Meet ViewBug community member DrewHopper. Drew Hopper is a fine art travel and landscape photographer, when he isn’t traveling he calls Australia home. Captivated by the diversity of cultures, people and environment, Drew ventures far and wide to capture pictures that define his experiences with the vision that they will impact and inspire an audience in a way individual to each viewer.
What inspired you to be a photographer?
Nature was the reason I picked up the camera. Ever since my childhood I've been inspired to explore new places.
What was your first camera and what do you shoot with today?
Canon 40D. These days I'm shooting with a Canon 6D, but lately I've ditched the DSLR for mirror-less, the Fuji X100S.
When someone looks at your photos, what do you want them to take away from it?
I prefer to leave my images open to interpretation. If I can hold my viewer in the image for more than a few seconds I've done my job.
What are your 3 tips for others who want to become better photographers?
Keep shooting, don't follow trends, find your own vision.
Have you received negative feedback from your work?
Yes
What did you do about it?
Accept it and make appropriate steps to improve my work. At the end of the day nothing or no-one is perfect.
Where did you learn to take photos?
Self taught.
What is it that you love about photography?
The ability to convey a message and make my audience feel something.
What has photography done for you?
Enabled to step away from the confines of society and live a nomadic lifestyle.
Do you try to be conceptual or do you prefer to show the feeling behind a photo?
Both. Photography is an art form, I shoot depending on my mood.
How do you describe your style?
Compelling and hopefully unique.
If you had to choose one lens which one would it be and why?
35mm prime lens. It's true to what the human eye see's in my opinion.
Raw vs jpg and why?
Raw, because information is compressed and lost in jpegs. Raw produces higher quality images with the freedom to post-process without losing image quality.
What do you carry in your camera bag?
Canon 6D, an array of wide to telephoto lenses, Fuji X100S and all the accessories necessary for my style of shooting.
If you could have the gift of a great photographer who would it be and why?
I don't think there's any photographer with the superpower to be invisible, therefore none.
What is the most common mistake you see people making when shooting these days?
I notice many photographers following trends. You see these people posting the same cliche shots online. I think it's important to be different in order to stand out in this competitive industry.
What is your dream location to shoot?
Too many to name, but I've always wanted to visit Antartica.
How do you decide on where to shoot a photo?
My instinct usually makes the decision for me when shooting street photography. Landscapes are a bit different, I tend to know what I want and follow with my vision.
What is next for you?
My girlfriend and I will be traveling around Australia soon, exploring and photographing some of Australia's most stunning landscapes.
What is your goal with your photography?
Earn enough money to sustain an enjoyable lifestyle traveling, whilst hopefully telling a story along the way.
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