Who are you and how did you become “The Wandering Lens”
I’m an Australian travel and underwater photographer currently based in France. I got my start in the industry working as a travel journalist before venturing into the world of photography for a number of years and then went on to creating The Wandering Lens to bring to life the thousands of photos I take on my travels.
Your photographs are stunning, especially the underwater ones. How did you get the idea of capturing what is under water?
Thanks so much! I began photographing underwater while I was living on an island in the Great Barrier Reef of Australia. Being surrounded by water was so inspiring and after my first photoshoot underwater I was hooked. I started to explore the creative opportunities of photographing in water and soon developed my style of the split level landscape images which capture both the under and above in the same photograph.
You have obviously traveled around the globe, what was your favourite destination and why?
I’m a warm weather girl and love places like the Cook Islands and Maldives…anywhere with clear water is a favourite of mine! It’s far too hard to choose just one place though and I know that’s a clichéd answer but having seen so many different cultures, landscapes and experiences, they are each unique in their own way.
What was your favourite destination to photograph, and why?
I recently visited Iceland in late winter and hardly ever put my camera down. I travelled solo around the Ring Road and stopped every ten minutes to take a photo because every mountain, waterfall, volcano or lagoon was more beautiful that the one before.
What is needed to get the perfect shot?
I’m a big believer that it’s not about the camera, it’s about having a unique vision and composing a creative shot.
How long would you say it takes you to get the perfect shot?
It depends on the conditions but if we’re talking about my underwater shots typically I stay in the water for up to an hour to create a collection of images. This can change based on the weather though; I can be out in five minutes if it’s picture perfect, or struggling in the waves and wind for over an hour if it’s rough!
What piece of advice would you give to an aspiring photographer?
While it’s okay to look for inspiration in places like Instagram or Facebook, my biggest piece of advice that I give aspiring photographers is to create your own vision. Think about how you want to capture the world, how you interpret a destination or scene and how you can use your camera to create impact. Forget about what you’ve seen online and take the time to look with your own eyes, you’ll be surprised at what you come up with.
What piece of advice you wish you were given before embarking on this journey?
Probably to slow down and enjoy the rollercoaster. Running your own business can be an uphill struggle sometimes, especially in the early stages I had some eye opening experiences that I wasn’t prepared for. Looking back now, it’s all part of the ride and it’s those tough lessons that prepare you for the exciting opportunities in the future.
What can we expect from The Wandering Lens in the near future?
This year I’m working more behind the scenes with aspiring photographers, mentoring them to improve their work and develop their portfolios. The Wandering Lens will also be offering travel photography workshops in some exciting destinations along with continuing to create guides to some of the most beautiful places in the world.
Is there any place in particular you feel you would want to come back to?
I would happily go anywhere twice. I love to photograph a destination for the first time with fresh eyes and then go back to revisit and capture different angles. Countries like Italy, Japan and France change throughout the seasons and are always high on my list to photograph again and again.
Do you have any words you live by, if so, what are they?
I just like to experience and see as much as possible. There’s no special phrase I live by, I’m a pretty laid back person and love dreaming up travel itineraries or jumping at last minute opportunities.
For more information visit | The Wandering Lens
