Could you tell us a little about yourself, your background and how you found your way into landscape photography?
I have been working as a travel photographer and filmmaker for the past couple of years, shooting in a variety of epic locations across New Zealand and, more recently, a handful of destinations worldwide. Before that, I had spent about five years working at Television New Zealand as a studio camera operator, which gave me a lot of experience working behind the camera, as well as shooting in high-intensity environments. I also worked part-time as a video editor at a local production studio. I’ve always had a passion for travel and experiencing the outdoors and I wanted a way to combine my love for adventure with the craft of storytelling, so travel photography became the perfect medium to express my creativity.
Where have your most recent travels taken you?
I recently returned from a month in Brazil, a country I knew very little about. I was truly blown away by the variety of landscapes across the country. I was lucky enough to spend a few weeks in the enormous cities of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, before exploring a few locations in the northeast, such as Maranhão and Rio Grande do Norte. Rio was a photographer’s paradise – to capture the rich bustling cityscapes scattered amongst the tropical mountains was such a treat. Similarly, the vibrant coastlines and expansive dunes in the northeast made for some unique adventures, as well as the amount of wildlife that was on display in every region. Such an incredible place, and I only just scratched the surface of it.
Are you a spontaneous traveller or do photographic assignments require a load of prep? If so, what does that look like?
I think I am naturally inclined to plan a lot before travelling. I know the difficulties that go into capturing the sort of images that I like to create. Very particular lighting and weather conditions all factor into how I achieve my photography and, as a result, this requires a certain element of prior knowledge and understanding of the area. I’ve had numerous experiences where I’ve rocked up to a location with very little planning ahead and wished that I had done more research in order to create something better.
That said, most of my favourite images have been the ones I didn’t plan! Those spontaneous moments that I could never predict are more important than anything else. It is essential that you keep yourself open and available to those experiences, because often they are the most memorable. If I ever find myself planning a trip too intricately, I have to remind myself that the very essence of travel is to experience new things. Therefore, leaving an element of the unknown is essential to create the most fulfilling experience and this results in some of the most cherished photographs.
Where in the world most felt to you like a different planet?
There are a handful of times that I’ve truly felt in awe of what Mother Nature has created here on our planet. I’ve been lucky enough to experience a wide variety of different corners of the globe. The expansive desert of Wadi Rum in Jordan was a particular highlight, with its vast dunes that continued forever, broken up by enormous rocky peaks shooting straight out of the sand. The volcanic paradise of Java in Indonesia is home to an overwhelming amount of natural splendour, in particular the breathtaking spectacle of Tumpak Sewu waterfall, a place that left me speechless. The ancient landscapes of Cappadocia in Turkey are filled with unique textures and fascinating history. Or most recently, the mind-blowing scale of Lençóis Maranhenses on the northeastern coast of Brazil, where the infinite layers of rolling dunes, interspersed between turquoise lagoons, make for some of the most beautiful natural spectacles I’ve ever seen.
But of all the places I’ve been, the last few years has given me a whole new appreciation for my own landscapes here in New Zealand. Such a wide range of incredible natural beauty condensed into a little country. Every day here is different, too. You can explore it a thousand times, but as the seasons shift, every experience will be totally unique. From the warm tropical coastlines of the north to the rugged remote wilderness of the west coast, across the dry plains of the Mackenzie to the grand snowy peaks of the Southern Alps, New Zealand has it all. But if you want my pick, Fiordland National Park is a paradise of diversity. The towering mountain peaks, covered with waterfalls as far as the eye can see, trickling deep into the remote rainforests and out into the ocean fiords, make for a photographer’s dreamscape. Every day in Fiordland holds new adventures and an abundance of opportunities to create breathtaking images.
A lot of your images and films explore epic waterscapes – what is it about this environment that captivates you?
My photography definitely goes through phases. As my work evolves, different aspects of the landscape inspire me in unique ways and currently I’ve been spending a lot of time capturing elements of water. The way it interacts with the landscapes in so many interesting ways helps to add character and texture to my work. As I pursue atmosphere to create layers in my photographs, the addition of rain and mist becomes a welcome addition to a composition, often isolating subjects or creating mood. The flow of rivers and movement of the ocean help to create leading lines that balance the frame and draw the viewer’s eye through the image, helping to tell the story more effectively. All these elements have captivated me recently and drawn me to appreciate elements of nature that I might have otherwise avoided.
Where is a place that you would recommend everyone go to once in their lifetime?
If I was to recommend one place that everyone should visit in their lifetime, it wouldn’t be anywhere in particular. My best advice is to choose a place that scares you, or try to experience something that you don’t think you’re capable of. There have been plenty of places across my travels that have daunted me. The fear of the unknown can be scary, and places may have gained a reputation online for being dangerous or unsafe for travellers. But every time I travel to one of these places, it ends up being one of my favourite experiences. Pushing yourself outside your comfort zone will almost always result in a positive experience and a sense of accomplishment within yourself. You will learn things about the world that you never considered and gain a whole new understanding of how you can travel.
When you’re on location, what does a typical day look like?
I always aim to add depth and character to my work by utilising light and atmosphere to create a photograph that stands out from the others. This leads to a lot of early mornings and late nights out in the elements. One of my favourite feelings is getting up for sunrise to capture a photograph and being able to experience a place almost all to yourself. Once the rush of pursuing the light diminishes, I find it essential to slow down and actually enjoy the surroundings. Put the camera away and cherish the environment you’re in. Enjoy spending time with your fellow travellers and find other methods of taking in the surroundings without the use of technology. The camera is never too far away though – like I said, those spontaneous moments that come out of nowhere often make for the best images.
What are the destinations on your bucket list you’ve yet to explore?
There are plenty of places I have yet to explore that I look forward to hopefully visiting in the future. Sailing through the icy fjords of Greenland, exploring the deserts of Namibia, roaming the busy streets of Japan, discovering the unique wildlife of the Amazon or climbing amongst the peaks of Nepal are all high on my list. That said, I love to experience places that I never even considered and am always open to new and exciting adventures. There is still so much of the world I have yet to see and hopefully I can continue to do so in the future.
As a seasoned traveller, do you have any secrets to make the travelling experience better?
My advice is to spend as long as you can in a place. Avoid fancy hotels, expensive restaurants and the comforts of home to make your money last longer. You’ll get a much more authentic experience of a place if you allow yourself to slow down and truly immerse in the lives of the area. Try the local food, interact with the people, listen to local tips and try your best to say yes to any opportunities that present themselves. Some of my most cherished travel memories have been spontaneously thrust upon me, and resulted in experiences that completely shifted the way I viewed a place. As much as I love to capture the landscapes and document the natural world, it’s the people that really make a place special.
What essentials can you not travel without?
If travelling has taught me anything, it’s to hold less value in material things and instead search for experiences. I try to travel as minimally as I can, as I’ve learnt that most items can be purchased anywhere in the world, so it’s really not an issue if you forget something, or something breaks. Obviously I take my camera everywhere I go, and I would say that my phone is a big help with the day-to-day operations of travelling, whether it’s booking hotels, planning routes, scouting locations or pursuing different weather conditions.
Discover more of Cam’s work at camstables.com, where you can also find a selection of his prints, and follow him on Instagram @cam_snaps
