Member Profile: Maarten Venter

About me:

Do you consider yourself a Professional/Semi-Pro/Amateur/Beginner photographer?

I consider myself an amateur hobbyist photographer - Photography is a hobby to express myself creatively and I do not wish to make a profession of it, but I would aim to be an Advanced Photographer that produces thought-provoking compelling images.

Who are you?

I was born in South Africa and lived abroad for the past 20 years.

As a Landscape Architect I was involved in the planning and design of many iconic projects in Dubai and the Middle East. As the world population grows and cities expand, creating safe, liveable urban communities and public spaces is of utmost importance.

I am passionate about the protection of the environment and wildlife worldwide. I hope that through my photography I will contribute to raising awareness about the importance of respecting the natural world.

Your Photography Journey

Photography naturally became an outlet for expressing my creativity and artistic vision.

Although I captured reasonably good photographs during my travel adventures, I felt frustrated for many years as I was limited to using Auto mode. In 2019 I attended a weekend workshop in Canada, where I became more familiar and comfortable with the various camera settings. Then, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and travel restrictions, I set aside my camera for a while.

I think it was in late 2022 that I found TSOP through an online search. At the time, I was familiar with basic editing in Camera Raw and Photoshop. I have also worked through the Lightroom and Photoshop courses and completed the wildlife course and headshot courses.

What is the most valuable thing you’ve learned from TSOP?

Personally, I believe I have a good eye for composition and framing of a subject, it was the technical side of taking a photo and the post-processing I lacked understanding. The skills I learnt in The Beginners Photography Course gave me a solid foundation to control the camera and create the vision I had.

Being able to edit and post-process the images is an integral part of the creative process. Both the Lightroom and Photoshop courses offer valuable information, required knowledge and practical exercises.

The monthly assignment is a great way to get to know what you like and what you are naturally good at. I am always amazed at the different ways the members interpret the tasks.

What is your preferred genre?

I enjoy lifestyle photography that captures the everyday moments, feelings and personalities of people in natural settings. It is a powerful way to tell stories and evoke emotions in the viewer.

With landscapes and seascapes, I prefer a minimalist and stylised artistic approach. I am always scanning the landscape online for elements that stand out in the bigger landscape. I look for interesting shapes, forms and lines in the landscape and how best to compose and frame them.

I make use of visual elements and natural aesthetics as evocative metaphors to convey the meaning it has in my life. It is not so much about the time and place but rather the feeling and emotion it conveys. I endeavour to create images that bring a moment of calm to myself and the viewer. Utilizing long exposure techniques creates a dream-like stillness in my photographs.

I have experimented with Astrophotography and had wonderful results. Now living in the southern hemisphere there are numerous opportunities to create beautiful work.

I learnt to post-process in Photoshop Camera Raw. At first only used the Basic adjustment sliders, but later learnt the value of working with the Masks and Curves Tools. This has been a game changer as it allows for individual tone adjustments and places me in control of the creative process to enhance and bring out the best in the image and develop my own individual style.

What inspires you to create photography?

I find joy in the creative process of photography, regardless of the genre or subject.

Who are some other photographers you’re inspired by?

I follow many photographers on social media for inspiration, but the work of these three professional photographers inspires me.

I met up with Anthony Lamb for a weekend workshop in 2022 and he changed the way I look at photography. His style of photography relates to my philosophy of Less is More.

I admire the work of Nick Brandt and the contribution he makes to the conservation and protection of wildlife. His work addresses humanity's destructive impact on the natural world and now on humans too.

The passion and dedication of Morten Hilmer, a BBC wildlife photographer is incredible and it teaches me that it takes time and effort to create the perfect image.

Describe the first photo you took during your learning journey.

©*Maarten Venter* My first photo photo posted in TSOP

When I first started, I approached the landscape as a 'pretty picture' something that would go onto a chocolate box. I photographed Emerald Lake in Canada with this mindset. Whilst it is a great image of an iconic place, it was a bit flat and dull. The weather that day did not help either. Four years later, I looked at it again and adjusted the composition. With the Curve adjustments, I was able to bring out the beautiful emerald colours of the water, adjust the sky and correct the burnt-out sun behind the clouds.

My goal is not to photograph things, but to photograph the meaning they have in my life. I do not want to document the external appearance of things, no matter how objectively appealing they may be.

My favourite photograph:

©*Maarten Venter* My favourite photo that I’ve taken

What is your favourite photograph that you’ve taken?

The lone tree in the desert is my favourite image. The simplicity of the image tells a compelling story of loneliness and an inner strength firmly grounded in its environment. The windswept tree is like a dancer on a stage. The slanted elegant trunk flows with the beautiful lines of the dunes in the background. The softness and muted tones of the image is in stark contrast to the harsh desert environment it is living in.

What’s next for Maarten?

Life has been getting in the way but hopefully, I can give my photography a lot more attention and move to a more advanced level. I would like to get out more with a clear concept and project in mind. In other words, more purposeful in selecting what I would like to photograph. To complete the process of image making I want to refine and be creative in my editing skills.

I have a few projects that I would like to work on; i.e. Street photography, Stylised lifestyle images, Black and White landscapes, Abstract sea/wave photography, ICM and wildlife photography.

Conclusion

I place a high value on continuous growth, learning and acquiring new skills. Photography has become another way of expressing myself creatively.

When I am out taking photographs, I am within the scene. When the final print is made digitally or on paper, I become the observer of a moment in time. The enjoyment comes from standing back at the end of the creative process feeling proud of the work and reliving the emotions of the event and the moment the photograph was taken.

I have gained a fair amount of knowledge and understanding over the last few years. It is time to put all of this into practice and create thought-provoking and inspiring images. I hope my photos evoke a sense of hope, peace, and awareness in the viewers.

Where can people follow you?

https://www.instagram.com/photosbymaarten/