Marc Adamus

Type of photography: landscape
Personal website: http://www.marcadamus.com
Country: Oregon, USA
Camera type: digital

Please introduce yourself. How old are you, where do you live and what is your job?

Hi Michal, thanks for your interest in my work. I'm 30 and have been a full time landscape photographer for a few years now and going strong. I've been a photo enthusiast for almost half my life. I'm based in Corvallis, Oregon because I love the diversity this region has to offer. I can be on the ocean, old-growth forests and waterfalls, in the mountains or out on the desert in only a few hours from my house.

How long have you been taking photos and what brought you to photography?

I've had a love for nature all my life, but started taking photos since late in my teens when backpacking and mountaineering were my main hobbies. It was found and became really impressed with the work of the late Galen Rowell, and I consider him to be the primary inspiration that lead me to take photography more seriously, and develop the business and audience I have today.

Do you follow any photographic icons? If so, how do they inspire you?

I don't follow any one photographer too closely, but I do gain a lot of artistic inspiration from a variety of newcomers and seasoned professionals alike. There's a new generation of photographers out there who are expanding and redefining the art in many ways. It's always fun to watch.

What type of landscape do you like most for taking pictures?

My favorite landscapes are the rainforests of the Olympics, the high mountains, the Great Basin region of the western US and just about anywhere with new snow. Some of these environments make for good pictures more often than others, especially the mountains where everything stands up so nicely and offers great depth combined with uncomplicated surroundings. Good mountain pictures are a dime a dozen though, where as photographs of the Great Basin or Olympic rainforests are very rare by comparison. If you asked me where to go for good pictures, I might give you a different answer than if you asked me where I liked to shoot. I've spent years developing a broad portfolio, so at this point I'd prefer to shoot areas that mean something special to me.

Do you rather take pictures in the morning or in the evening?

Doesn't matter one bit. It's totally dependent on location. If I'm in the Eastern Sierra, morning. If I'm on the Oregon coast, evening. If I'm in the Canyonlands, neither.

Atmosphere in your images is amazing. How much time do you spend in the nature to capture these scenes?

I spend 250-300 days per year either in the field, or ready to go on a moments notice if something in Oregon looks interesting. There's no substitute for great light and atmosphere. The best way to increase your odds is to be out there a lot.

I think you are very skilled in terms of using Photoshop. How much do your photographs reflect the real photographic scene?

My PS methods can be pretty unconventional, as I am entirely self taught. I've come up with some innovative approaches to things that give my images a distinctive look, but at the same time, my learning experience has been long and trying. I made a lot of mistakes too. Sometimes, lately and also at the beginning of my career, my focus has been more on natural appeal. Other times, I've felt like taking a lot of artistic liberties that push my imagery towards the surreal and otherworldly. It's really a mood thing more than anything else. All my images reflect what I saw in terms of actual subject matter, for example, no adding or removing of significant compositional elements, no swapping of skies, etc. Other than that, anything goes. Half the time it's just a curves and levels adjustment here and there, other times it's more, or even a lot more. It varies a lot as you can see, but I'm always forthcoming with my clients if inquiries are made into the creation of the image.

You photograph only in North America, do you plan to visit Europe some time?

No, I do not. I have no plans to travel abroad. While there are many photographers who have made their name traveling to exotic locations, there are an equal number who's careers have been defined by areas closer to home that were very special to them. I am one of the later, perhaps more simplistic in some ways, but very happy to do what I do. The places near me are what I consider my spiritual home, and the places that mean the most to me. I find more than a lifetime's worth of opportunities for pictures in the Olympics alone.

Majority of your pictures are taken using a wide-angle lens, is that because you don't like a telephoto lens?

Almost all landscape photographers use a wide-angle lens frequently. Depth is such an important part of a two dimensional medium like photography. Using a wider angle, you can create better separation between foreground and background, make leading lines and angles stronger and make it easier to show off a compelling foreground that compliments your scene. I also live in the Northwest, where we are used to more cluttered and complicated scenes. In the Southwest, by comparison, the much more vast, layered and open landscape lends itself more to a telephoto approach at times. I do quite a bit of longer lens work too though. There are times and places where longer lenses are extremely useful. With a longer lens, creating depth relies more on identifying layers and patterns throughout the scene. With a wide angle, creating depth is easier.

What does photographing mean for your life?

Photographing means I have a good excuse to do the one thing that matters to me most - being in the wilderness.