© 2020 Nomadict. All rights reserved.
Tim Philippus
@timphilippus
Best of the week 4 at #nomadict 2021
I did a gap year in Australia after finishing high school and worked and traveled through the country for 8 months. Shortly before the trip, I bought my first entry-level camera, an old Canon EOS 700D with a cheap lens. I was deeply into long exposures and night photography during that time and I exactly remember that moment standing in the Pinnacle Desert in Western Australia at 1 am thinking, this is it! This is what I want to do
"From now on, I am going to spend every Dollar I make only on traveling and new camera equipment."
And that is basically what I did during my following studies, where I had 2 months off each year and was able to travel to a lot of different countries during the semester break. The decision on becoming a full-time freelancer was made in December 2019. Back then, I was torn between starting at a travel startup in Berlin or doing freelancing. I had a job interview at the company and it went really well, but they would not give me as much freedom in my own workflow as I would have expected.
"That was when I realized what big role freedom and the ability to determine my own schedule was playing for me. That was when I started freelancing."
The winning shot was taken at King Kong Hill – the pretty famous viewpoint with an outlook on Mount Bromo in Java, Indonesia. I remember that moment to be funny, as it turned out that I forgot my last pair of shoes in the hostel a day before and there was a 5-hour bus ride between me and them. I was ready to hike up the sandy hill in flip-flops when a guy who I met on the bus offered me to borrow his shoes, which came in pretty handy cause we had to start the hike in pitch-black darkness.
"It was pretty chilly and a little crowded once we arrived at the top, but the sunrise was absolutely beautiful."
While trying to take my photos and find a composition, I learned that securing a spot at a popular location definitely is key when relying on a tripod and getting the angle you would like to shoot. As there were a lot of people on that hill I could barely move, but after some scrambling up the hill, I found a spot that came close to what I was looking for.
I tried to capture the magnitude of the scene, which looked straight out of Jurassic Park. I also decided to include a little bit of the yellow grass in the foreground to make it clear that this was not shot with a drone and to give a better feeling of depth. When editing the photo, I tried to go for a soft and glowy look to add a dreamy feeling. I also enhanced the smoke coming out of the volcano, because that was one of the main parts of the shot that made it feel alive and tell a story.
For me, photography is about catching a feeling. It’s about storytelling. It’s about creating an emotional state inside the observer’s mind stronger than words could ever achieve. And that’s what continues to drive me in my photography.
Would you like content like this sent to your inbox?
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
BEST OF THE WEEK DECEMBER 2020
BEST OF THE WEEK NOVEMBER 2020
BEST OF THE WEEK OCTOBER 2020
BEST OF THE WEEK SEPTEMBER 2020
BEST OF THE WEEK AUGUST 2020
BEST OF THE WEEK JULY 2020
BEST OF THE WEEK JUNE 2020
BEST OF THE WEEK MAY 2020
BEST OF THE WEEK APRIL 2020
BEST OF THE WEEK MARCH 2020
BEST OF THE WEEK FEBRUARY 2020
BEST OF THE WEEK JANUARY 2020
NOMADICT
ART GALLERY
THE LATEST STORIES
WRITEN WITH PASSION TO INSPIRE YOU
Maksym Mazur (@withmazur): Best of the week 35 at #nomadict 2024
Mazur’s journey intertwines his love for travel with a deep commitment to capturing the world’s fleeting beauty. His work often reflects his awe of nature, such as in his image of the jungle that won Best of the Week at Nomadict, taken from above at sunset with perfect timing and serendipity.
Katarina Batuta Višekruna (@katarina_mandarina): Best of the Year 2023 at #nomadict
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.
Alex Pantela (@alexpantela): Photographer based in Cyprus
In this article, Alex Pantela shares strategies to deepen your connection with nature through content creation, his favorite environments to stay creative, techniques for storytelling, the vision behind his work and editing style, and most valuable lessons!
Arnaud Ribeiro (@arnaud_ribeiro): Best of the week 26 at #nomadict 2024
Arnaud’s journey into photography began in 2023, inspired by a friend’s breathtaking road trip photos. Starting with a basic drone and a desire to capture the beauty around his home, his passion quickly grew, leading him to invest in a camera and fully immerse himself in the craft. Though still early in his journey, Arnaud’s dedication to practice, patience, and embracing mistakes has already shaped his evolving style. One of his images won the Best of the Week at Nomadict.
Cuno de Bruin (@cunodebruin): Best of the week 33 at #nomadict 2024
From his early days experimenting with a DSLR to capturing breathtaking drone shots in the mountains, Cuno’s work reflects his love for storytelling through images. In this article, he shares the experiences and lessons that shaped his career, from winning awards to balancing his creative pursuits with family life.
Harry Sohal (@harrysohalphoto): Photographer based in Canada
In this article, photographer and creative director Harry shares his journey from a college hobbyist to a professional creative, rediscovering his passion during the pandemic. He delves into his approach to capturing authenticity, his techniques for brand promotion, and the tools he uses to achieve a distinct, film-like aesthetic.
Derrick Kosea (@d_kosea_kaptures): Best of the week 31 at #nomadict 2024
Derrick is a photographer from the Navajo Reservation (New Mexico), a member of the Navajo Nation tribe, and an electrical engineering student. A recent highlight was capturing his dream shot of Shiprock surrounded by fog, a photo that won the Best of the Week at Nomadict.
Liam Alford (@liam_alford_photography): Best of the week 33 at #nomadict 2024
Liam Alford is a self-taught nature and wedding photographer with a passion for capturing the special moments in the world through his lens. In this article, we learn about his journey, valuable lessons from his outdoor experiences, and his shooting + editing approach to the image that won the Best of the Week 33, 2024.
