plans and a camera is inspiring. 

Queenstown, New Zealand is the place where you moved to quite recently. But before you have been living a van life, called other places your ‘home’,  and after Summer in New Zealand you might move again. Asking where ‘home’ is, can be a difficult question for nomads, but could you explain what ‘home’ means to you and how it is to be living in a van and in different places on a regular base? What makes it so appealing, or on the other hand, challenging?

 We just recently moved here from Vancouver where we had been living out of our van for the last six months, mainly in the US. I’ll touch on that in a minute. It’s such a dream come true to be living down here in Queenstown and in New Zealand in general. It’s wild, raw and captivating. Describing ‘home’ is a funny one. Finding, and more importantly, identifying somewhere as ‘home’ has been hard for us the last six months, but home is tangible, it changes as you go. Home is what you make it. Being stagnant in one place is the last thing I want and I start to feel uninspired if I’m spending too much time in one place. I crave the adventure. Home to me is a feeling of contentment, joy and the unforeseen moments of gratitude. You can feel when something is right, and this is how I feel when I’m on the road.

In one of your posts you shared a video showing what it takes to create images, demonstrating the adventure coming along with photographing remote places. What is your traveling style? What are must-items to bring with you?

I’m glad you saw this one as I tried to portray what it really takes to get to a spot like the one in the video, as well as how much effort goes into creating those images. Social media can portray adventure photographers in the wrong light, making it seem like we put in little to no effort for our work, but I wanted to shine light on the fact that for images like these, a lot of work is required, from planning and research to the physical strain of hauling yourself up a mountain. 

My travelling style is laid back and very simple, I feel. We designed and built up our minivan with a very minimal design, but we loved how easy, affordable and practical it was. You don’t need much to be happy in this lifestyle. When we camp, we try to take as little stuff as we can but cameras and lenses always seem to weigh the bag down, ha. A must bring is a 16-35mm lens for action and movement photos and a telephoto, ideally a 100-400mm for tight shots (mountain layers). I also always rely on my Peak Design CapturePro clip to hike with my camera on the front of my bag. Always bring two SD cards too, and remember to format before you leave. As for outdoor equipment, thermals and a down jacket are a must in alpine environments as well as lightweight gloves and a beanie. If you are going real off-track it’s best to take a PLB ‘Personal Locator Beacon’.

Following up the previous questions, we all know that going on adventure provokes feelings such as happiness and freedom, but also challenge. However, beyond that, would you be able to describe what these kind of adventures, combined with your photography, brings you? What makes this kind of adventurous lifestyle so addictive, but also challenging and ‘instructive’ in your opinion?

Adventure is a way for me to express myself through images. It gives me an escape from the crazy world we live in, a way to feel disconnected and remote in a life of ever connectedness. Sure adventures bring challenge, but at the end of the day it just brings me a crazy amount of happiness and a sense of purpose. To be in the mountains, to be pushing myself physically and mentally is an amazing feeling. To conquer a crazy hike or camp somewhere I’d always dreamt of, it just feels so good.

Harrison Candlin
"To be in nature, the very thing that my business couldn’t run without, is the greatest thing of all. Immersing myself and respecting the natural world."
Meet Harrison Candlin

Can you explain your editing process with an example (before/after)?

My editing process I feel is rather simple. I apply a base preset, often varying between changing lighting conditions, but it’s never a one click edit. I just try to keep it realistic as you can see in the following images.

As a professional photographer, you collaborate with a variety of brands. How did you get to that point? Maybe you can take us through some steps you took and stages you went through to reach what you’ve achieved so far? I am sure that our readers, who are working hard on getting there, could pick up some hands on advice from you!

A lot of setbacks and rejections to be honest. I started reaching out to companies in the early stages and started with contra deals for products. This was mainly outdoor equipment like jackets and shirts etc. I was content with that back then and didn’t realize I could be getting paid for my work, however I soon understood that I needed to have a portfolio in front of me before I could really start pitching for paid work. Through doing little ‘product for photo’ deals I managed to make a good enough portfolio that eventually I felt would lead to paid jobs. Let me say it’s important to have a website that’s updated, visually appealing and concise with your best work. Always send your website along with any pitch to a brand and have a clear idea of what you could offer the company, not the other way around.

"I like to always pitch unique ideas that I think would resonate with the particular brands vision."

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As a photographer, I am sure that you feel attached to all your photos. All your pictures represent unique moments/travels of your life. However, among your works, do you have any favorite picture? What is the story or adventure behind that makes this such a unique one?

I try to not get attached to my photos too much. If I get too attached I become complacent, and I forget that I need to work harder to improve. There is definitely a few images that have a special place in my heart, especially ones over the last six months of road life travel. This particular image in Wyoming, with a bison roaming freely through a field below the abrupt and rugged range of the Grand Tetons, stands out to me. It just sums up the US Midwest. 

Is there any artist/photographer who has inspired your art? Can you name three?

A major inspiration in the early days and now is @jasoncharleshill. Incredible photographer who seems to do well everywhere he goes.

A duo of photographers who are inspiring me everyday is @nathanielwise and @nathanaelbillings. Both American photographers based in Washington. I had the pleasure of meeting them on separate occasions and photographing. I absolutely love their art and ever changing vision. They both have a style that I seem to base my style around. A love and appreciation for the outdoors. 

Probably you have lots of places on your wishlist to visit and photograph! Any new projects coming up or countries you will be visiting soon?

2020 is going to be a very flexible year in terms of where I’ll be. We’re aiming to be in NZ until June with the intention of going back to Canada and the US for the summer, continuing van life over there and reuniting with our van we had before leaving to NZ. Possibly even a trip over to Patagonia if the opportunity arises.

I have a few ongoing projects that I’ll be working on the road, including an outdoor brand sponsoring and supporting our adventures, and on and off gigs. Stoked!

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?

Shoot whatever you want and everything you want – building your ability to shoot more than one genre. 

Build a solid portfolio. 

Think about the long term and what you want to be doing 5-10 years down the track. 

Enjoy nature and respect it.

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