Nejc Draganjec — a photographer, a traveler, and a scientist. He says that his goal in photography is to bring a glimpse of adventure to homes of others. In his landscapes, he reflects the beauty from every corner of the earth. Read about his adventures and journey through the challenging world of photography.
Nejc’s photos are now available in limited Shuttout & Displate Travel & Landscape collections! See more!
1. How did you find travel photography to be right for you?
I like the variety and new challenges. Since travel photography is a wonderful fusion of many other styles and incorporates everything from landscape to street photography it was kind of a perfect genre for me to go into. I also love to travel so it was destined to happen sooner or later :).
2. What is the most challenging part of photography for you?
I would say waking up early. I’m not a morning person at all! Recently I started a strategy that has been working very well for me… Instead of waking up before sunrise, I go to sleep after sunrise. In that way I start my day with lunch, then scout/move to a new location, take advantage of evening golden hour, shoot through the night (astro/night photography are also my great passion) and finish up in the morning.
3. How do you prepare yourself for another adventure, when it comes to photography?
I like to research and prepare a lot, but since time is always a limiting factor with me, I don’t mind to improvise and wing it on the go either. I’m always on a hunt for the next location, idea, secret spot, … My TODO collection is thousands of drawn concepts, saved locations and “search where and when” tasks long. That list often plays an important role in deciding which destination I will visit next. If time allows me, I research it in the depths and mark everything on the map and fill a calendar with anything that could be important for planned photographs. I note any kind of predictable natural or cultural events. Very often that is enough to see the pattern and then I plan my trip in an effective way with lots of contingencies. For my main planed photos I will often organize it in a way, that I will have multiple windows of opportunity to make it happen. Luck is on the side of preparation, but that doesn’t change the fact that it still plays an important role in photography. You have to make your odds as good as possible by exposing yourself to possibilities and planning. This intersection is where I think the most of magic happens.
Nejc’s photos are now available in limited Shuttout & Displate Travel & Landscape collections! See more!
4. Are you self taught photographer? Can you share a tip for beginners who want to start their journey with photography?
I’m a self though in a sense that I don’t have a formal photography degree. Never attended any kind of photography/art school. But in reality, I can’t take all the credit. Photography was my way of viewing the world from a young age and I can thank my family for that. I was lucky to grow up in an environment with a lot of appreciation for photography and art in general. Since I had an interest for it, concepts stuck organically. Only later in life I formalized ideas and prescribed jargon of concepts through self-educating.
My 3 best bits of advice for beginners would be:
1. Just start doing it!
2. Surround yourself with like-minded people that are currently better at whatever you want to do.
3. Take constructive criticism on a chin.
You will never really learn by just thinking about it. Yes, you will know the theory and concepts, but you don’t have time to think about it at the moment. Photography happens in the moment. The only way to be proficient enough not to miss it is to practice the craft until it becomes a part of you.
Artists often can’t asses our art objectively and a fresh pair of eyes that are not emotionally invested can make wonders. So surround yourself with people that you can aspire to, that will motivate you, teach you and possibly offer constructive criticism. Also, study books and videos written/made by photography masters. I assume all of us reading this article live in an age of information, so I can’t imagine a reason for not learning, that would be anything else but excuse.
5. On your fan page, we can read that your goal is to “bring a glimpse of adventure to other people homes”. Can you tell us about your favourite, most memorable adventure?
There are many that are my favourite, each in its own category. On a very personal note, I would say the very first travel adventure me and my partner Elizabeta Benigar had together. It was a backpacking adventure around Malaysia and Singapore and there is nothing better than a sudden realisation that you are exploring the world with your other half.
2 countries that I could never have enough are Iceland and Japan. Both are absolutely stunning and offer endless photography opportunities. Nothing else like them, each in their own way. Thinking about individual experiences, I would say seeing a truly dark night sky in the middle of an Amazon rainforest, photographing volcano eruption while dodging lava bombs in Japan, swimming in the jellyfish lake in Palau, downhill the Death road in Bolivia, cage diving with great whites in South Africa, spending the night outside in Western Sahara, … all left a lasting mark and I will never forget them.
6. What inspires you the most in photography?
I would say that for me photography is mostly the result of inspiration and not so much a source of it on its own. It’s the scratch to the itch to make something I envisioned real. I was also always fascinated by the natural world and photographed it from since I can remember. Have you ever traveled with a photographer and be annoyed by often stops to take shots? Try this with a biologist abroad, interested in every second critter and vine :). Also, photography is one of the best ways to share the awe-inspiring moments one gets to live while exploring the world. So it would be hard for me to pinpoint one particular thing. I often describe myself as an artist/scientist/traveler and photography is the glue holding it all together.
To discover amazing shots from Nejc’s adventures check this link.
Now you can purchase Nejc’s photographies in Shuttout and Displate’s Limited Travel & Landscape collections.
This offer will be available as a pilot collaboration between 9th of September and 7th of October 2019.
Let us know how you like it and bring a glimpse of adventure to your home.
Don’t forget to save money and use “BUY 2 & SAVE 20%”
coupon on Displate: SHT20.
