‍ConsiderBeyond: Your early travel experiences have been noted for shaping your unique perspective and photographic style. Could you elaborate on how these journeys influenced your artistic development?

Lisa: As a creative in any field, it’s natural to be shaped by your professional and personal experiences over time. I’ve never formally studied photography, so I’ve learned various techniques and approaches while working as a photographer and through travel and experimentation.

One of my first jobs was photographing in Morocco for Lonely Planet back in 2007. When I look back on those images, they’re very different from what I focus on now, but they do have subtle similarities that reflect my curious and observant personality. Visually, my work has transitioned from being very bold and contrasted in tone to more pastel and light as I’ve developed more editing skills and gained a greater appreciation for the earthy, natural tones found across various environments.

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ConsiderBeyond:  As a photographer, your lens often captures moments that reveal the unseen and highlight the essence of beauty in our world. How do you believe your role as a photographer has enabled you to appreciate and showcase this beauty in ways that might otherwise go unnoticed?

Lisa: Slowing down and taking the time to observe my surroundings before capturing an image has allowed me to discover hidden moments and features within a scene. Patience is a crucial lesson in landscape photography; it's rare to arrive and find a scene immediately picture-perfect. More often than not, you’re rewarded by waiting, observing the scene, and watching how the light interacts with the elements before lifting your camera to capture the moment.

I find great joy in spending time in one place, looking around, and exploring how I can photograph a scene using the natural features of a location. In a world where it's common for people to rush around, ticking places off a list, and quickly moving on, I love that photography encourages me to slow down and appreciate the smaller, sometimes less obvious, beauty within an environment.

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ConsiderBeyond: Landscape photography often presents challenges. Could you share a specific experience where you encountered obstacles and detail how you navigated through them to capture your vision?

Lisa: Looking back now, this is a funny story, though at the time, I was in so much pain that I didn’t know what to do. I was in Greenland in the middle of winter, with the temperature at -21 degrees Celsius, and I needed to capture some aerial shots on the shores of a frozen fjord. As an Australian, the extreme cold always feels like such an exciting experience, and I absolutely love photographing in winter conditions. However, I never considered that once my drone was in the air, I would need to take my fingers out of my gloves to operate the controller (I’ve since upgraded, so this is no longer an issue!).

The drone was in the air for only about two minutes before I noticed my fingers starting to hurt. By the time I began the command to get the drone back safely, they’d seized up and were so painful that I couldn’t even remove them from the controller. Luckily, the drone landed safely on its own, and I picked it up between my elbows before running to my partner, who helped me slowly warm up my hands and remove them from the controller. I have no idea why it was so painful in that moment, as I’d been photographing without my gloves on and off the days prior. But it was a valuable lesson to always respect the conditions and be prepared when working in extreme cold weather!

ConsiderBeyond: What inspired you to launch travel photography courses, and how do you empower participants to refine their skills and discover their unique photographic voice?

Lisa: I’ve been hosting photography tours since 2016, and the online travel photography courses began in 2020 when I couldn't offer in-person tours due to COVID. Compiling my knowledge into workbooks and creating an online course structure was an incredibly fun and in-depth process. It’s been wonderful to see the response, watch photographers gain confidence and new skills, and witness the growth of the course community since its inception.

Seeing photographers explore their talents, diversify their income streams, build careers, and seek new opportunities after completing the courses has been incredibly rewarding. The course offerings have now expanded to cover freelance travel photography, selling prints, SEO, and website design for photographers. Additionally, there are numerous resources and a new mentoring program available. The community and participating photographers are now the driving force behind the program's progression, and I’m excited to soon launch a new membership for photographers to connect and create from all corners of the world.

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ConsiderBeyond: Among the myriad destinations you've photographed, is there one that holds a special significance for you? Could you share why this place resonates with you personally or professionally?

Lisa: Greenland is my special place. Well, actually, I have two—Greenland and Japan. In 2019, I embarked on a four-month trip to document regions of environmental significance, from the world’s driest non-polar desert to the hottest place on earth, and finally to the fastest-moving glacier, which in 2019 was Sermeq Kujalleq in Greenland. This trip came together at the last minute, but the moment I saw the Greenland ice sheet, I was mesmerized by the landscape.

I spent two weeks photographing the icebergs, hiking coastal trails solo, sleeping beside a glacier, and listening to the rumble of ice calving into the fjord. It felt like the first place I’d visited where I could completely stop, breathe, and soak in all the natural beauty around me without another soul in sight. Every time I think back on that trip, I smile. It was truly life-changing, and I’m actually heading back again in a few weeks. I’m beyond excited to experience it all again!

ConsiderBeyond: Could you share an experience where your photography had a tangible impact on a community or environmental cause?

Lisa: While photographing in South Africa, I captured a series of images documenting the notching marks on rhinos, which are crucial for identifying each rhino based on a specific pattern linked to a numbering system. The team involved in rhino conservation and protection against poachers was able to use these images in their database to create a library that can be shared with guides, guards, and volunteers. On a related note, if you’re photographing rhinos in South Africa and capture a great image, it’s best to avoid sharing it on social media or tagging the location, as poachers can be alerted to their whereabouts this way.

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ConsiderBeyond: How do you choose which moments to capture and which to simply experience without the lens? How do you find a balance between being a participant and an observer?

Lisa: Early in my career, I tried to capture everything out of fear of missing something. Now, I genuinely appreciate the moments I photograph, but I equally value those I experience without the lens. It’s important to strike a balance between seeing the world through the viewfinder and simply observing it without the pressure of capturing an image.

That said, if I’m watching and enjoying a moment and something incredible happens or the sky erupts in color, I’ll reach for my camera 9 out of 10 times—it’s such a habit! I tend to relax without my camera when I’m home, in familiar environments, or in touristy places with many people. However, if I’m in a remote location where the landscapes are beautiful and the conditions are rugged or uniquely special, I’ll always have my camera ready.

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ConsiderBeyond: How do you see the future of travel photography evolving, particularly in the context of global challenges such as climate change and cultural preservation?

Lisa: I believe travel photography is shifting towards a focus on storytelling, moving beyond quick snapshots or Instagram-worthy images. We’re seeing a return to documentary-style work that delves into cultures, landscapes, and significant natural phenomena.

With social media enabling the rapid sharing of visuals and videos, many photographers I’ve spoken with are feeling the need to slow down and explore the deeper purpose behind their work. There's a growing emphasis on creating meaningful content that goes beyond merely ticking off locations and subjects from a checklist. Especially with the advancements in AI, it’s crucial to produce work that reflects a unique creative vision, fosters human connection, and is rooted in authentic experiences. Our goal should be to showcase the world as we truly know and see it, offering a deeper and more personal perspective.

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Discount code for Lisa's photography courses and creative resources are now available for ConsiderBeyomd community: CB15

‍www.travelphotographycourses.com