Hi, I’m Dan. I’m a photographer!
It took me a long time to admit this… A photographer is somebody with a big bulky camera, a huge lens (that looks like there is some overcompensation going) and a massive backpack full of very complicated and expensive gear. Right? Wrong! That wasn’t, and still isn’t - me. I mean, I only had a mobile phone when I started in 2017! So, obviously I can’t be a photographer! Except one day I realised that I am, and you know what? You are too.
Looking back I’ve realised that I don’t have many images of my life, I was too busy living life rather than recording it. In September 2016 I decided to start a travel blog called Dan’s Odyssey, born from a desire to travel and the inability to leave (yet). To bandaid my Wanderlust, I started to travel to places around New Zealand - I soon realised that I needed to up my game in the imagery department, and so, my photographic interest was born.
Tools of the trade
I wanted to capture amazing images but I felt I was restricted using my iPhone, so, I borrowed my brother’s camera and signed up for an Introduction to Photography Course with Shaw Academy. My mind was blown - I learnt about the shutter, aperture, ISO, and lenses. Empowered with all this new knowledge I wanted a camera all of my own. After A LOT of researched, I chose the Fujifilm X-T10 mirrorless camera, I added a few lenses and a tripod to the camera bag and I haven’t looked back.
Where to now?
What started as a hobby has now morphed into a passion. My confidence is growing, and I have branched out - starting to take photos of subjects that are not in my comfort zone. I have sold images, had other photographers approach me about second shooting at weddings, friends want me to take their family photos and I even volunteered as a photographer at the WOMAD festival in New Plymouth. Where is my photography taking me? EVERYWHERE!