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Vedran Anšak
@wec_photo
Photographer based in Croatia
For quite a long time, I took photos as an amateur, just for myself – and because I loved nature and animals. I used a simple compact camera and later a basic DSLR. I never posted anything on social media either.
This changed when I opened Instagram and started to pay attention to the great content and inspiring people you can find there. I realized how useful the app can be and that it can help you achieve great things – as long as you connect with the right people and community. Feeling deeply inspired, I began to invest in better lenses and other equipment. I wanted to reach a new level in photography, shoot better photos, and through Instagram, I suddenly had access to photos and photographers I could learn from.
"I worked a lot on my photographs and techniques, as well as my editing, and I changed from one style to the other. However, landscape and wildlife photography got me hooked."
"But most of all, I love hiking. Especially in the mountains. It’s always my favorite scenery to catch through my viewfinder and immortalize through an artistic eye."
I feel euphoria and joy already even before I arrive at the mountains, just by imagining the massive mountains and indescribable views. No matter how hard or long the trail is or what the weather is like, I just love it and my camera works full power. I am happiest when I travel somewhere to visit a new mountain.
Acquiring new gear to improve the quality I could capture these scenes with has been very important for me because I disagree that equipment is not as key as people think. Personally, I think that it is fundamental as you can simply not “compete” with others if you don’t have access to the same quality of tools. I worked hard in additional jobs to be able to buy new gear and subsequently, enhance the quality of my work. I practiced every day, shooting and editing, trying new things in Lightroom and Photoshop. In the beginning, I didn’t have access to all the tools as I didn’t pay for the software, and even then, I wasn’t sure how to use all the tools I did have access to. That is different today, but of course, I am still learning, and I see progression in my photographs after every one or two months.
"This makes me feel proud, as I never went to a single photography course - everything I know, I learned by myself through simply trying until I figured things out that worked."
Photography has become my biggest passion, and most of my money goes into photography, whether that is trips, gear, or anything else related. My ultimate goal is to live from photography. I wish to be independent and go wherever I want to photograph what I love. It is the tiny success that makes me feel that I am heading in the right direction. Here and there, I have done small collaborations with outdoor brands or small manufacturers of photography gear. I never want a project to be just an advertisement or alienated from my interests, so I choose selectively whom I would work with and what fits into my story, before I reach out to them. I truly believe that is important – even as a starting professional within the industry. What I am most proud of, is that I am an ambassador for Fjällräven, a Swedish outdoor brand. It is a responsible, green brand that supports nature conservation projects. It is my greatest success so far… It seems that hard work and effort indeed pay off in the end! The fun part of the project related collaborations is that I always go to a new place. I don’t like to repeat anything, as far as locations are concerned. I look to record a good story at a new spot, capture product details, test durability, and present it in the best way. And have fun at the same time! I like when I get new things from Fjällräven, because it pushes me to try new things.
So for every trip, I am well equipped and accompanied by great excitement for what experiences and photos I will go home with. I like to explore and see new things, follow unknown trails, explore different nature, and eat good food. I am not a person who visits cities, museums, theaters, and the like; when I travel, I go exclusively to the landscapes and nature in general. And this can be abroad or in my own country. Croatia is unique, and I want to get to know my country better because I think that everything starts on your doorstep. Furthermore, everyone knows Croatia as a good summer destination with beaches and lovely places along the Adriatic coast. I want to show everyone what else Croatia has, such as beautiful mountains, hiking trails, waterfalls, lakes, forests, and so much more. I want to show the less popular and the more beautiful. The small and surprisingly stunning corners of Croatian paradise where a lot of tourists have no idea about.
Seeking the unfamiliar is exactly what I do myself as well when I am on trips abroad. As for the adventure to the Dolomites, I planned it like any other: Of course, I want to visit the famous sites. However, I also make space in my itinerary for some hidden gems. I chose the locations I like the most and leave room for spontaneous locations I find out later that are on the route and that I wouldn’t want to skip. In 10 days, I visited more than 15 locations, of which the last day was a quick day visit to Slovenia and I saw five locations there. It was crazy and unforgettable! In those 10 days, I had all possible weather conditions from snow, rain, and fog to beautiful sunny autumn days.
"The Dolomites definitely stole my heart, mountains wherever you go, and landscapes impossible to describe."
There’s one shot I took on this trip that is my all-time favorite. It is my dream shot. I always looked at that location, Cadini Di Misurina, on the Internet and stared at photos from other creators. It seemed so unreal… To stand there finally, contemplating the landscape with my own eyes, was amazing! I really love the mountains, and to look at those giants from the cliff at 2000 meters is crazy. I felt overwhelmed by intense happiness and will never forget that moment. The first moment I got there wasn’t the best for photography though: The mountains were covered by a huge cloud, and in the afternoon it began to rain which didn’t stop until the next morning. I had been waiting there for about two hours but without success, the cloud just didn’t want to move. According to the weather forecast, the weather should be better within two days. So, I went back for my photo and the second time looking at this landscape was even tenser.
"The location is in my opinion the most beautiful place in the Dolomites."
I witnessed an avalanche there, which is something so powerful and intense to see that it is hard to explain in words. It emphasized visually what I already knew: We really need to respect nature more and pay attention to it – and to our behavior. We only have one planet and we should make people aware that nature doesn’t need us, we need nature! I know each individual can be a contribution toward the better, and unfortunately, I see too many people that aren’t aware of this.
Each new photo gives me a new experience, a new lesson, a new memory. Each new photo makes me richer, happier. And if I can share this with others, and perhaps even motivate and inspire them, I can’t feel more fulfilled.
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