Gareth Danks

Today’s post is about a man I discovered while watching a video from the first person I interview Chris Sale.  Chris and Gareth are mates and like most of my photography research, I discovered Gareth while stumbling on Chris’ YouTube channel.

I think for me Gareth’s energy, enthusiasm and the obvious love for landscape photography are what drew me to follow, subscribe and ultimately reach out to him.  After watching a few videos he created I felt drawn to his laughter and smile, all while I was learning about his tips, tricks, and techniques.  His latest video shows fully how he plans things out and how Mother Nature does her own thing, yet he made the best of it.  He, like Chris, and a few others were kind enough to answer my questions below, and provide some insight into what, where and why they shoot.

I think Gareth, like most photographers, and especially me, are very critical of their own work.  That is what drives me, him and others to push ourselves to become better.  I do want to say that I have reached out to Gareth multiple times with questions, and he has always quick to respond, despite what I perceive is a very busy schedule for him, as well as the time difference.

His videos are clear and concise.  Never to technical, but he provides enough tech to explain what he is doing for a shot.  Gareth walks the viewer through his intent, and thoughts on each shot and as you will read below it is what has made him a better photographer.  I am inspired by him and will be using his street photography videos (and shots) as inspiration to go out and do some street shots of my own.  I learn something from each of his videos and I hope you too will check out his links and answers below.

 

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/user/ga5981/videos

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/gareth_danks/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/gareth.danks

Website – https://www.garethdanks.co.uk/

Twitter – https://twitter.com/Ga_aspect

 

Which is your favorite lens? – I love primes.  Any 35mm focal equivalent.  The smaller the better but has to be good in low light.  I can pretty much do anything with a 35mm.  Wedding, street, landscape, event…  It’s how I see a scene and I feel it captures just enough of a scene without losing my focal point.  Also keeps lines straight which is important to me.  The XF23mm F/1.4 being my favourite lens.  J

What is your favorite style of shooting? – Style … very much candid., but classic and minimal.  I hate clutter in an image.  I’d sooner not take it than worry about removing it later.  I love to get it right in camera too.  I get a buzz from seeing it how I want on the back of my camera.  I’ve noticed my favourite images are simple and obvious.

Among the gadgets that you own, is there something that you wish you hadn’t bought?  – Oh, yea my gimbal.  I hate it lol.  I’m just rubbish with it and it’s had silly moments when it’s randomly jolted and damaged a lens.  I need it for my pro video work but I really don’t like using it.  I’ll get one for my phone soon haha.

How do you educate yourself to take better pictures? – I’m very hard on myself.  I was brought up with the attitude that you’re only as good as your last job.  If I see a mistake in an image I accept it as a mistake, but it can’t happen again else I’ll be upset with myself.  I see other photographers work and always ask myself two questions.  What do and don’t you like about the image.  I apply the same to the screen on the back of my camera.  I’ve learned a lot this past year on YouTube.  Slowing down and being better organized and planning has shown to be the way I’ll improve my photography.  Act like you can take only one shot.  A recent discovery/obsession is to make sure the image balances aesthetically.  I’ve seen a huge improvement using this philosophy.

Whose work has influenced you most? – In honesty me.  I went through a stage of hating my images.  I developed a fear of landscape photography and decided to up my game or walk away.  I hated the idea that others could achieve results that I couldn’t.  The fear of failure ultimately made me get out more and look to improve.  I have some very talented friends.  Their images always inspire me too.  They post them socially very often.  This is incredible motivation and very inspiring.

What is the one thing you wish you knew when you started taking photos? – Funny this was going to be a video at one point.  I decided last minute not too haha.  1 slow down … admittedly there’s gonna be times when in a mad rush.  But when possible arrive early and slow down.  Make a coffee haha.  2 balance the image …. This is a game changer.  3 learn how to plan/read the weather.  Especially for Astro (photography) … planning is evident in the top images I’ve been blown away by.  This year’s mission is to seriously upgrade my planning abilities.

As a planner, I will also be looking to slow down, plan out and take more time with many of my shots.  Gareth has quickly become one of my favorite photographers that I have never met.

Thanks again Gareth for taking time to answer a few questions and hopefully someday I will cross the pond to meet you, Chris Sale, Neale James, Kevin Mullins, Sean Tucker, Simon Baxter, James R Burns and some of the others I hope to write about in my blog.

Until next time,

Tim