· How did you get started professionally? Did you study photography in school? How did you get involved with The Best Odyssey (which looks completely awesome!!)?
I did study photography in university but it was an elective. I was doing my bachelors in Outdoor Recreation..believe it or not. I loved my photography classes..I would spend hours and hours in the dark room. I was always artistic in school growing up and just fell in love with photography. So I just combined my loves of photography and adventure sports.
My partner and I were running a charter sailboat in the South Pacific and we loved the adventure of sailing but hated doing charters so we sold our boat in Thailand and came up with a new business plan and started The Best Odyssey…a 5 year world kiteboarding expedition that works like a time share concept. We had $250 between the two of us at the time but we figured…why not try it out and see if it works…luckily it did.
· Do you clean and maintain the boat? Are all your jobs on the Discovery?
Yes…cleaning and maintaining the boat is a full time job but we have crew to help us with it. I’m on Discovery most of the time but I do get off to do various photo assignments.
· How do you make your work stand out to potential clients/editors?
I try to make my work stand out by getting unique shots in unique locations. Getting shots from angles that a lot of other photographers can’t (ex…top of the mast or from a paraglider). I’m really lucky having the boat in that regard because other photographers can travel to the locations I’m at but they don’t have a sailboat or another means to get into remote locations or shoot from unique angles. Most importantly though I think you have to be very critical of your work and only send your best stuff to editors/clients…then you create a reputations of sending quality stuff and editors/clients will keep coming back.
· What marketing tactics have you tried? Which ones are most effective?
I haven’t tried a lot of marketing tactics because I just don’t have access to internet enough of the time to do that stuff. I do have my work with a stock agency and they do quite a bit of marketing for me which is great. By far the most effective marketing is having other people promote your work. When a magazine features me or does an interview with me, that is by far the best. Other than that, I would have to say social media is great…especially twitter. If your a photographer these days and don’t do social media, I think you’re really hurting yourself.
· Do you ever display your work in galleries or a format other than a magazine?
Not really and that’s just because I’m always on the boat in a far off location. If I lived somewhere for awhile I’d really like to put some of my stuff into a gallery but my bread and butter is magazine/stock work.
· When getting your start in travel photography what were some of the most beneficial things you did? What were your biggest mistakes? If you could do it again what would you do differently?
The most benefical thing I did was just getting out there and traveling..just doing it. If I were to tell a beginner I would say take a year long trip..go to India (for example)..get lost and see what happens. As the photographer Jay Maisel says “to photograph more interesting things become a more interesting person”. Not sure what my mistakes were because mistakes are part of the process and is the best way to learn so for me they are not mistakes at all but amazing learning experiences. If I could do it again I’m not sure what I would have done differently…maybe become more serious about it at younger age..but that’s hard to say.
· Who were you working with when you initially got started? Do you work solely with Odyssey now? Do advertising clients make up a large part of your work? Is there a difference in your personal work and work done as a job?
I used to be a photo editor with a big outdoor company but when I started sailing, I wanted to take advantage of the traveling and photograph more. So I just started on my own but I did understand the industry by then. No, I don’t work solely with the Odyssey..I’m constantly working on photo stories and ideas for articles, news and magazines. Advertising clients only make up a small part of my work..because of my situation I primarily am doing editorial stuff. Ya, there is a small difference but I try really really hard to make all my work personal work. I like being able to photograph the stories I’m passionate about and I think it’s really important because you will do much better work if your passionate about what your photographing.
· Where do you get your story ideas? For instance, how did the story on the swimming elephant come about?
I get my story ideas mostly from traveling and meeting people who tell me about things that are happening or going on. The story of the swimming elephant came about because I saw a movie with Rajan (the elephant) in it and decided that I had to experience swimming with him. We were in India at the time with the boat so I decided to go to the Andamans to see him. When I was there I learned that he had an amazing story that needed to be shared. So I pitched it to the BBC and they ran it. I also keep my eye out for things on the internet or news but mostly I find that if your traveling and looking for interesting stories, you will find them.
· How is your work influenced by what other people are doing? Or whom do you drawinspiration from?
My work is hugely influenced by what other people are doing whether I consiously know it or not. Mostly because I find inspiration from all kinds of mediums. Music, art, books, photography, movies, commercials, blogs, etc…all spark ideas and help me to be more creative. I draw a lot of inspiration from the surfing culture and adventure sport world as well as other photographers such as Sam Abell, Bresson, Steve McCurry, Chris Orwig, etc…
· What equipment do you use? Do you prefer particular formats/cameras/materials, or do you see them as a means to an end? Photography equipment can be quite expensive; how have you dealt with that obstacle?
I use all Canon digital equipment and Ikelite and SPL water housings. The DSLR’s are the easiest for me to use considering the environment I’m in. As for buying the equipment I usually buy new equipment with the money I earn through photography but over the years I have learned that less is more. I could easily get by with a single body and a couple key lenses if I had to. I think as you become better as a photographer you can do a lot more with a single lens. I often will force myself to only use one lens for a bit so that I learn angles and understand what I have to do to get the shot with that lens. It’s a really valuable lesson that I think can only make you a better photographer.
· Do you keep a journal or sketchbook?
I don’t unfortunately…I think it’s a great idea and wish I had time for it but between shooting still and doing video and being on the boat, I just don’t feel like I have the time for it.
· How much of the year are you traveling? Is the amount of travel you do difficult for family and friends? Do you have any pets? Are you able to find a balance between travel and home?
I’m traveling probably 11 months out of the year. Yes, the amount of travel is difficult for friends and family but I’m used to it…I have been traveling my whole life (I grew up in Saudi Arabia) so traveling is in my blood. No, there is no balance between travel and home at the moment. When the 5 year expedition ends this October I will hopefully be able to find a balance between travel and home.
· Do you get sick/injured often?
Knock on wood, I don’t get injured very often but I do get sick. Last year alone I got Thyphoid Fever, E-coli, Giardia, Staf and a series of other intestinal infections.
· Where is your favorite place? What was your favorite story?
Hard question. I have a lot of places that I love but I really love Indonesia…it’s way up there on my list. It’s so diverse and interesting. I could get lost for years doing various photo stories in Indo alone. My favorite story so far has to be Rajan (The swimming elephant). I love animals and I was so moved by his story and spending time with him.
· Favorite adventure sport?
Paragliding
· What is the hardest part of being a travel photographer? What’s the best part?
The hardest part I think is not having a good internet connection. I’m lucky enough that I get to shoot a lot but if you can’t spend the time on the computer and internet you can’t get them out there to sell. It’s hard for me to work on the business side of my photography. Most photographers get to shoot a photo or travel story for a couple of weeks and then go home and they can edit and get the images out there but for me I very rarely get that downtime and it’s a massive part of a photography business. My website, stock , etc…all suffers because of it. The best part if of course traveling and experiencing different cultures and witnessing amazing things or doing things in amazing places. For me that’s what life is all about. You only live once so it’s important to go out there and do what you want to do and experience as much as you can.
· What are you working on now? Future projects?
I’m working on more video projects and I’d like to do a photo story in Tunisia this fall.
· Is this the best job ever?
Ya, this is a pretty amazing job and I feel very fortunate but honestly I think anyone can do anything if they want it bad enough. It’s really not that hard..you just have to do it. But I guess that is the hard part:)
· What advice would you give someone just starting out?
Get out there..travel, shoot as much as you can. Be very critical..be a perfectionist. Slow down, be patient..wait for the shot. Less is more…with regards to equipment and everything else. Find inspiration, become passionate, push yourself, try new things and techniques and of course you only live once so go out and do it.
· And, lastly…. If you were an animal, which animal would you be and why?
I would be an eagle..it’s just so amazing to fly.
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