As you may have noticed, April is Flowers, Trees & Plants month at
AnimalsPlantsNature! We have already sat down and
learned about the fabulous
John-Peter, and this week we've had the pleasure of speaking with
HeikoGerlicher, whose love for nature and the medium of photography shines through his colorful and atmospheric work.
Thank you for allowing us to interview you, Heiko! Tell us about yourself, and how you first became interested in nature photography.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity for this interview!
I'm now 47 years old and living with my wife in a small village near Coburg, Upper Franconia in Germany. Professionally I am in field service for a steel distribution. My hobby and passion is photography, especially landscape and nature photography.
Nature is the place I love to be since I'm walking on mother earth. Outside in the woods and landscapes I can best retreat from all my business. Taking pictures there gives me the chance to experience irretrievable special moods and moments. And that started when my wife gave me my first DSLR at Christmas 2009.
Your gallery is full of stunningly beautiful landscapes and forest photography. What is your favorite thing about trees?
Thank you so much! I've been deeply in love with trees since my early childhood. I like their strength, their aesthetics, their bizarre appearance as well as the calm and security that they can give us. And the very old trees are really storytellers. Just visit one and listen and you will know what I mean.
"Nature is the place I love to be since I'm walking on mother earth."
Do you have a neat story behind any of the pieces in your gallery?
Oh yes, a neat but also a bit scary story. This happened in a picturesque beech forest called Hofbauernholz in the Franconian Switzerland. There is a cave with the name Jungfernhöhle (Maids cave), a Neolithic archaeological site. Digs here brought to light use of the cave by four cultures in the New Stone Age and by almost all subsequent ones. The name Jungfernhöhle refers to the human remains found here, which were overwhelmingly female. There is also a legend that three Maids lived in the cave and were murdered (beheaded) by an unknown person. Their ghosts shall still be near the cave in search of the murderer. As I took the image "Wald #60" I heard footsteps behind me. However, when I turned around I could not see anyone for miles around. These step noises followed me for some time. Was it the ghost of the Maidens?
Who knows ...
Nevertheless, for me the forests are a peaceful place where I really have no fear.
What kind of gear do you take with you into the field, and what sort of post-processing do you favor?
My eyes, my intuition and inspiration, my camera (Nikon D800E) with the lenses f4.0/24-120 and f2.8/70-200 mm, a tripod, a cable remote release and some filters. The post-processing I do for the most part with Lightroom and for some enhancements with Photoshop.
What are your favorite times of day to shoot? Have you ever had a difficult time getting the type of shot you wanted?
I prefer the early hours of the morning. There is hardly a more atmospheric time in the day. Also I like to go outside in the evening, when the light is golden and colorful.
Yes, sometimes it is not easy to get the type of picture I want because the light is boring or too harsh. Therefore I check regularly the weather forecast to get the best conditions on the spot. When fog is announced, I get nervous and can't wait to go outside ...
What sort of advice would you give aspiring nature photographers?
Take all the time you need to develop your own photographic style. Inspire yourself from great photographers you like but don't copy them one by one. Be creative, open-minded and have fun!
