From the wild beauty of Vermillion Cliffs to the depths of Mexico’s cenotes, Katarina’s work reflects a deep connection with the environment and a love for visual storytelling. With 18 years of experience and the co-founding of her production company, HiishiiPhoto, Katarina continues to evolve her craft. Katarina’s photo of the Vermillion Cliff was chosen for Best of the Year 2023 by the Nomadict community.
Taking that winning photo at Vermillion Cliffs was quite an adventure. White Pocket is a super remote spot, deep in the wilderness on the Utah-Arizona border. The only way to get there is in a proper 4×4 jeep, and only when the ground is dry.
We planned our entire U.S. trip months in advance and decided to go during the “shoulder season,” when it’s less crowded. However, the weather can be unpredictable at that time, so it’s important to be aware of that, especially for safety reasons when driving in such remote and wild areas.
Our first attempt didn’t go so well—we drove for over three hours through the thickest mud I’ve ever seen. Just as we were getting close, the weather took a turn, and a storm started coming right at us. At the same time, the car had a technical issue, and since we were out in the middle of nowhere with no signal, we decided to turn back, even though we were almost there. It was a tough call because we were so excited to see and capture this surreal place.
The next day, we explored some nearby canyons, and since the weather was perfect, we decided to give it another shot. We’d come across the world to this remote spot, so it felt wrong not to try again. This time, everything went smoothly—the ground was dry and we made it without any issues. We spent the afternoon waiting for the sun to set because that’s when the magic happens. Once the sun goes down, and the shadows and harsh light disappear, the rocks get these incredible shades of blue, purple, and pink, constantly shifting hues. We had a 45-60 minute window to capture it all before it got completely dark. Then, of course, we had to drive back through the wilderness in the dark. It wasn’t easy, but totally worth it! If we were to do it again, we’d probably plan for more time and even stay overnight to have more chances for photos and to play around with the light.
The idea behind the photograph’s composition was to make it feel like we were walking on another planet since the rocks looked so otherworldly. That’s why I wanted to keep the shot as minimalistic as possible, focusing on showcasing this incredible creation of Mother Nature, and us as simple subjects, to help people relate to the crazy landscape. I was aiming to show people how astonishing our planet is, and its creations, and for them to feel excitement but at the same time, respect towards nature and Earth, which is our only home.
To me, it was a dream come true to finally reach a place I’ve always wanted to see. Even though it was a challenge, I’m so glad I managed to capture something so beautiful and unique. As a professional creator, this image symbolizes confidence and trust in my endeavors: After 18 years of experience as a photographer, I know that even in challenging situations and within a short time frame, I can create something special. I’ve developed a strong sense of what I want to achieve and how to get there. That experience in photography, which I’ve built over so many years and through countless different situations, allows me to express myself and capture the best of any location, light, and moment.
When you’ve been doing something for as long as I have (18 years), and you really love it, you have to keep evolving and reinventing yourself. I think I’ve stayed true to my style, with visible symmetry of elements being key in my photos, and I always include a subject in landscapes to help people connect with the scene better. But everything else has changed as I’ve grown as a visual creator and as a co-founder of HiishiiPhoto, our photo and video production company.
What I was doing two or four years ago looks so different from what I do now. I also create different styles of photography. One is what I share on social media that is travel and adventure-related, and the other is more commercial—focused on working with global brands, interesting individuals, venues, and hotels.
Underwater photography is another aspect of my work that offers me an opportunity to view and experience another dimension of this world. I’m always drawn to visually inspiring and unusual locations. Underwater photography gives me that exact feeling—another world with different ways to play with light, the fluidity of the environment, and the creatures that live there. I’m also a freediver, so this is my current favorite combination—doing two of my favorite things together. My love for the ocean and water is endless, so this connection feels natural.
I absolutely love Mexico for underwater photography—cenotes hide these other dimensions of this world I mentioned. So Mexico is one of my favorite locations, as I can explore both the diverse surface landscapes and the beautiful deep waters.
Another location I am drawn to is Iceland, which is perfect for nature and landscapes. The way nature plays with all the elements there is incredible, and the vastness of the space is mind-blowing. I’m also in love with Japan because of its diversity, from high-tech cities to traditional sights, and their nature is amazing, which they really respect and showcase in ways you can only see there. Myanmar (Burma) is another favorite—a country still relatively untouched by tourism, with unbelievable photo opportunities. There are just so many incredible spots for different styles of photography!
When it comes to travel, we have a lot of new destinations planned to visit for HiishiiPhoto. Some are places we’ve been to and want to revisit and others are completely new with adventures we can’t wait to experience, both either for clients or for projects that we want to accomplish for ourselves.
On the client side, one of the most exciting projects we have been working on for the past two years is our collaboration with the MINI brand. We became ambassadors of the brand, and we travel around the world to destinations we pick as ideal for road trips, creating photos with the new MINI cars. It’s truly a dream come true for me since I’m a huge MINI fan, and I get to work with complete creative freedom for a brand I absolutely love!
On the project side, we are planning to launch “travel with us” trips, where we’ll take people on adventures that challenge them, while also teaching photography along the way. We are also working on finally finishing our online presentations, making it easier for people to buy our photos as prints and art. We’re preparing a photography course, and, what I’d love most, a photography book showcasing our adventures and travels. There is so much in the works and so little time, so wish us luck in getting at least some of it done! 🙂
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