Thank you for joining us in our 19th edition of PT Explorers! Roie, it is a pleasure to have you here. Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
Thank you for having me, it’s an honour to be featured here alongside such inspiring photography colleagues. My photography is focused mainly around wildlife and nature, as I’m fascinated by animal behaviour, especially in extreme conditions. As I was traveling more and more I started to realize how rapidly our world is changing and that became really an alarming wake-up call for me. So I was humbled to become a global Greenpeace Ambassador and a lot of my projects are also environmentally oriented.
You truly have a spectacular set of photographs. Tell us, how did your photography journey begin?
Thank you so much. My photography started when I was 22 years old; that’s when I got my first camera. I became obsessed with photography as I’m sure many are in our field. I started reading endlessly (YouTube didn’t exist back then) and exploring, experimenting and simply having fun. As time went by, I started doing some commercial work and didn’t quite enjoy it as it wasn’t in my passion; I wanted to go outside and experience adrenalin rush adventures. So I felt like I needed to get out of photography and went into finance and insurance, although I really didn’t like doing that; it was a step back that I had to do in order to regain my passion and find my own path in the world. Since office work was boring for me, I found myself going out to photograph wildlife (mostly birds) at 4am, arriving at the office and changing to a suit at 9am and between meetings I’d edit photos. I knew I loved photography, I could talk about it for hours and I’d liked to do a career out of it, so in 2007 I founded a photography school and felt I found my destination. So far over 24,000 graduates have learned photography in it, and I was super thrilled that so many individuals found passion in photography like I have. Later on, I opened a photography magazine and a photo-travel company (800 travellers annually) and other projects as well. So you could say photography is really a big part of my life. My own photography was mostly about passion, until 2012 when I started to do more with it professionally. Writing articles for magazines, TV projects and of course a lot of public speaking became some of my favourite things.
Would you care to enlighten us a bit more on your role as a Greenpeace Ambassador? It sounds like a very interesting role.
Well, I think everything meaningful to help our planet is very interesting. Greenpeace is one of the most important and influencing environmental organizations in the world. There are many super talented and passionate people there and it’s contagious. As an ambassador, my role is to help spread the word and bring images and stories from around the world. I participate in campaigns, like this one for the Antarctic Ocean Sanctuary or this Greenpeace Series. I take photos of climate change and also take banners that call for action. Many times, I go on TV or radio as an ambassador to explain in an approachable way the changes that are happening.
What is a typical day out in the wild like for you?
It depends on where in the world I am, but to generalize things, I try to be out there in the best light possible, so many times I’ll be out in sunrise or sunset for the most amazing light and behaviour. I try to be out there as much as I can, because many of the times action happens when you’re not prepared. Another thing people don’t think about is that the photographer needs to feel comfortable in his environment, otherwise his focus won’t be in the right place (literally).
Do you have any advice or photography tips that you can give to our readers who would like to venture into the wildlife photography area?
I think the most important things that a wildlife photographer needs to do is, be out there. I mean, seriously, the more time you spend in the field the better your images will be and the faster you’ll develop as a photographer. One of the most frequently asked questions in the field is “Can you make a living out of it”? Well, the answer is yes, but hardly. There are very few wildlife photographers in the world that can say they are making a living out of wildlife photography itself and mostly it’s around related products like workshops, teaching, public speaking, and so on. So, my advice is not to jump overboard into wildlife photography as a career but start slowly and work on your portfolio while not depending on it before you know what you’re doing.
It seems like you’ve done your fair share of traveling. Do you have any meaningful or special moments that you’d like to share from your expeditions?
There are so many moments, it’s hard to choose from. One of the most intense moments in my life was when I was in front of this mother polar bear and was patiently waiting for her to hunt a seal. The chances were pretty much 0%, but we still waited and hoped for the best. I’ll never forget those seconds when she caught the seal; time had really slowed down and every click had a meaning.
Of the countless photographs you have taken, do you have an all-time favourite?
I don’t have one favourite, but I have a lot of images I treasure. Some I like because of the aesthetics, some because of the message in them; some I like because of personal experience while taking them. Here are a few my favourite ones.
Name a few challenges you face in the wildlife photography field.
I guess the main challenges wildlife photographer face is the same, and that is actually financing those expensive expeditions. I manage to do that thanks to the people I’m guiding in photography workshops all over the world. Other challenges are more small-scaled and are about gaining access to those special wildlife areas we wish to do projects on.
Was there ever a time where you felt like you were in danger in your travels? Do you mind giving some more information for those who are in such scenarios?
I don’t really consider myself to ever be in real life-threatening danger, because beyond my own attention I’m also working with the best local specialists in the world. They make sure we never pass the line when it comes to safety. That being said, it’s still not your ordinary 9 to 5 office job.
If you could change one thing about the mind set of society in terms of photography, what would it be?
I think that one thing would be that people think it’s so easy to take an awesome photo. I’ve heard people say “So what, you got there and pressed the click and there you have it.” Or people say “Great photos, I bet you have a wonderful camera”. I’d like for some more respect to photographers and the art they represent.
What would you consider are some of your principles, and how do you bring them into your work?
There are several key principles that I’m trying to get into my work:
a. Wildlife photography is very technical, so I try to get the most “technically perfect” shots I can get.
b. Aesthetics – photography is a lot about composition and light. Hence I always have that in mind in terms of my angles towards the animals and their environment.
c. Story – I wish to bring a story with every image. Thus, I’m looking for interesting behaviors and backgrounds.
d. Humanization – one of the things I’m trying to do is to show that the animals as they are not so different from us – humans. That way, I think if people would feel related and empathetic, they will care more and want to protect them further.
How would you like to see your work make an impact on over the next five years?
Recently I gave a talk in the NYC Climate Week for the Monaco Better World Forum, alongside politicians, scientists, environmentalists and philanthropists.
I see the power photography has over people’s minds, hearts and actions and would like to raise the bar and do more with that. I feel photography combined with the stories, can make a true impact.
Speaking of the future, what are your thoughts on social media and photography?
I love the way that our social media has transformed our communication into photography– it’s our prime medium today. Anyone can reach everyone and share his or her point of view. Everyone is a photographer and the best photographers are limitless. That’s amazing!
Is there any specific type of equipment that you are partial to in your photography expeditions? If so, why?
I’m a Nikon pro partner so I’m supported by Nikon Europe and appreciate that support tremendously. I love testing their gear and pushing it to its limits in extreme environments with various types of photography.
I love the Nikon D850 and the Nikon 180-400 F/4 1.4TC and the new Nikon 500mm F/5.6PF which is so light and brilliant.
If you were able to change one thing about the world, what would it be and why?
That’s an easy one, I’d make everyone see where we are heading to in the environment and make them take the necessary changes.
How do you think we as a wildlife photography community can work closer towards wildlife conservation?
Every one of us is an ambassador of the world, and it’s up to us to share those images and stories. We are all in this together, and the more we share the more people will listen.
Please, I urge everyone to join this important cause. Share, educate and influence a change.
Finally, are there any individuals within your field whom you admire for their work, or any you would love to work with?
Of course, and the list is so long. I’m sure I’ve left out many that I admire, but in that list there’s Paul Nicklen, David Doubilet, Daisy Gilardini, Amos Nachoum, Marsel Van Oosten, Will Burrard Lucas, Ami Vitale, Suzi Eszterhas, Bertie Gregory, Cristina Mittermeier, Andy Parkinson, Andy Mann, Jamie McPherson and many others.
