The images that don't exist yet

I'm keeping an eye on the weather forecast as I write this. Tonight, we are expecting a snowstorm that is supposed to bring a few inches of fresh snow. That's my hope, at least. I'll be ready to drive somewhere else if I don't wake up to a winter wonderland tomorrow.

It's on days like these, with the anticipation of what's to come, that sometimes I wonder about the images I'll have a chance to create tomorrow. Images of scenes that don't exist yet. Fleeting moments that will present themselves only for a brief moment in time, and that we photographers have the privilege to capture forever.

Isn't photography just great?

iPad only for photography and video work, 6 months later

For the last 6 months, I've been using nothing else but an iPad as my only computer to do all my photography and video work. The experience has been great so far, but there are some significant downsides you should be aware of, should you try to do the same.

On Failure

You can't fail when you go out to take some photos. You only fail when you don't.

Someone messaged me recently about their adventures in the fog: they tried once but failed; the second time was a success. I saw the work they created and it is indeed beautiful.

Those images weren't made on the second day, though. By exploring a location first¹, we know what to expect and where to go to make the most of the conditions.

Most times, we will come back empty-handed. We need to learn to fail and embrace it as part of the process. If we don't, we'll eventually stop trying.

The key to making good images is perseverance, and realizing that we will fail many times before we can succeed.

¹ This is not scouting: scouting implies you are exploring an area for future photoshoots. I prefer to explore with my camera in hand and try to make images right away. It makes it easier for me to see the potential of a location. Always carry a camera with you.

From the balcony

This image is a perfect example of what I talked about in "Images only you can make".

I made it from the balcony, on a beautifully white morning. This scene would have never worked if it wasn't for the snow: there's water, aquatic plants, cement, grass and so many other elements - too busy. But this morning, all of that had been erased by the snow.

There it stood the pier, alone. Something belonging to a very different, remote time. Almost out of place.

You don't have to go to faraway lands to find beauty. Just don't forget to look for it.

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You gotta love it

Often, I lose track of time when I'm taking photographs. That's usually not a problem, but when temperatures are well below freezing like a couple of days ago, one can face some consequences.

I was so focused on making images that I "forgot" how cold it was. Of course, I was aware of it: the pain in my face was a constant reminder of the hostile environment.

When I grabbed my video camera and tried to talk to it, I could barely move my jaw. A couple of hours outside had numbed the muscles in my face. They were so cold that I almost couldn't talk.

I can't think of any other thing I'd be doing in weather like that, for that long, that isn't photography. In fact, I can't wait to do it again.

I love it.

I had to get out...

Some days are special, those days we can't miss out on. I've talked about that here on the blog and in the newsletter.

Yesterday, I had a chance to put the theory to the test. It was supposed to be a busy day at home, but the snow waits for no one. The conditions were perfect for photography, so I had to put everything off.

It was worth it.

Not as good (or as bad) as you think

When we make a good image, we might think we are getting better at this: "I'm a great photographer", we tell ourselves.

When the best image we can come up with isn't any good, we think this is not for us: "I'm a terrible photographer", we convince ourselves.

We are neither that good nor that bad. The truth is always somewhere in between.

We outdoor photographers are at the mercy of the location, the conditions, and the light. Making a good image is easy if we are at the right place at the right moment. If we have nothing going for us, even the most talented photographer might have not been able to create a decent image.

Since most of the time we can't predict what the outside world is going to do, our best chance is to get out as often as we can and try to do our best. Let's use this as a measurement of success instead of "good" vs "bad" images.

Don't miss out on the good days

I believe that every day is filled with possibilities. That's why I try to make images every single day, no matter where I am or what I am doing. But, not all days are created equal.

I'd been struggling for a few days to create new images. The weather wasn't helping: it was freezing cold, but no rain, no snow, no nothing. Being outside for more than half an hour became an act of bravery, and the rewards were too low.

Patience usually pays off. Yesterday was one of those days that come only every once in a while. It snowed overnight, so we woke up to a winter wonderland. Not only that, but the temperature was actually pleasant (28F / -2C, which at this point in winter is actually pretty warm), no wind, no rain, no snow, and a little bit of mist. Absolutely perfect conditions for photography.

Not too long ago, I'd dwell on where to go to take advantage of this gift. Instead of wasting time on Google Maps trying to find the perfect spot, I just grabbed my camera and headed out. I spent 5 hours in the snow, feeling like a little kid who was playing with the white powder for the first time. And I think I made some beautiful images -just walking around the neighborhood.

The place I spent the most time at was, perhaps not surprisingly, the local golf course. The snow worked as a beautiful white blanket on top of the carefully crafted landscapes, with its rolling hills, little ponds and intentionally spaced trees. So much potential in such a mundane place.

Yes, I do believe in everyday photography - there's always something to be found out there, any day. But some days are special. Those, you can't really miss out on.

Images only you can make

After traveling across the country for the last 3 months, and seeing some of the most beautiful landscapes the US has to offer, one could think my photography would suffer by being back in Indiana.

Actually, it's quite the opposite! I'm very excited to be back, as I believe that the images we make in "ordinary" places can be more rewarding and, in many cases, better than the ones made in exotic spots. At least, they are very unique.

As opposed to a national park, photography here is hard. Images aren't obvious, you have to hunt them, and that can take a lot of effort and time. That's what makes them so rewarding, when we finally find them.

In this video, I try to prove this point by showing you some of the images I've made over the years near "home", wherever that was at the time. I'm lucky to have called home very different and beautiful places, all of them with their distinctives landscapes and beauty.

I hope this inspires you to get out wherever you might be at the moment, wherever you might live, and capture that that makes the place unique. What looks ordinary and boring for you can be new and exciting for someone else.

The long way back home

This is the last video from the road trip. It documents the long drive back home, after 3 months on the road. Hairball was kind of falling apart, so that made the trip a bit... interesting. I hope you enjoy it.

Arches in Black and White

Last video from my recent road trip across the US, from beautiful Arches National Park.

Bringing the newsletter back

In this day and age, sharing your work online is easier than ever. Making meaningful connections is getting harder, though.

Social media has changed the world in many ways, some good, some not so good. Thanks to these platforms, I was able to reach thousands of people, connect with other photographers and artists, and discover so much great art.

I like to use social media. I don’t like when that happens the other way around. I don’t want to spend a second trying to figure out how to beat the algorithm and reach those who followed me because they were interested in what I create.

It’s time to bring the newsletter back. It might sound old-fashion at this point, but I believe it’s the best way we have to really connect with each other. No middlemen involved, humans and non-humans.

One email, once a week, where I’ll share all the work I publish on my Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. So you don’t have to use those platforms to see what I’m up to, and even less, to connect with me. Simply reply to that email and we’ll be talking!

And of course, you can unsubscribe at any time.

If you are interested, please join us:

Safety when photographing in the outdoors

I like to get out in nature, away from the crowds. Even though I’ve been pretty far from civilization at times, I’m aware that you don’t need to be in a remote place for something bad to happen to you. Anything could happen at any moment, anywhere. If you get hurt and can’t walk, 1 mile becomes 1,000.

In this video, I talk about some of the safety measures I take when I photograph in the great outdoors.

Always keeping in mind that there’s no such thing as a risk-free life and we must embrace some degree risk, this is about minimizing the chances of something happening and increasing the odds of us getting of that situation in one piece.

Talking creativity

A few weeks ago, I had the chance to talk with Anshul from Converzionalist about creativity. We talked about what motivates us, what creativity is, fear of failure and many more things. Hope you enjoy our conversation.

Photographing colorful landscapes in Black & White

Today’s video is from Canyonlands National Park, in Utah. A landscape that is mostly about the colors: the red rocks, the green vegetation, the sunrises and sunsets… how do we photograph all of that in black and white?

As I explore the park, I share some tips and ideas to create good monochrome images in places where color is king.

Update: second part of this mini series is now available. I share a few more tips and ideas, this time from Arches National Park.

It's within you

I love hearing from people who were inspired by my work or my words. It gives meaning to what I do.

A few years ago, I went through a period of struggle with my photography. It got boring and predictable, and I didn't like what I was making. It all felt the same, my work didn't feel mine, personal, unique, with my own style.

The Bronica changed all of that. It was a very different approach to photography: slower, more intentional and engaging.

And apparently, it's done the same for many people. This camera is a recurring theme in those messages, filled with stories of how it's changed the way they approach photography.

I'm very glad to hear those stories. While I don't usually like to talk about gear -it's just a tool after all-, some cameras can really spark joy and open a whole new way of seeing. The Bronica is definitely one of those cameras.

Some time has passed since the Bronica came to my life and changed my photography forever. I don't use it as often nowadays, but its effect is still profound. This is because it didn't really changed anything, it simply revealed what was already within me. The Bronica was the catalyst that brought the change, not the reason of it.

It's within you, too. Never think that your photography is tied to any camera or lens, or whatever piece of gear. You are an artist because of what you have in you, not because of the tools you use.

Photography as a lifestyle, from Zion National Park

I breathe photography, it’s my life. I always have a camera with me, ready to create something at any moment. If photography were to be done only from beautiful and stunning places, I wouldn’t be doing it. I believe photography should be done anywhere, at all times. There’s an image to be made everywhere.

In this video from beautiful Zion, I talk about this approach to photography.

How I manage my photos and videos on the road

As you know, I don’t have a permanent home. I spend a few months a year in Spain, a few months a year in the USA, and the rest on the road.

The traditional solutions (local hard drives) to manage all the photos and videos I take don’t really work for me, I need something flexible, accessible from anywhere, and safe.

That’s why I use the cloud as my only storage for my photography work. It is more expensive than local hard drives and it takes longer to back everything up, but once it’s done, there’s nothing more convenient and safer than the cloud. It also requires no maintenance at all.

I don’t format the memory cards until everything is backed up in the cloud. In the meanwhile, I copy everything to my iPad so I have at least two copies, just in case something happens to the memory card.

It’s different for video, though. I record everything in 4k, and those files take a lot of space. I think I produce around 2TB of 4k video every year, I wouldn’t be able to afford storing all my raw footage in the cloud.

Up until recently, I was using Google Photos for this. It compresses the video files down to 1080p, but it’s completely free. Or it used to be. Google has changed its mind and the service will be paid after June 1st, 2021. Even compressed, it will become too expensive for my videos really quick.

I’m not sure about what to do just yet. I might have to revert to hard drives for video, or just delete the footage after I’m done with whatever YouTube video they belong to.

I’d love to hear from you and your solutions for photo and video storage.

A Death Valley photography journal

A few weeks ago, I was lucky enough to spend a couple nights in beautiful Death Valley National Park. I recorded a photography journal of sorts, and the result is these two videos. I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed making them.

Remove friction

To remove bad habits, we need to create friction. Do you eat unhealthy snacks every time you pass by the kitchen? Hide them away or, better yet, don't buy them.

To build good habits, we need to remove friction. Want to start running? Try by leaving your running shoes by the door.

The same applies to photography: we should remove as much friction as possible.

Something catches our eye. A possible image, we think. But then we realize about everything we need to do to take the photograph: take our backpack off, get the camera out, mount the lens, filter, extend the tripod, place it on ground, work through the settings... every single step is friction between us and the image. The likelihood of us trying our luck with that scene is very low. We will never know if that image would have worked.

Remove friction: have your camera out and ready, use P or A mode, shoot handheld. Consider using compact cameras. The simpler, the better.