Travel photography creates a deep sense of grounding myself to the nature because when I experience sunrises with no people around at majestic places if feel like a small piece of this universe. As well travel photography is pushing me out of my comfort zone on a regular basis to see and experience places near or far away.
Retro Kolkata : First of all, thank you for accepting our invitation for an interview. Please say something about you. What first attracted you to photography? When did you start shooting and how did this love for photography happen?
Luca : Hello! my name is Luca Renner and I'm Travel photographer from Munich in Germany. I’m attracted to photography because I want to show the most beautiful places on earth to large community and raise awareness about the beauty of our nature around us. My photography journey started at the beginning of 2019 and because of some Travel Photographers like Jord Hammond , Emmett Sparling, George Steinmetz and many others I thought about working full time are the travel photographer.
Retro Kolkata : How important is photography for you? Would you have imagined a few years ago that this passion would have played such an important role in your life today?
Luca : For me, actually photography is a very very important part in my life and it’s well about my passion for traveling the world. Through my photography, many people can experience my experience, other cultures all around the world and most importantly for me may beautiful landscapes all around the world.
Before 2019 I never had imagined that photography is such a huge passion for me and that it will be are really big part of my life.
Retro Kolkata : Who and what inspires you to keep creating and exploring?
Luca : I am always inspired by other travel photographers, who show landscapes beside the known places like Iceland, Bali, Italy etc. I want to show many different places like China who are less known in the western photography hemisphere.
I am as well always inspired by other cultures, other landscapes, other food and many things traveling to distant places is brings to me.
Retro Kolkata : It seems like you have a deep connection to nature and that this has sparked your love for photography. How important do you believe it is for a photographer to love the outdoors, not just the results?
Luca : I think for nature photographers it's a very important part for creating a deep intrinsic love for showing the nature through their emotions to the viewer.
In other parts of photography, I think a special love for nature isn’t really needed.
Retro Kolkata : What makes travel photography so special for you?
Luca : Travel photography creates a deep sense of grounding myself to the nature because when I experience sunrises with no people around at majestic places if feel like a small piece of this universe. As well travel photography is pushing me out of my comfort zone on a regular basis to see and experience places near or far away.
Retro Kolkata : In terms of camera equipment, what are you currently using and what do you hope to add to your camera bag at some point in the future?
Luca : Currently camera setup is a Sony Alpha 7iii, three lenses which consists of a 14-24 Sigma Art, a 24-70 Sony GM and a 100-400 Sony GM. As well I have a Sony 1.4 converter and some polarizers. My drone equipment consists of a DJI Mavic Pro 3 and 2 with some Polarpro filters. I hope I can switch my main body for a Sony Alpha R iv.
Retro Kolkata : Do you pre-visualise and plan your shoots down to the smallest detail, or do you prefer to create images spontaneously?
Luca : I mostly plan my shoots with location scouting before and planning the sunset, sunrise with the PhotoPills app. With this app you know exactly when the sun is a which place during every minute.
Retro Kolkata : Have there been times that you’ve had to revisit your favourite places many times to achieve the required result? Can you tell us more about your method of working?
Luca : I have been travelled to many important places in the dolomites, Iceland, Indonesia again to create better images of already photographed places.
If I am not happy with the images, I had in mind before the trip to this place I try to get back as soon as possible. But learning from a few mistakes in the past I normally stay now 3-4 days a place’s where I would need only one good sunrises for the case that the weather, the surroundings etc won’t really fit my imaginations. But as well I try to don’t perfectionist every shooting and go a little more with the flow in the future because the method before was kind of stressing too much.
Retro Kolkata : In your opinion, what makes a great image stand out from the good ones?
Luca : A very good image stands out because the viewer will immediately will get this “awe“ feeling of how beautiful is this image and how in the world anyone could create this amazing piece of art.
Retro Kolkata : What is your dream assignment?
Luca : A dream assignment for me would be a few months long National Geographic assignment about a relatively unknown place.
Retro Kolkata : Apart from photography, do you have interest in other creative activities?
Luca : I’m as well interested in cooking amazing dishes.
Retro Kolkata : Do you have any pieces of advice for young photographers interested in photography but who want to earn a living?
Luca : Explore the nature around you, try to get better of creating similar images like your favourite photographers and don’t expect anything to happen overnight. Real progress and success will need a few years.
Retro Kolkata : We (Retro Kolkata) are trying to build one single stage for all the artists, because we believe that artists are the most beautiful creation of God and geographical boundaries can never break their unity and harmony. Please say something about our initiative and any special message for your followers.
Luca : Thank you very much for having me Retro Kolkata Magazine and I am very happy about the opportunity by you of showing my way and my photos to many amazing readers of your magazine. Thank you for reading my story and I wish you all the best and stay safe!
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