Behind the Image: The "What If" Time
Perhaps the two rules you hear the most in landscape photography are “the rule of thirds” and “the importance of moving your feet.” The first one I think gets way too much attention, but the latter cannot be emphasized enough. This image is a prime example.
Perhaps the two rules you hear the most in landscape photography are “the rule of thirds” and “the importance of moving your feet.” The first one I think gets way too much attention, but the latter cannot be emphasized enough.
This image is a prime example.
Kalsoy, Faroe Island. Photo by Paul Zizka.
I shot this in the Faroe Islands on Kalsoy (a particularly epic corner of the archipelago). My OFFBEAT colleague Dave Brosha and I spent a considerable amount of time there, starting off with the compositions that were obvious to us immediately upon arrival. It's a phenomenal place, quite overwhelming, and we were engrossed for a while. And I think we both created a few solid images. But, for me, the real magic happened at the tail end of our visit there, during what I call the "what if" time.
That "what if" time is often when I create my best images. At that point, I (hopefully) have at least one more "traditional" image I'm happy with and I start to operate with more freedom, with a more open mind, more experimentally. And, usually, that means covering some ground. I try to always make time to walk, scramble and downclimb so I can get a different perspective on the place. Often it leads to nothing (but, hey, I get some exercise out of it and it satisfies my curiosity). But occasionally it'll open a photo op that completely takes me by surprise. It's often hard to predict how elements will line up once you've changed your point of view. You can guess but you never really know for sure until you've put in the work.
That day, it paid off. I left before Dave and wandered over to a nearby exposed ridge. When I turned back towards the area where we had been shooting for a couple of hours, a phenomenal scene took shape. A dip in the ridge aligned perfectly with some of the world's highest sea cliffs. Birds were swirling around and waves were crashing hard. There was even a high waterfall and some sea stacks to appreciate in the background. It became obvious that by compressing all that with a telephoto lens, and adding the human element, there was a strong image to be made. I ran back to where Dave was to get the 100-400 lens, had a chat with Dave, and then returned to my perch.
Dave walked the ridge a few times and in one of the shots everything ended up where it needed to be. The birds had good positioning and Dave had a stance that looked natural. I could have gone with a static pose but more and more I find dynamic modelling looks less forced.
I hope that encourages some of you to allow that extra five-minute period of exploration and exercise when you head out on your next photo excursion!
OFFBEAT is heading back to the Faroe Island for an unforgettable photography workshop, October 4-9, 2021! Find information and registration details here.
Photo Journey Through the Faroe Islands
The Faroe Islands are a part of the majestic Kingdom of Denmark and located halfway between Iceland and Scotland in the North Atlantic Ocean. Endlessly rugged and beautiful, they are a prime location for landscape photography.
The Faroe Islands are a part of the majestic Kingdom of Denmark and located halfway between Iceland and Scotland in the North Atlantic Ocean. Endlessly rugged and beautiful, they are a prime location for landscape photography. In fact, OFFBEAT is headed back next fall for our ever-popular FAR OUT FAROES workshop!
It's one of my personal favourite places to shoot. Enjoy this compilation from this wild corner of the world!
Self-portrait at Slaettaratindur. Paul Zizka Photography.
Gasadalur locals, Vágar. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
The Faroe Islands are comprised of 18 rocky islands, which are linked together via road tunnels, ferries, causeways and bridges. Many hikers, photographers, and bird-watchers are drawn to the picturesque fjords, mountains, and steep coastal cliffs that thousands of seabirds call home.
Long exposure self-portrait on a stunning day on Slaettaratindur, Eysturoy. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
According to the stories passed down by generations, the first known settlers were Irish monks in the sixth century. However, evidence has shown that these islands were first inhabited as far back as the year 300 AD.
Faroese paintbrush. Gjogv cliffs. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
The incredibly colourful seacaves of Eysturoy. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
Snow and sunshine atop Slaettaratindur, highest peak in the Faroe Islands.
Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
The name Faroe Islands first appeared as Faereyjar, which translates to “Sheep Islands.” This was the name in the ninth century, given by the Viking-age settlers from Norway and presumably the reason for their national symbol: a ram.
Hardy sheep at Mulafossur, Vagar. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
Vestmanna cliffs, Streymoy. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography
Self-portrait, southern Vágar. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
This mysterious archipelago is the spot for one of our upcoming workshops with OFFBEAT Photography! Click the image below for more information or to sign up!
