For many of the community members here on ViewBug, photography works as a way of escaping the everyday life. It is no different with Justin Lee (leejustin05), our community member from Alberta, Canada. When he wants to get away from the crazy and busy everyday life he just drives away to the mighty mountains and crystal clear lakes of Canada and soaks in the fresh air while capturing some of Mother Earth’s most beautiful creations. And as for many other photographers here on ViewBug, Lee loves photography because it shows him life from a different angle and perspective. Enjoy our conversation with Justin!
I love photography because: Photography allows me to escape my regular work routine, slow down, and soak in nature. I love how it also forces me to view life in different angles and perspectives, therefore making life that much more interesting. Photography also challenges me to continuously learn and strive to get out of my comfort zone to explore incredible displays of nature. It's a journey of learning and capturing memories that keeps me engaged.
My camera lets me: My camera lets me share my journey and life testimony with friends, family, and strangers in a creative and engaging way.
I find inspiration when: I find inspiration when I'm unable to bring out my camera to shoot, whether it’s because of work or other life commitments. During this downtime, I'm constantly reading photography magazines, viewing other photographer's works and gaining inspiration from them, which fuels my desire to make time to get out of the city and shoot. I also find inspiration from simply being out in nature and absorbing nature take place.
One of the photos I am most proud of is “Rainbow Sunset” because: I wouldn't say I'm the most proud of this photo because I didn't do a whole lot to capture and process this photo, but this photo is definitely the most memorable and exciting. It was just a combination of being at the right time and right place. A few friends and I were visiting Kelowna, BC, and decided to stop by a lake after a short trail to a waterfall. Right as we approached the lake, we saw an incredible view of the lake, dock, sunset, and a rainbow right in front of the dock. I quickly and simply brought out my tripod, camera, trigger, and ND filter, and took a long exposure of this scene. Within a few minutes, the rainbow was gone and the sun completely set.
My favorite place to shoot is: My favorite place to shoot is in Banff, Alberta because it is only an hour away from my house and it is filled with mountains and natural lakes, which I love. There are endless hiking, camping, and photo opportunities here. It’s an easy way to get out of the city lifestyle and experience peace, quietness, and stillness.
One of my favorite photos on ViewBug is “Oceanside Pier” by Larrrymarshall, it makes me feel: It makes me feel slightly nostalgic, as I have experienced the most amazing sunsets at the coast. I love visiting the coast as often as possible and listening to the waves hit the shore, smelling the salty ocean water, and viewing the vast range of colors in the sunsets. This photo captures the endlessness and vastness of the ocean and I love the long exposure and how it smoothens out the waters and colorful clouds.
One of my favorite photographers on Viewbug is “Larrymarshall” because: I would have to say Larry Marshall is one of my favorite photographers because of his ability to capture such incredible nature shots. It demonstrates his willingness to go out and explore nature at its finest times.
These are 3 quick tips I’d like to share with fellow photographers:
1. Discover what you love to capture. Learn more about it. Continuously pursue new opportunities around it.
2. Force yourself out of your comfort zone. Don't limit your shots because you're afraid of getting your clothes dirty or wet, or because it's a far hike, or because you might have to wake up early. Go the extra mile that most people wouldn’t go.
3. Visualize what you want to accomplish before going out to shoot. Have a plan.
One photo that was difficult to shoot was "Crescent Falls" because: This shot was a hassle to shoot because I needed to set up my tripod at a fairly far distance, and find the right moment to pull the trigger. It involved running back and forth to readjust the camera and settings a few times, but it was still very enjoyable to shoot as the environment of being surrounded by two waterfalls was incredible.
The tips and secrets behind this photo: ND filter and a wireless trigger are fantastic tools for getting that extra bit of time in your shot to smooth out the waters and take selfies from further distances. I also tried to frame the photo with both waterfalls around the thirds of the photo. The attempt was to use the foreground waterfall to draw the eye to the waterfall in the back.
For more great photos taken by Justin, visit his profile, website and Instagram.
