Hi Simon! Tell us about yourself in two sentences - who are you?
I work in Scotland as a freelance TV cameraman / producer specialising in adventure travel, having previously been a BBC correspondent. My business SunartMedia.com makes sea kayak coaching films and photography is just part of what I do.
QWhat's the weirdest situation you've found yourself in while taking a photograph?
ALike most snappers I've taken shots in situations other people might consider weird; while hiking 2,600 miles from Mexico to Canada; during first ascents of four Alaskan peaks; driving the Karakorum highway and while dangling from a helicopter. Yet to me the weirdest was fairly close to home, lying prone under the carriageway of a bridge, vehicles thundering above my head, with a boiling sea beneath me… that felt pretty weird. One of the featured shots below was taken in the same place but this shot shows my location.
QWhat do you shoot on? What's your favourite set up?
AIf I see a shot I'll shoot on whatever is to hand, often my iPhone, although my main cameras are Canon. Video for broadcast is usually my XF305. For large-sensor video and still photos I prefer to use my 5D mk 3. However, if I'm backpacking and low weight is important it's my EOS 1000D. Finally I have an ancient EOS 300D, which I'm not afraid of wrecking, so I can use even in rough water when kayaking.
QWhat's your number one tip for an aspiring photographer?
AI hesitate to offer advice because I don't consider myself a technically good photographer, I'm more of an opportunist who gets himself into interesting situations. So perhaps that's my advice - get yourself into great situations!
'I was backpacking in Utah, planning to write articles for hiking magazines for which I'd need images. I knew this waterfall would make a great shot with someone stood undernea... Read more
'I was backpacking in Utah, planning to write articles for hiking magazines for which I'd need images. I knew this waterfall would make a great shot with someone stood underneath but I couldn't ask one of our group because it was too dangerous - small rocks are occasionally washed over the edge. I decided to risk it myself. I set the camera on my tiny tripod, gave the infra-red remote to the group leader, and when I was in position I yelled "now!". I ran back and reframed the camera several times, trying the waterfall off-centre left and off-centre right, then dashing back underneath the cascade each time. In only one shot did it occur to me to raise my hands in the Y position you see and I'm delighted I did because it adds a huge amount of energy to the shot.' Read less
by Simon Willis
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