Absolutely extraordinary photographic adventure bringing you to the professional that you are. I have no questions as yet but thank you dearly for instilling such fresh ideas into my photography.
Thank you for sharing Gill. So interesting that a key part in the early days was making postcards and calendars. I have only just started printing my own work - quite a learning process. Do you feel that printing your images was an important step in building your technical skills and understanding what resonated? If so, any key learnings? (this question could be a whole post, I know)
Thank you very much for your comments and question James.
In the early days a lot of my photography was for cards, postcards and calendars (the tourist industry) which forced me to photograph subjects and places that didn't really resonate with me. I spent my time photographing resorts on the coast that weren't really the wild, natural places I wanted to photograph.
The images that I print now as art prints are different, they are made in quieter places and I can be more creative with these.
I have learnt that my favourite images aren't always the ones that sell well. People usually buy prints because the location means something to them, so the more popular locations always do better.
Printing on fine art paper has been lovely, it really brings the images to life. I use Hahnemuhle Photo Rag and love the soft colour rendition this gives.
I think printing my images completes the photography process for me and I love seeing a composition go from a RAW file to a framed print.
I am not sure this has answered your question but I hope you enjoy your printing journey.
Thank you Gill for your comprehensive reply. I am in admiration for those that find a way to balance commercial demands with their own artistic preferences. All power to you.
Thanks for sharing this interesting insight into how you arrived at this point in your photographic journey Gill - I totally agree that finding the genre and subject that makes our heart sing brings connection and soul to our images...it's so important.
Thanks for sharing something of your journey, Gill. It is encouraging to amateurs like me to keep on trying to take "better" photos. I have never had aspirations to sell my photos, I just enjoy photography as a hobby and have done for more years than I care to think about. Your photos and writings really are inspirational.
My question is: Do you always use a tripod for you landscape photos? or does itdepend on the scene?
Thank you so much for your comments Adrain. It is nice to know that you are enjoying my images and my blog posts and I really appreciate your input.
In answer to your question I do usually use a tripod. Most of my favourite images have been taken with one. I generally use graduated filters and sometime ND filters and it is all just easier when the camera is mounted on a tripod. It allows me to use slower shutter speeds and lower ISO's too.
Sometimes I will go for a walk with the camera and then I don't bother with the tripod but this doesn't happen that often.
What an interesting story, and great advice Gill. Thanks for sharing. What I've found is so many people dream of making a living from their photography, but don't try enough and put in the effort. It's so easy to give up when things fail time after time. I've learnt that those who succeed are the one's who don't give up.
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” - Winston Churchill
Thank you Simon, I really appreciate and agree with your comments. I have failed at things so many times! As Winston Churchill's quote says it is having the courage and determination to keep going that is important and this is what I think eventually brings success. 🙂
Thanks for the writeup. The journey we all take is unique yet similar. As landscape photographers we all have a love of the world we live in. But each of us come to that love from our own spot on this planet, as well as with our unique set of skills as an individual. You have given me ideas and incentive to improve and expand my skills related to landscape photography. May your journey be ever fruitful.
Great to hear how you developed your career and very interesting that you write “ If you are not making images with your heart then there is no point. Your images will lack connection - they will have no soul.” because your photos give me the illusion of a story behind the composition. I want to reach in and explore.
I really believe that for any type of photography the photographer needs to have a connection with the subject. I think it is this connection that brings something extra to the images.
It is really nice to know that you can see something of that in my photography.
I tend to get drawn towards people I follow on Instagram or on other social media. Usually I watch them because I like their images or the ethos behind their image making.
I currently follow people like Kim Grant, AOWS, Michael Shainblum, Nigel Danson, Thomas Heaton and Simon Baxter but there are many other people I follow on social media who I respect greatly and who have have had a big influence on my photography - most notably Lizzie Shepherd.
Mar 11·edited Mar 11Liked by Gill Moon Photography
Thanks for sharing this Gill, it made an interesting read. I'm not looking to make any money but am aiming to become as good a photographer as I can and found your story encouraging. I noticed you included more photos that were not landscape than those that were. I loved the sailing shots and reminded me that photos of sailing boats in their wider landscape setting can be very effective and evocative, especially of the Broads.
My question is about how you came to realise it was landscape photography that really resonated with you. I expect it was probably a gradual process , but are there any particular photos that you were excited about or particular experiences (workshops, sunrise shoots etc) which looking back you can see were pivotal? I wondered because I have one photograph (it became the start of a whole project ) which was definitely a jumping off point for my interest in landscape photography.
Thank you very much for your comments Sarah and for your interesting question.
I think I was always interested in landscapes but they really started to resonate with me when I was going through a bit of a tough time. I would take the camera out and really immerse myself in the landscape and I found this very cathartic. I think the more I enjoyed the landscape the more I wanted to photograph it. At the time I was living by the river and I found this environment very beautiful and very inspiring.
I think we all have different reasons for connecting with the landscape and it is interesting to know that your love of landscape photography has been sparked by one particular image.
Thanks for this insightful piece Gill. Really enjoyed it and as a photographer looking to step up the income I make from my photography, it both affirmed some choices I have made and gave me some things to think about too. Thanks again and keep up the great work 😁
Thanks Gill, that is very kind of you to say so. I do have a question actually and that is how you have found Substack as a platform and how it contributes to your business? I am currently reviewing my website and the written content I want to publish alongside my portfolio and am considering using something like Substack for the more personal musings, with the written content on me website being more project focussed. Would be interested in your perspective
I am enjoying Substack as a platform and loving the discipline of writing every week. I have been posting here since July 2023 and have grown a lovely little community around my posts. It has been a slow burn with subscriber numbers but they are growing week on week and I am happy with the direction things are going.
I used to write a blog on my website but not as regularly and this has become about proving something to myself and seeing where it takes me. It is quite time consuming, but like anything I think you get out of it what you put in.
Good luck with your choices and I would be interested to read your Substack.
Thank you for this blog, I read it twice, you continue to inspire! Dedication and drive have obviously paid dividends. Your waterborne images of sailing are great. If the sunset image of Ramsholt was your first sold, your journey to now is clear, I am sure if shot today it would be very different! Looking forward to where you might be taking us next week!😀
Thank you very much Chris, I am glad you are enjoying the blogs and finding something in them to inspire you. I appreciate you taking the time to read and comment.
I have also just answered a question about the Ramsholt image and how I would approach it today which you might find interesting.
Really interesting to learn about your photographic journey Gill and how you settled where your heart lay into landscape. I’d be interested to know to what extent you use the “rules” of composition. For example are they something you actively think about before framing most shots, or maybe by now they are something you are just aware of subconsciously? Do you ever deliberately break them to get a different effect? As someone who believes in these things I’m sure your Dad is looking down from somewhere and is very proud of what you’ve achieved.
Thank you so much David, that is really kind of you. I really appreciate your comments.
Regarding the rules of composition I used to be quite focused on them until I did an exhibition and someone commented that all the images seemed to adhere to the rule of thirds!
I think now the rules are less important to me and I just do what I feel is right. It is all intuitive and I usually just go with my gut feeling.
My focus now seems to be on separation and how the elements within the frame all relate to each other.
I’ve come to your emails and blogs quite recently - they have a depth and honesty that’s an inspiration. A streak of sunlight on this cold, grey Monday morning ! Thank you, Gill.
I’m intrigued by your photo of the Ramsholt sunset about which you say you would do it differently today. Might you be able to explain how you would approach the subject now, please?
Thank you very much Peter, that is lovely to know and I am glad you are finding the posts interesting. Thank you too for your question which I will attempt to answer.
I think if I took the shot today the composition might be a bit different. It has always annoyed me that the edge of the water on the curve is missing from the right hand side of the image so I would include that and I would also try to separate out the boats on the left side as they are a bit confused.
Post processing wise I think I would treat it more gently. The natural colours in the sky are not well enough defined. The blues are visible but are a bit muddy looking and everything has an orange cast to it which I would be more subtle with today.
This shot was taken without using a graduated filter, which I always use these days. So the area where the sun is is a little bright and too well defined. If I took the shot again I would use a filter to eliminate this and balance the exposure better.
I hope that helps and thank you again for your question. 🙂
Absolutely extraordinary photographic adventure bringing you to the professional that you are. I have no questions as yet but thank you dearly for instilling such fresh ideas into my photography.
Thank you Ian, happy to help 🙂 I am glad you are enjoying the blogs.
Thank you for sharing Gill. So interesting that a key part in the early days was making postcards and calendars. I have only just started printing my own work - quite a learning process. Do you feel that printing your images was an important step in building your technical skills and understanding what resonated? If so, any key learnings? (this question could be a whole post, I know)
Thank you very much for your comments and question James.
In the early days a lot of my photography was for cards, postcards and calendars (the tourist industry) which forced me to photograph subjects and places that didn't really resonate with me. I spent my time photographing resorts on the coast that weren't really the wild, natural places I wanted to photograph.
The images that I print now as art prints are different, they are made in quieter places and I can be more creative with these.
I have learnt that my favourite images aren't always the ones that sell well. People usually buy prints because the location means something to them, so the more popular locations always do better.
Printing on fine art paper has been lovely, it really brings the images to life. I use Hahnemuhle Photo Rag and love the soft colour rendition this gives.
I think printing my images completes the photography process for me and I love seeing a composition go from a RAW file to a framed print.
I am not sure this has answered your question but I hope you enjoy your printing journey.
Thank you Gill for your comprehensive reply. I am in admiration for those that find a way to balance commercial demands with their own artistic preferences. All power to you.
Thanks for sharing this interesting insight into how you arrived at this point in your photographic journey Gill - I totally agree that finding the genre and subject that makes our heart sing brings connection and soul to our images...it's so important.
Thank you very much for your comments Lin. I completely agree and I'm glad you enjoyed the post. 🙂
Thanks for sharing something of your journey, Gill. It is encouraging to amateurs like me to keep on trying to take "better" photos. I have never had aspirations to sell my photos, I just enjoy photography as a hobby and have done for more years than I care to think about. Your photos and writings really are inspirational.
My question is: Do you always use a tripod for you landscape photos? or does itdepend on the scene?
Thank you so much for your comments Adrain. It is nice to know that you are enjoying my images and my blog posts and I really appreciate your input.
In answer to your question I do usually use a tripod. Most of my favourite images have been taken with one. I generally use graduated filters and sometime ND filters and it is all just easier when the camera is mounted on a tripod. It allows me to use slower shutter speeds and lower ISO's too.
Sometimes I will go for a walk with the camera and then I don't bother with the tripod but this doesn't happen that often.
What an interesting story, and great advice Gill. Thanks for sharing. What I've found is so many people dream of making a living from their photography, but don't try enough and put in the effort. It's so easy to give up when things fail time after time. I've learnt that those who succeed are the one's who don't give up.
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” - Winston Churchill
Thank you Simon, I really appreciate and agree with your comments. I have failed at things so many times! As Winston Churchill's quote says it is having the courage and determination to keep going that is important and this is what I think eventually brings success. 🙂
Thanks for the writeup. The journey we all take is unique yet similar. As landscape photographers we all have a love of the world we live in. But each of us come to that love from our own spot on this planet, as well as with our unique set of skills as an individual. You have given me ideas and incentive to improve and expand my skills related to landscape photography. May your journey be ever fruitful.
Thank you Paul and I absolutely agree - our journeys are all unique but similar in some ways.
Thank you very much for reading and I appreciate you taking the time to comment. 🙂
Great to hear how you developed your career and very interesting that you write “ If you are not making images with your heart then there is no point. Your images will lack connection - they will have no soul.” because your photos give me the illusion of a story behind the composition. I want to reach in and explore.
Thank you so much Anne for your comments.
I really believe that for any type of photography the photographer needs to have a connection with the subject. I think it is this connection that brings something extra to the images.
It is really nice to know that you can see something of that in my photography.
Really great practical useful tips, thankyou for sharing. Definitely going to consider cards and calendars.
Agree about the photographing what you feel connected with.
How do you find photographers on youtube to follow? Whenever I’ve tried to look before I’ve ended up just getting annoyed at them haha.
Thank you very much for your comments Hayley.
I tend to get drawn towards people I follow on Instagram or on other social media. Usually I watch them because I like their images or the ethos behind their image making.
I currently follow people like Kim Grant, AOWS, Michael Shainblum, Nigel Danson, Thomas Heaton and Simon Baxter but there are many other people I follow on social media who I respect greatly and who have have had a big influence on my photography - most notably Lizzie Shepherd.
Thanks for sharing this Gill, it made an interesting read. I'm not looking to make any money but am aiming to become as good a photographer as I can and found your story encouraging. I noticed you included more photos that were not landscape than those that were. I loved the sailing shots and reminded me that photos of sailing boats in their wider landscape setting can be very effective and evocative, especially of the Broads.
My question is about how you came to realise it was landscape photography that really resonated with you. I expect it was probably a gradual process , but are there any particular photos that you were excited about or particular experiences (workshops, sunrise shoots etc) which looking back you can see were pivotal? I wondered because I have one photograph (it became the start of a whole project ) which was definitely a jumping off point for my interest in landscape photography.
Thank you very much for your comments Sarah and for your interesting question.
I think I was always interested in landscapes but they really started to resonate with me when I was going through a bit of a tough time. I would take the camera out and really immerse myself in the landscape and I found this very cathartic. I think the more I enjoyed the landscape the more I wanted to photograph it. At the time I was living by the river and I found this environment very beautiful and very inspiring.
I think we all have different reasons for connecting with the landscape and it is interesting to know that your love of landscape photography has been sparked by one particular image.
Really interesting to hear about your journey - thanks for sharing 🙂
Thank you very much Lynn, glad you found it interesting. 🙂
Thanks for this insightful piece Gill. Really enjoyed it and as a photographer looking to step up the income I make from my photography, it both affirmed some choices I have made and gave me some things to think about too. Thanks again and keep up the great work 😁
Thank you very much Giles, I am glad you enjoyed the post and found something useful within it. You have some lovely photos on your website 🙂
Thanks Gill, that is very kind of you to say so. I do have a question actually and that is how you have found Substack as a platform and how it contributes to your business? I am currently reviewing my website and the written content I want to publish alongside my portfolio and am considering using something like Substack for the more personal musings, with the written content on me website being more project focussed. Would be interested in your perspective
Thanks for your question Giles.
I am enjoying Substack as a platform and loving the discipline of writing every week. I have been posting here since July 2023 and have grown a lovely little community around my posts. It has been a slow burn with subscriber numbers but they are growing week on week and I am happy with the direction things are going.
I used to write a blog on my website but not as regularly and this has become about proving something to myself and seeing where it takes me. It is quite time consuming, but like anything I think you get out of it what you put in.
Good luck with your choices and I would be interested to read your Substack.
Thank you for this blog, I read it twice, you continue to inspire! Dedication and drive have obviously paid dividends. Your waterborne images of sailing are great. If the sunset image of Ramsholt was your first sold, your journey to now is clear, I am sure if shot today it would be very different! Looking forward to where you might be taking us next week!😀
Thank you very much Chris, I am glad you are enjoying the blogs and finding something in them to inspire you. I appreciate you taking the time to read and comment.
I have also just answered a question about the Ramsholt image and how I would approach it today which you might find interesting.
Really interesting to learn about your photographic journey Gill and how you settled where your heart lay into landscape. I’d be interested to know to what extent you use the “rules” of composition. For example are they something you actively think about before framing most shots, or maybe by now they are something you are just aware of subconsciously? Do you ever deliberately break them to get a different effect? As someone who believes in these things I’m sure your Dad is looking down from somewhere and is very proud of what you’ve achieved.
Thank you so much David, that is really kind of you. I really appreciate your comments.
Regarding the rules of composition I used to be quite focused on them until I did an exhibition and someone commented that all the images seemed to adhere to the rule of thirds!
I think now the rules are less important to me and I just do what I feel is right. It is all intuitive and I usually just go with my gut feeling.
My focus now seems to be on separation and how the elements within the frame all relate to each other.
I hope that helps 🙂
I’ve come to your emails and blogs quite recently - they have a depth and honesty that’s an inspiration. A streak of sunlight on this cold, grey Monday morning ! Thank you, Gill.
I’m intrigued by your photo of the Ramsholt sunset about which you say you would do it differently today. Might you be able to explain how you would approach the subject now, please?
Thank you very much Peter, that is lovely to know and I am glad you are finding the posts interesting. Thank you too for your question which I will attempt to answer.
I think if I took the shot today the composition might be a bit different. It has always annoyed me that the edge of the water on the curve is missing from the right hand side of the image so I would include that and I would also try to separate out the boats on the left side as they are a bit confused.
Post processing wise I think I would treat it more gently. The natural colours in the sky are not well enough defined. The blues are visible but are a bit muddy looking and everything has an orange cast to it which I would be more subtle with today.
This shot was taken without using a graduated filter, which I always use these days. So the area where the sun is is a little bright and too well defined. If I took the shot again I would use a filter to eliminate this and balance the exposure better.
I hope that helps and thank you again for your question. 🙂
Thank you for your detailed answer - much appreciated. I must start to use filters!
Great blog Gill. A very interesting journey you have been on. Your landscape work is amazing and I hope your business goes from strength to strength.
Thank you so much Peter, that's really kind of you. I am glad you enjoyed the blog. 🙂
Lovely to read this Gill. Hope Dad is up there watching ❤️
Thank you very much Jon, so do I 🙂