The 2022 500px International Images Awards was once created for the pictures group to supply them an opportunity to exhibit their ability and be rewarded for it. The second one version of the contest consisted of six classes: Technical, Storytelling, Business Content material, Documentary, Effective Artwork, and Panorama. As of late at the weblog, we’re speaking with the winner of the Panorama class, Karol Nienartowicz, as he tells us extra concerning the profitable symbol.
Hello Karol, please introduce your self.
I’ve been photographing within the mountains since 2003. I love to shuttle across the mountainous areas of Europe, and the sector. I’ve visited over 45 nations on 4 continents with my digicam, and I’m a certified mountain information lately residing in Krakow, Poland.
Since 2016, I’ve been professionally photographing mountain landscapes. I’ve had many exhibitions, and publications in all main opinion-forming media, mountain, and shuttle periodicals. I’ve received awards in nationwide and international competitions, and had many TV appearances. I’m the writer of mountain guides for photographers. In 2018, my debut e book about pictures within the mountains, “Mountain Photographic Expeditions”, was once revealed, and in 2023, the huge album “Mountains”, which summarizes 20 years of photographic paintings within the mountains, will likely be introduced.
The profitable symbol: “Selfie at the Ridge”
What made you gravitate to panorama pictures?
I become fascinated with mountain pictures once I went on a mountain travel for the primary time in 2003. I grew up within the mountains—within the Karkonosze Mountains in Poland—however I went there very past due, when I used to be 18 years previous. I took my digicam with me for the primary travel, and it stayed that method. Once I began, I used the USSR-made analog equipment. For a few years I photographed the mountains so much, and in any case, in 2016, I become a certified mountain photographer.
Are you able to let us know the way you controlled to get one of these putting shot on Maly Koscielec Ridge?
Maly Koscielec is a lesser-known mountain within the Tatra Mountains in Poland. Even if it’s not too excessive, it’s well-known for its best possible view of the pointy peaks of the Prime Tatras. I at all times take footage from this height to the south—in opposition to the view of the excessive peaks.
However this time, it was once other.
I climbed the summit at night time when it was once totally darkish, foggy, and snowing. My function for this travel was once night time pictures. I waited for the brightening that was once predicted within the climate forecast. However first, the mists had disappeared within the north and the best peaks have been nonetheless within the clouds. That’s why I began taking pictures in that path. This picture was once no longer deliberate, I took it the use of the stipulations discovered at the spot.
The view of the snow-covered ridge, along side the lighting within the valley, was once superb. I took a couple of footage at this location, but it surely gave the impression uninteresting as a result of there was once one part lacking that may draw in consideration. I straight away learned that I wanted a human determine to turn the dimensions of where.
Since I used to be on my own, I needed to pose for the picture myself. The person on this picture is me. This isn’t a standard self-portrait, however you’ll be able to name it that. I set the digicam to the period taking pictures serve as and went to the threshold of the ridge. Even if it kind of feels very a long way within the picture, I simplest actually walked 30-40 meters. The wide-angle lens did the remainder.
The energy of this picture is within the body and the original second—the person status at the edge at all times appears bad and mystical. However no longer simplest that, I believe this second is particular. The general public can’t be within the excessive mountains in the course of the night time in wintry weather. The temper of wintry weather nights within the excessive mountains is at all times superb. I attempted to seize in a photograph the ambience of the horror of where, and the chilly that accompanied me all over the seven hours that I spent on this position.
What was once the largest problem you confronted all over that shoot?
The most important downside was once that the picture was once created as an experiment. I’ve taken footage within the intervalometer mode ahead of, however by no means in such tough stipulations. The digicam took the images on its own, and I couldn’t regulate them as a result of I used to be a style. I needed to stroll about 40 meters alongside a deadly ridge all over a excessive avalanche risk. I needed to stand nonetheless for 30 seconds whilst posing. I took a couple of photographs as a result of no longer they all have been a hit.
What do you hope your target audience feels/reports when viewing this picture?
I believe the impact has been completed and I’m pleased with it. The high-mountain wintry weather panorama, and the little guy on most sensible of the ridge, at all times conjures up a definite sense of admire for the mountains. As well as, the impact of the lighting within the valley provides to the drama.
What’s your favourite time of the day to shoot to get the most efficient gentle? And why?
I in most cases shoot all over sunrises and sunsets, when the sunshine is at its perfect. I additionally actually just like the “blue hour”, which is the time ahead of dawn or after sundown.
Throughout my contemporary journeys to the US and Peru, I took many of the perfect footage presently. I used to be very shocked that there have been few photographers at that hour. Because the solar went down all over the Subtle Arch consultation in Arches NP, everybody left, and I used to be left on my own. In the meantime, simplest half-hour after sundown, this position confirmed its most pretty face, when the entire panorama grew to become crimson.
However I’m no longer tied to simply taking pictures for one a part of the day. I additionally take a large number of footage in the course of the day, as a result of I stroll so much and I will’t be far and wide all over dawn or sundown.
Does your equipment range very much relying on the place you’re taking pictures? And what equipment did you could have with you to create the profitable symbol?
In my view, the apparatus isn’t essential—the photographer’s eye, just right concepts, and selecting the proper position are extra essential.
I don’t have a lot apparatus, as a result of I’m a mountain photographer and I’ve to take the whole lot with me. Because of this, I slimmed down my set to at least one digicam frame, 2-3 lenses, and a drone.
I lately use a Canon 5D Mark IV with 16-35mm f/4 and 24-105mm f/4 lenses. The profitable picture was once enthusiastic about this digicam and a 16-35mm lens.
How did you utilize enhancing gear to raise your symbol Selfie at the Ridge?
I did the usual enhancing in Adobe Digicam RAW, and the general touches in Photoshop. Since I’ve been operating in pictures for twenty years, I’ve my very own enhancing taste, however there’s no giant secret. I exploit the most straightforward operations that Digicam RAW permits. A lot more essential is that I think what software to make use of to reach the impact. It’s laborious to explain in phrases.
What attracted you to the 500px International Images Awards, and the way did you way the submission procedure to you’ll want to have been filing your perfect paintings?
500px is where the place I grew up as a photographer. Right here, for years, I admired higher folks than me. I’ve a sentiment for this website, even supposing the choice of customers has diminished. I take part in many of the 500px theme contests, so I additionally entered the 500px International Images Awards to check myself and win a pleasing prize. I’m happy I did.
Do you could have any thrilling tasks at the horizon?
This 12 months I’m celebrating twenty years of labor as a photographer, and in this instance, I’m publishing a e book—a huge album with footage of mountains on 450 pages. Its name is just: “Mountains”. As well as, I’m making plans additional photographic journeys to new puts. The sector is huge and fascinating, and I wish to see it and {photograph} it.
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