UK travel photographer and photojournalist Kasia Nowak is the second photographer to take part in Short exposure, a series where we interview landscape, wildlife, adventure and nature photographers active in the outdoor online community. Kasia’s stunning pictures are regularly featured in the magazine, especially in our One thing this month…section. Based in London, Kasia developed her photography through her love to travel.
Outdoor Photography: Hello! First of all please introduce yourself: tell us the type of pictures you like to take and how you first got into photography.
Kasia Nowak: I have been interested in photography for as long as I can remember but it became a serious hobby (and soon after a small business) only about ten years ago. My images from over 50 countries I have travelled to can be found in travel books, magazines and occasionally commercial features. The subject matter varies considerably, from landscapes to macro and people to streetlife – but I think my work is best described as ‘travel photography’.
Image above: Sildpollnes church at dusk, Lofoten Islands, Norway © Kasia Nowak
OP: How often are you able to get out there and photograph, and is there a particular location you normally go to?
KN: Each year I spend some 70 days away from home and that is when I always keep my camera at the ready and my eyes peeled for photo opportunities. When I return, I juggle the postproduction work and administration of my photography business with full time employment so it is not always easy to find time to go out and take photos. However, I am fortunate to live close to the two big parks in southwest London – Richmond and Bushy Park which I regularly visit for sunrise shoots before work and at weekends.
OP: What are you working on at the moment?
KN: I am packing for a trip to Burma and at the same time booking trips to Nagorno Karabakh and Nepal in early 2016. I usually travel in autumn and winter so for me it is the busiest time of the year.
OP: Where do you find your inspiration?
KN: In the beauty of the world around me. It could be natural phenomena, such as snow or fog, or an eye-catching combination of shapes, patterns and colours. One thing that never fails to make me take my camera out of its bag is atmospheric light. I cannot resist warm sunlight shining through the mist or a mixture of natural and mademade light at dusk.
Image above: Single balloon at sunrise, Cappadocia, Turkey © Kasia Nowak
OP: What’s your dream photography project?
KN: Covering a natural disaster or humanitarian crisis for a major news agency…but, since that is unlikely to happen, any project in a remote location: the Arctic, Hindu Kush, Kamchatka…The list is very long.
OP: Is there one thing in particular you think would help you improve your photography?
KN: More time! To market my work but also to be able sit down and contemplate inspirational work of old photography masters and other visual artists.
OP: What do you think is hot right now in the photography world?
KN: Not so long ago the advent of digital revolutionised the photographic industry and still keeps changing the way we work. I watch the ‘pixel war’ and keep wondering what’s coming next, but it’s technology in general that constantly pushes boundaries of what is possible in terms of the results we deliver. One gadget I would really like to have is a drone – I hope I get one before they become illegal!
OP: Where do you see your photography in five years’ time?
KN: I am hoping to build a large portfolio of travel photos and be able to sell them directly rather than through stock agencies. I would also like to find time to write articles or regularly update my blog to share my travel stories alongside the images.
See more of Kasia’s work here.
The competition is now closed