Exposed Planet - An Interview with Adventurer and Photographer Harry Kikstra

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Jun 3rd, 2008 | By andrew | Category: Interviews

Mountaineer, film maker and adventurer Harry Kikstra is much more than just a photographer. Intrigued by someone who not only creates beautiful travel photos but manages to find time to do so many other things as well, I invited him to take part in an interview. Here it is:

Photo self portrait Harry Kikstra

How would you describe your photographic vision? What kind of look/atmosphere/feel do you try and create in your photos?

I am trying to show that the world and its people can be different and beautiful at the same time. I am trying to portray the truth, which can sometimes be hard and sometimes be soft. I think contrasts and colours play an important role, both literally as well as photographically.

When did you start taking photos and why? What made you decide to become a photographer?

I’ve taken snapshots since I was a teenager, but only after switching to a SLR with the accompanying changeable lenses I started really enjoying it, especially as I started traveling at the same time. When I noticed that I could capture a lot of what I was seeing and my friends understood what I was trying to portray, I tried to develop myself further. I will likely never be a fulltime photographer, though that would be nice. But maybe having as much time available as needed would make me less creative J

Name three photographers you like and why. Who inspires you?

My taste is quite general, I know not enough obscure photographers to give a very interesting answer. I do enjoy a lot of new photographers, most of them amateurs. Digital photogapy has really opened up the world. Some classics include:

Galen Rowell: Master of mountains and light, always actively looking for the best shot, capturing more in his time than many can Photoshop nowadays. “If it’s good, shoot it, if it gets better, shoot it again” Nuff said.

Frans Lanting: Already loved his images, animal close ups are beautiful, makes you want to protect nature. After seeing his presentation and hearing about the preparations but also about failed images I started enjoying the end results even more.

Yann Arthus-Bertrand: He Exposed the Planet from above with such amazing results. If you see his open air expositions and still do not want to see the world, you need a life.

Photo self portrait Harry Kikstra

What is the most memorable experience you’ve had as a photographer?

Not sure which one is better but seeing the sunrise from high up on Everest will compete with my inspecting my lucky shot from the hip (of the Chinese Borderguard.) Both times my camera felt as being part of my body and mind.

What are the three most important qualities that a travel photographer needs to succeed? What advice would you give any aspiring travel photographers?

I made a top 10 once, maybe I can repeat it here:

Know your gear: not just the functions of the body but also the lenses. Know which lens has the sharpest focal range for a specific aperture etc. but you should also be aware that your sensor is dirty, so you know not too shoot F22.

In the end knowing your gear will save you time as you do not have to fiddle with the settings and try different lenses as your subject will be long gone baking chapatis. You will get better pictures as you will know the gear you use will be suitable for the job.

Also: know your editing software, at least the basics. Some deleted shots (or shots not taken as you thought that the light was wrong) might have turned out perfect once optimized with levels or contrast.

Optimize wisely: What I mean with this is that it depends on the subject if optimisation means: getting the best lens and camera setting, or that it means: shooting as fast as possible. Never lose a quick shot because you think you have the wrong lens on, the light is wrong (see #1), and never change settings if it needs too much time. Just shoot and see later if it worked out. If you have the time and are waiting for a nice sunset, then optimize in getting the right spot and light, setting up your tripod, lens etc.

This is 100% stolen from the master of light Galen Rowell: “if it’s good, shoot it. If it’s gets better, shoot it again.” I actually forget to follow this rule many times, or at least do not take advantage of the possibilities of digital shooting. Normally I take only one or two shots of a scene while a few extra might have gotten me one excellent photo. Guess that’s a remainder of having limited amounts of expensive slidefilm with me…

Get good gear: if you want good pictures, get good lenses. A crappy lens on a $4000 body will give you perfectly exposed crappy pictures. A great lens on a cheapo body might get you underexposed but perfectly sharp images which is better in my view. If you do not have money for both good lenses as well as a good body, go for the lenses. Nowadays the ‘consumer’ bodies are 10 times better than pro bodies a decade ago, they just ship with crappy lenses.

Respect the cultures: do not take pictures if people clearly let you know they don’t want you to. You do not always have to ask, it will take away a lot of spontaneity and mostly you will know by the facial expressions that it is ok, but when shooting a full-on portrait and people might seem in doubt, be polite and request permission.

Be honest and share. Never promise to send a picture if you are not going to do it. I personally feel bad about when that happened, but the one being photographed feels worse and might hold a grudge against westerners or photographers. What you can do is try to explain what ‘digital’ means, that is always fun and more people in poor countries might know it than you think. Always show the image shot to the subject if they are interested. It will cheer them up and might very likely get you another opportunity for an even better shot (see advice #3)

Work for it! Photos do not make themselves unless you want to experiment with a self-timer. Maybe climbing Everest is too much trouble for you, but go out and walk, hike, ride a horse or rikshaw and find your subjects. Likely they will find you first, but they will be different from the ones you might encounter on a group photo tour. Tours are fine, but step out of line and take a different perspective. I find a picture of 37 white guys taking the same picture more interesting than the same picture itself..

Also: shoot a lot. Taking pictures will be a motoric skill, like cycling or playing the guitar and that will keep your focus on the subject and off the techniques.

Blend in: go to local places: bars, bridges, temples, or just the rocks that the locals use to hang out and gossip. But also: kneel when shooting an image of a child.

Shoot differently: try a shot without looking through the viewfinder. Take a wide angle where everybody else zooms as much as possible and vice versa. Look up to children and down on the world.

But, most importantly: never follow any rules besides this one: forget all of the above and do your own thing, creativity is personal and can only be evoked by practice, not by copying. That’s also why this top 10 list has only 9 entries.

Photo self portrait Harry Kikstra

Mountaineer, author, photographer, lecturer, business consultant, producer, adventurer - you lead an exciting and varied life. What motivates you to do all these amazing things?

Restlessness and curiosity, combined with ambition and realization that there is only one life to be lived. I have trouble with authority, so do not like to stick to boundaries others impose, whether physical or mental.

It seems to me you’re living your dream and enjoying life and work to the full. What advice would you give to a young person at the start of their career? Or to an older person who’s dissatisfied with their job or life and feels the urge to do something adventurous?

Don’t complain, but follow your heart. I talked to so many people that said: I wish I could do this and that. When asked why they don’t, they have no answer. Too many are stuck in the capitalist nightmare/prison. Once you see that making money is not a goal (a means to reach goals at most), you will be able to follow your heart. Stop consuming and start living.

How do you get so closely involved with the people and communities you photograph? In my experience they can be hostile to strangers with cameras. How do you overcome the initial distrust?

See tip #8 above: Blend in. Do not think you will really blend if you are blond-haired and blue-eyed like me, but accept the differences. Be curious. Most times you just have to have patience.

Tell us a little about your work in Tibet, Pakistan, India and Nepal. You have some beautiful and amazing photos from these countries. What is it about these regions that interests you so much? The mountains of course, but what else?

Somehow the people of this region are more pure than many others. Poverty seems to go hand in hand with a more basic, honest approach to life. There are less masks covering the faces. Of course it is easy for me to say, as a westerner, they have no choice. As you said, the hostile environment is beautiful at the same time. The countries mentioned contain most of the 50 highest mountains of the world.

Some of the countries you’ve visited seem very dangerous to me. Especially countries like Pakistan and Uganda. What’s the reality of travelling in these countries?

My mom always told me to take care when climbing. When I told her I was going to climb in Pakistan, she was only worried about the country, no longer about climbing. Why is that? How brainwashed are we by war propaganda to think that over 160 million people are all crazy and dangerous? After coming down from the climb, I was welcomed by two goat herders. They spoke no English and I do not speak Urdu. All they had was their goats and the bottom of milk tea and a small piece of bread. They invited me and shared their food and drinks equally with me, even though I protested. How many people in ‘safe’ countries would do this? What is your definition of safety if rich countries do not care about medical care and homeless people are ignored, passed by by people on shopping sprees?

There is also much difference between regions. Uganda was one of the best trips in my life, but I did stay away from the exact warzone, no need to be suicidal.

Basically, I am too stubborn to accept other person’s judgements at face value.

Tell us a little about the ‘Sight on Everest’ documentary. How did you get involved in the project? How emotional was it to follow the visually impaired climber, Thomas, in his journey? How did the experience affect your life?

He contacted me and asked if I would guide him, a visually impaired climber. After many discussions, we decided to go ahead and asked two additional filmmakers to make a documentary together, in order to raise funds for a Nepalese Eye hospital.

It did change my life in many ways. The story ended dramatically. A lot of lies were spread by people more interested in sensation than truth and others that wanted to cover up for their own (lack of) actions. I hate lies and injustice and this has hurt me not only financially (as an expedition organizer), but also emotionally. Maybe the good thing to come out of this is that I started ExposedPlanet soon after to balance out the lies.

Where is your photography going? What future photographic project or projects are you excited about?

I am now in Tanzania, and will be shooting in preparation for some new projects. But the main new thing will start in July: together with my girlfriend I will cycle from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska to Ushuaia, Argentina. We will focus on sustainability and the environment. If we can cycle 40.000km, maybe some others can leave their cars in their garage for a while…This will be a multi-year project and I have some photo ideas that might turn out interesting.

And finally - what’s it feel like to stand on top of Mount Everest after all the hard work, planning, plannng and waiting it takes to get there? How does it feel?

Scary. J You will/should realize that you are less than halfway, most accidents happen on the way down. But it also feels good, to reach a clear goal, not being held back by other people’s expectations and limits. With 6 billion people on earth, you do feel special to know that for a brief moment, you are the highest one…

Links:

Portfolio: www.ExposedPlanet.com

Prints & Posters at Imagekind:

Expeditions to the 7 summits, the highest peaks on every continent: http://7summits.com

For bicycle travelers: get your free blog and make the world a cleaner place: http://biketravellers.com (our trip will be posted via this portal site as well.)

http://SightOnEverest.com : the story about the dramatic 2006 Everest expedition. Photos, blog, backgrounders.

Harry can also be emailed through any of these sites using info or harry @ domainname.com, but it might take a while before he can answer.

Photo Gallery:

Travel photography by Harry Kikstra