Interview with Thomas Gorman : A Landscape Photographer and A Superman Dad of his Children

1. Can you tell us a little about yourself, your blog(s)/website(s),and your aspirations and your hobbies!
I am a father of two young boys, a traveller and a photographer.  I love visiting new places and meeting wonderful people along the way.  I enjoy being outdoors and visiting remote parts of my homeland, Scotland.  There is nothing better to rid you of the stresses and strains of modern life.  I aspire, like every photographer I know, to get better and better each day and try to be the best photographer I can be.

2. How would you describe your photographic vision? What kind of feel do you try and create in your photos?
I just love photography and the emotions that a good photograph can bring out in it’s viewer.  I try not to stick to rules and stereotypes when I am taking photos and often look to break the rules or find a slightly different viewpoint or approach that others may not think of or look for.  I try to create the feeling of being there in my photography.  I like to think that those viewing my images can imagine being there when I was there and also saw what I saw and therefore I try to recreate the scene as it was when I took the image.

3. How long have you been a photographer?
I have been a photographer for 15 years but have started to take my passion more seriously over the last 8 years or so.

4. What does photography mean to you?
To me photography is about telling a story or capturing a moment in time that may never be replicated.  Landscapes and people change over time and it is likely that some of the images I capture may never be the same again.  The light may be different or that tree may have succumbed to the weather and something as small as that can change the whole scene.

5. Photography is your passion or profession or both?
Photography is a passion of mine and also provides an income to me.

6. How do you pick the spots you travel to?
When I am deciding to visit a location I put in a lot of planning.  I look at the weather, the times of the sun setting/rising and other factors before deciding to make the journey.  I have previously spent three days at a location waiting for the light to be perfect and I was finally rewarded with the quality of light that I wanted.

7. What is your favorite place to click photographs?
Although I have travelled extensively I still love the quality of light that we get here in Scotland.  From Castles to mountains, beaches to stunning city architecture, Scotland has it all.

8. If you could live anywhere on this awesome planet where would you build your dream home?
The first place that spring to mind is Elgol on the Isle of Skye, Scotland.  I love the Isle of Skye for it’s breathtaking scenery and Elgol has stunning views over the sea to the nearby Cuillin mountains, a view to behold.

9. What type of photography do you do most? And what do you enjoy most and why?
Currently, I am doing more and more wedding photography.  For me this is a relatively new adventure having only moved in to wedding photography in the last few years.  Whilst I thoroughly enjoy capturing peoples big day and I like the thought that those images will outlive me and perhaps many generations my main passion is and always will be Landscape photography.  I enjoy visiting somewhere in the first place and taking in the atmosphere of it all before I even take my camera out the bag.

10. I’m sure you’ve taken hundreds of photos over the years, but do you have a favorite?
I have taken tens of thousands of images and many of them I have only ever looked at once.  As I still use film a lot of these images have never been seen by anyone other than me which is a shame.  Whilst I don’t have a single favourite image I do have a shortlist of a dozen or so that make me smile every time I look at them.

11. Which photographers influenced you, and how did they influence your thinking and photographing?
There are a lot of great landscape photographers out there and I think that number increases all the time.  I have a number of photographers that I enjoy looking at their work but I am discovering new ones every day.  A current favourite is Marcus McAdam, www.marcusacadam.com

12. What are the characteristics that a good Travel Photographer needs to have?
A good travel photographer has to be a patient person.  If you are visiting a location in a far off land that you may only visit once in your lifetime you may have to wait days or weeks to get the right conditions and that requires patience.

13. Tell me about some of the catchy people you have met while clicking pictures?
I enjoy meeting other photographers when travelling as it is good to have common ground to start a discussion.  It is always nice to meet someone who is from a different country and culture as it allows you to learn more about the world and it’s people.  I still stay in touch with some of the people I have met when I have been travelling and it is always good to see what is happening in their life.

14. What is the best compliment do you have ever? Could you please share Happiest Moment in your Photography Life?
I always enjoy a compliment from a fellow photographer although I do appreciate all the comments and compliments I receive.  I quite often get one or two word comments but if someone takes a little longer to compliment my work I usually try to reply to it.  If they have taken the time then I feel I should do so to answer them.  On one occasion, I travelled woke at 1.30am and drove for three and a half hours to be at a location for sunrise.  As the sun rose the light was stunning for about eight minutes and then it was gone for the rest of the day.  I managed to get a hand full of images when the light was at its best and have had some of those images published time and time again including the front cover of a photography magazine.  Being rewarded with such stunning light after a lot of planning and effort to get there was one of the happiest moments in my photography career to date.

15. What’s your secret tip for beginners, who want to start with travel photography?
Practice makes perfect.  Your talent will develop over time through practising your art and continual learning.  The internet is also a great source of inspiration.

16. Five adjectives that describe you.
Easy going, approachable, respectful, helpful and resilient.

17. Do you get easily provoked by positive/negative comments?
I appreciate someone taking any time to comment on my images whether positive or negative.  I firmly believe that Photography is an art form and and form of art which encourage discussion or debate has to be good art.

18. You have a website? Please tell me about that?
My own website is www.thomasgorman.co.uk and I can be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ThomasGormanPhotographyUK

19. Words and suggestion about my website www.indiaataglance.com
India is a fantastic country with such diversity throughout it.  I have visited several areas in India and thoroughly enjoyed it.  You have a good website.  As a photographer I would always like to see more photographs from your beautiful country on there.