5 Mins With: Richard Bernabe
I enjoy scrolling though Twitter, it provides so much inspiring content, I often get drawn into reading stories of travel, adventure, exploration and discovery. A few years back I found Richard Bernabe and of course was instantly mesmerised by his photography. The kind of account I regularly look forward to looking at for updates. Let me introduce you:
An internationally acclaimed photographer, Richard has spent years travelling to and photographing wildlife in over 60 countries for media titles like National Geographic, CNN and Time to name a few and was named as one of the “Top 30 Influential Photographers on the Web” by the Huffington Post and included in the “20 Photographers Changing the World Through Social Media” by Influence Digest.
If you’ve ever fancied an adventure whilst also learning to improve your photography skills, then this is a must. Richard offers global photography courses in epic locations like Patagonia.
“Nothing quickens the pulse like a swift and sudden sunrise, the first tint of gold on ancient stone sentinels, and the sound of distant avalanches crashing down icy slopes. The scenery of Patagonia is otherworldly, with stunning mountains piercing the heavens, a massive ice field spawning hundreds of glaciers, and deep mountain lakes filled with cold clean water as blue as the sky. Eternal Patagonia seems to never change, but no one who visits ever stays the same. The mountains and glaciers are some of the most beautiful, awe-inspiring, and dramatic in all the world. It’s a true bucket list destination. This has been Richard’s 13th trip to Patagonia so he knows this area as well as any photographer in the world.” Photography Workshops
What’s all this got to do with Morzine & Les Gets you say? Well photography of course! So many great pro and amateur photographers here in the PDS, especially skilled at mountain range and peak photography. Here’s what we chatted about…
What camera/s do you currently use and what are the key bits of kit / accessories you use with it/them?
Right now I use two Canon R5 camera bodies. The Canon R5 is fast, rugged, great for wildlife (high frame rate, eye tracking autofocus, in-body image stabilization) and landscapes as well with a generous 45 megapixels. I carry two so I always have a backup, plus one is programmed specifically for wildlife and the other landscapes and more general shooting. I have a collection of Canon lenses - think of each as a specific tool for a specific job, a variety of tripods and filters and other accessories.
How did you go from starting out in the industry to becoming such a globally renowned photographer? I am sure all photographers have this dream, do you have any tips for people starting out, on how to get noticed more?
You have to produce good work. You should only share your very best work on your website or social media. You should also share your experiences since photos are everywhere on the internet. What makes you so special? Share what is special about you and your work. Ask, how am I different and in which ways? You have to stand out of rhe crowd.
Where's the most impressive / breathtaking mountain range you've ever been to? My guess is Patagonia, but can you expand on why it’s so special.
Patagonia would be a great guess. They’re far from being the tallest mountains in the world but the vertical relief from the steppe to the mountain tops is so impressive. They have dramatic shapes and the clouds and weather makes the landscapes to exotic and different from anyplace else in the world.
Tell me about the most complicated shot you've done. Something that took the longest time frame to reserach and then actually go and do. Helicopters?
Some of my wildlife work is complicated and complex because of the dramatic lighting I’m using early and late in the day. Aerial photography over Greenland or Namibia while hanging from a helicopter is exhilarating and some of the most fun I’ve had while doing my job! I am able to plan many images in advance by using satellite imagery (Google Earth) and an app like The Photographer's Ephemeris so I know where and how the light will fall on the scene and where and at what times.
Tell us where you'd most like to shoot in the French alps. We'd love to host you over here in Morzine / Les Gets one day!
I’ve photographed in the Swiss Alps but haven’t spent any time over on the French side. I will be waiting on an invitation!
A couple of tips for shooting sunrise / sunset mountain photos?
The biggest challenge when doing sunrise or sunset photos is the extreme dynamic range in the scene. The variance of tones between the highlights and shadows is so extreme that you need to manage that light carefully with graduated neutral density filters or in-camera bracketing with exposure blending in software. Previsualize how you want the scene to look in the final image. Do you want to keep details in the shadow areas or let them go black and make silhouettes against the colorful sky? Knowing how you want to scene to look in advance will determine what approach you take with your exposure and other settings.
Richard is a global influencer in the fields of photography, travel, and wildlife conservation with more than 1 million followers on social media platforms. The current focus of his work involves Earth’s endangered species and African wildlife conservation. He’s spoken to groups around the world on the importance of wildlife conservation and preserving the Earth’s vanishing species. In addition to traveling to remote places on assignment for some of the biggest media companies in the world, he leads photography classes and workshops for photo hobbyists and fellow travelers, sharing his passion for wild and exotic places and capturing their essence with the camera.
Click here to get inspired for your next photo session: Richard Bernabe