We’ve caught up with Joshua Berry-Walker, a young Australian landscape photographer making a big name for himself with his stunning photography. A childhood spent on the open road in the family motor home gave him an appreciation for the great outdoors, which he’s put to good use with his self-taught photographic talent. Based in Queensalnd, Australia, Joshua’s work captures the soul of a landscape, revealing a pristine natural beauty that seems to glow with vibrancy.
Tell us a bit about yourself and your childhood on the open road.
I grew up living the gypsy life, travelling around in the family motorhome for the majority of my childhood. It was a very adventurous and interesting lifestyle, one that I miss now that I have found my passion in photography. My parents loved the open road and I guess it has brushed off onto me over the years.
I’m now currently situated on the picturesque Gold Coast of Queensland, Australia. I’m addicted to caffeine, eBay, traveling and chasing the light. I enjoy the great outdoors and exploring the many amazing national parks and hidden gems up and down the Gold Coast. There isn’t really much more to say, I am a photography and nature lover who is constantly searching for new compositions and forever chasing the light. I take photographs to define my experiences, to encapsulate these moments and share Australia’s most extraordinary places with the world. I’m very passionate of what I do, but am most passionate about this beautiful place we call home. Through my images I express my feelings for the places I’ve adventured and the beauty of nature that I encounter along my journey.
When and how did you first become interested in photography? Did you immediately know you wanted to do it professionally?
I honestly don’t remember when exactly I become interested in photography. I’d be lying if I said a certain photographer inspired me to pick up a camera for the first time, and I never knew this interest would transpire into passion, so there isn’t really an answer to that question. I like to think that my upbringing of traveling the country with my family has influenced my passion for the shooting landscape images, and has most definitely fuelled my goals and journey behind the camera.
Where do you draw your inspiration from and what does your photography mean to you?
The simple answer is ‘Mother Nature’ — I find nature to be more compelling, mysterious and
overwhelming than any facial expression, any man-made structure or materialised subjects. Nature inspires me to get outdoors and be creative with my natural surrounds. I find this to be the most precious gift life has to offer and this is why I share this sentiment with you. Photography to me is an escape from reality, an incredibly limitless escape that sees me on some of the most amazing, challenging and fulfilling journeys I have ever experienced. Every photo expedition is unique and special in its own way. This is what keeps my passion alive and holds many opportunities ahead for the future, whether the future be tomorrow, a month away or a year’s time from now. I suspire for those picture-perfect moments which transform this beautiful planet into the unprecedented wonderland it truly is. Both my love for photography and nature just seem to flourish when I’m out in the field.
What kind of gear would we find in your bag right now? How important do you think your photography equipment is to getting the shots you do?
I’m not the type of photographer who gets overly caught up in gear, I have what I can afford and I make do with it to the best of my ability. To be honest, I couldn’t think of anything more boring than to talk about cameras and lenses, these days it’s just as deadly as talking politics and it usually ends in a debate. In saying that, I have spent more than enough money on tools for my trade and I am a strong believer in buying the highest quality glass (lenses). I’m a Canon shooter, but that is irrelevant in my opinion. Just to name a few things I keep in my backpack; Canon 5D II, 16-35mm f/2.8, 24-70mm f/2.8, 70-200mm f/2.8, graduated ND filters, circular polariser, cable release and my trusty lens cloth, a Gopro Max and a DJI Mavic Air 2.
How much of your time goes into marketing yourself, and is it something you enjoy? You’ve built a huge following on your Instagram page — did you have any particular strategies to get so many fans?
If I’m not out in the field shooting you can find me in my other office. The majority of my time is spent in front of a computer screen marketing my photography business, whether that is social networks, photo communities, blogging, updating website content or filling out an interview like this one, marketing is key to a successful photography business. Utilising social media as part of my digital marketing strategy i.e; Instagram, Facebook has enabled me to reach a large audience, not just national but international. I don’t think there are any real secrets to marketing that I’ve found, but definitely keeping on top of emails and posting new content will always keep your page looking fresh. There is nothing worse than a stale blog or website. I notice a lot of other photographers really spam their pages with print giveaways to gain more followers, and I can say I have done my fair share of giveaways in the past. However, I used to think numbers were important, but I have come realise numbers aren’t always sales in this industry. I like to think my followers are following my journey as an artist because of the quality of images I produce, not quantity
You can find the rest of Joshua’s photos and follow his journey on his social media sites, which are listed below:
Website: https://joshberrywalker.wixsite.com/joshuabw
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshua.b.w/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joshuabwstudio