Welcome to 10.Q Interviews.This section usually features interviews to Humanitarian, Cultural & Travel Photographers, their work and photography.

This week in 10.Q Interviews, Oscar Dominguez:

“Travel and wildlife photographer as well as being an alpinist, traveller and wildlife enthusiast. Through his experiences he attempts to show the natural world and it’s intimate relationship with man and his ways of life from the inside. This is always done with the clear focus of promoting conservation and respect for the environment.” [More about Oscar...]

1. Tell us about you and your photography. How long have you been shooting? What kinds of shooting have you done?

First I would like to thank you very much for this opportunity. Just a few months ago I discovered your blog and was impressed by your work and your generosity. I am passionate about nature and wildlife and I am attracted by contrasting ecosystems, such as tropical forests and high mountains. I started taking photographs when I was around 20 years old. I used photography to record the treks and climbing I was doing at the time and also as a way of studying the places I had been to. I worked for years in a shop specializing in travel and mountaineering equipment and this also allowed me to get closer to the places I wanted to photograph and establish solid relationships with some brands within the industry.
I consider myself a wildlife photographer first and a travel photographer second … Something that interests me more and more are the people who live in natural environments and who we should be listening to when considering ways of protecting the environment and endangered species. Being introduced to the experiences of a number of humanitarian photographers, many of whom have been interviewed in this blog, has made me grow a lot as a person and as a photographer, and has helped me take the plunge and focus exclusively on photography.

2. How and where did you get your vision for it, and what are your dreams?

Both my grandparents loved nature and I shared my first excursions and many of my memorable observations with them. I guess they inspired the passion that now serves to fuel me.
I’m living my dream now, working towards getting the things I love to come together and become permanently at the center of my life. Luckily I have the support and help of my family at all times.

3. What are the biggest challenges in your photography business?

Here in Spain, making a living from nature photography is quite difficult, and at first you just think about seeing your photos published. Right now with the introduction of new technologies everything has changed, the salary of a photographer is composed of many other things. In my case, courses and workshops allow me to work on topics that interest me with more depth and are an important source of income. For me having an online presence is proving an enormous help.

4. Tell us about your future plans in your photographic career. Where is it heading to?

I have a friend who has been working for a small NGO in Cambodia for two years. During my latest trip to Vietnam we spoke about a project to take photos of the work they are doing there with the idea of producing a series of photos to improve their publicity. This is something new for me. I am excited about the challenges presented by this kind of photography. I think it could be something very positive and will give more sense to my work.

5. How much do you travel every year? How do you manage your family time?

I usually take two or three trips a year depending on the job. Over time I have changed the way I travel and I now prefer to stay longer in each place. Often I am many days in a row in a natural environment with very few amenities and I prefer to be alone, or with just my local assistant, to stay focused. This has led me to establish true friendships with people who live in the places I visit. My girlfriend accompanies me sometimes.

6. Who’s been an inspiration for your photography? How do you stay inspired? Do you read blogs? If so, which ones would you recommend?

My sources of inspiration are many and varied. On the one hand there are some great nature photographers like Michael “Nick” Nichols, Jim Brandenburg, Vincent Munier or Tim Laman for his extensive work in remote and difficult places like the jungles of Central Africa and Arctic islands.
I am also particularly fond of the images and the vision of Swedish photographer Mattias Klum, his Bornean Rainforest work is a constant reference for me.
In the field of mountain photography Galen Rowell for his combination of photographer, mountaineer and communicator.
Currently I have expanded my sources of inspiration and am following with interest the work of humanitarian photographers Gavin Gough, Gary S Chapman, Matt Powell, Matt Brandon or Simon Sticker and other travel photographers such as Mitchell Kanashkevich or Nevada Wier.
Music is constant in my life too and I never go anywhere without it… it helps and inspires me constantly.
No doubt some of my blogs of reference are David du Chemin’s, Chase Jarvis’ and Bruce Percy’s for their ideas and approaches. In Spain there are also some very interesting blogs such as Naturpixel.

7. What are the characteristic that a good photographer in your field needs to have?

I suppose you have to be a curious obsessive. If you want to photograph wildlife it is vital to have minimal knowledge about the habits and behavior of those species that you want to photograph and in some cases, be willing to be in places a bit uncomfortable. It is very important to have the help of local people who often know the exact locations where to find the animals.
I also think it is very important to be prepared to improvise because in nature nothing is guaranteed and everything can change quickly. Likewise it is often difficult to predict results within a given period of time. Patience and perseverance are essential.

8. Is social media/Internet important in promoting your work? How much time daily do you invest in it?

The truth is that it is a very powerful tool … It is vital to have a presence that is solid, consistent and honest. It’s a way to show what you do and exchange advice and information with other photographers. As shown in this interview.
I think Facebook and Twitter are currently indispensable channels of promotion for any creative person and I dedicate some time to them every day.

9. Tell us about the last piece of gear that you deemed important enough to buy.

This week I bought a portable printer Pogo. I was delighted when I found out about them through David du Chemin. In two weeks I’m going back to Ladakh I hope to be able to use it.

10. What would be your advice for a photographer who is just starting out in this field? What is the biggest obstacle you see facing new photographers who want to work on this type of photography?

In my humble opinion I think the most important thing is to work hard and persevere. Nobody thinks about the hours of training and sacrifice when an athlete is a world champion. If you do something you love and put all your effort into it, then it is reflected in the results. Passion is probably the best fuel and when you do something passionately, people will recognize it …
Mistakes also help, they should be seen in perspective and you should try to learn from them.
The beginnings are hard … and many actions do not produce direct revenues … like I said before, perseverance.

Social Media

Oscar in Twitter: @deepwildphoto

Oscar in Facebook