Helen Trust
This week we put the questions to Somerset based photographer and Formatt Hitech Lens Filter ambassador Helen Trust
Helen Trust
1 What inspired you to pursue landscape photography, and how did you get started?
HT: I always love travelling and started out in the early 90’s with a faithful Minolta film camera and thrived on the excitement and anticipation of the images coming back from being processed and spending many hours hiding out in the darkroom. I studied photography at collage for a short time and read the books by Ansel Adams and took myself off to Yosemite for a few weeks and that really sparked my love for photography. I now shoot with a full frame DSLR and love all genres of photography specialising in minimalism and long exposures of land and seascapes
2 What’s been your most memorable shoot so far, and what made it stand out?
HT: I have to say I really enjoy every shoot and, in all weathers, but the stand out ones really have to be experiencing the Northern Lights in Lofoten and Iceland. It’s so magical standing under mother nature’s performance, sometimes you just have to watch and admire but there is always that desperate need to capture the moment on camera
3 How do you prepare for a shoot, from research to packing your gear?
HT: I always cover the basics sunrise/sunset times, tide times, position of the sun or moon but I also spend a lot of time on Google Maps Satellite view (street view if available) I like to see a location and be able to explore it from home so that I know where to head for first and set up. I have a 20-year-old Lowepro CompuTrekker AW camera bag which has been on every shoot with me and never lets me down. I always pack my bag the night before a shoot and do the standard battery check, memory card check and clean my trusty filters (which I sometimes forget to do!!!)
4 Do you have a favourite time of day or weather condition to capture landscapes, and why?
HT: My ultimate favourite time of the day to shoot is way before sunrise…. I really love pastel tones and pre sunrise is the best time to capture them before the harsh sun breaks through. I know you are supposed to pray for the light when shooting landscapes but I do also really love the muted grey tones of a cloudy day. Arctic pre-dawn and post sunset light has to be the most amazing for subtle pastel tones and I have spent many hours savouring it (in all weathers!!)
5 What’s one piece of equipment you couldn’t live without, and why is it essential to your work?
HT: My trusty Canon 5D Mark IV, I’ve shot with the Canon 5D range since launched in 2005 starting with 5D MkI which lasted me over 10 years until it died due to overuse during a trip to Tuscany! I now have two 5D Mark IV’s so I always have a spare and am currently saving for a third as I’m gutted they have stopped making them and have no intention of going mirrorless
6 How do you approach capturing a sense of emotion or story in your landscapes?
HT: I often become overwhelmed by the scenes in front of me and struggle with appropriate composition, but since falling in love with long exposure techniques, I can slow things down and sometimes turn a mediocre shot into something special. Squares have become my best friend over the years, focusing on the smaller details, patterns, negative space, pastels and basic minimalism. I find minimalism can really provide a focus point for the subject. I don’t go anywhere without my Formatt Hitech filters and often use an ND grad to give a scene some added atmosphere
7 Have you faced any unique challenges or barriers as a woman in the photography industry, and how have you overcome them?
HT: No barriers as such except for my own mental barrier of lack of confidence being in a new remote area shooting alone. I have sometimes talked myself out of a shoot if I’m venturing into the unknown alone. Over the last few years, I have grown in confidence and the more I go and shoot alone the more invigorated I feel when I’m on location and gaining the shots I had planned so it’s not so daunting any more. I do lots of Google Map research before heading out and I also have some very good friends that I meet up with to shoot now and again
8 Is there a specific location or environment you dream of photographing but haven’t yet?
HT: I have spent a lot of time in New Zealand hiking the big trails and visiting family and I would love to return to the South Island and just focus on photography I nearly achieved it last year but the trip I had booked was cancelled so it’s still top of the list. I would also like to explore Comacchio and the Po Delta for its minimal and intimate landscapes and wonderful wildlife
9 What advice would you give to aspiring photographers, entering the field?
HT: Absolutely do it, pick up your camera and find your own style, ensure it’s what you love and what you care about and don’t let people discourage you. It took me years to find my niche and now I post a square a day on Instagram and every image, when I’m taking it and when I’m posting it, makes me smile
10 If your camera could talk, what kind of personality would it have, and what do you think it would say about your shooting habits?
HT: Ha what a great question! I think my faithful Canon 5D IV would have a laid back personality, if it could speak I think it would say ‘what’s with all the negative space, fill my full frame already!!!’
To find out more about Helen and her work please visit the links below and thanks for visiting the page.