Natural explorations
- PhotoED Magazine
- 1 day ago
- 7 min read
An interview with NIKON Creator Juan D. Rojas
Juan D. Rojas is a Toronto-based photographer and an official Nikon Creator. We spoke to Juan about his work and his adventures.
photoED: How did you get started with outdoor photography?
Juan:
Photography has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. When I was growing up, my father would let me borrow his Nikon camera, which I would take on school trips and down to the park to take photos of everything and anything I found interesting. It was around 2017 that I picked up my very own first camera, the Nikon D5300, and I decided to dive deeper into understanding more advanced settings and compositions. I surrounded myself with people in the industry, many of whom I call friends now. We would go into the city to catch the sunrise and stay up until sunset taking photos.
In 2020 I began exploring my local parks and conservation areas on daily walks. I enjoyed the experience so much I knew that this was my photography passion. My appreciation for the quiet stillness of nature grew. Photography trips have taken me to parks across Canada from Quebec City to Banff, and around the world to various sites in South America and Asia.
photoED: What’s involved in working as a Nikon Creator? How has this helped you develop your craft?
Juan:
As a Nikon Creator, I have the opportunity to showcase Nikon’s products to the photo/video community, including the newest lenses and camera capabilities, while maintaining full creative control over my work. I participate in the community online and in-person through workshops where I share my creative process, insights, and experiences with the hope of inspiring others to explore their own creativity.
I get to meet and connect with many other local photographers and showcase my creative approach and workflow in real time. Events such as these help me develop my craft and grow as an artist. Not only do I get to teach and mentor others about photography techniques, but I myself also get inspired by the creativity of the community.
photoED: What do you love most about sharing stories through photography?
Juan:
Images offer a universal language. What I love the most is that I get to showcase how I see the world from my own unique lens and point of view while I process my own thoughts and emotions. Seeing excitement and curiosity from others makes me realize that there are many stories still to be told.
photoED: Whose work has influenced yours? Who do you follow? How do you keep learning?
Juan:
As a photographer, I make it a point to never stop learning, adapting, and finding creative ways to share new stories. Over the years there have been photographers from many different fields that have inspired my work, not only by helping me see things from a different point of view in new compositions, lighting, and gear, but also by shaping how I approach storytelling.
I came across Nigel Danson on YouTube. He covers landscape and outdoor photography with such a unique perspective that I always draw inspiration from him. He has taught me to begin looking into my local landscapes before stepping farther afield.
Simon Baxter is another incredible photographer whose work and philosophy has shaped how I look at my work. He covers a niche subcategory of landscape photography known as woodland photography, and he has taught me to look at things from a different point of view.
Others to mention would be Morten Hilmer and Mark Denney whose work I follow very closely.
photoED: What makes a good photograph?
Juan:
A great image can tell a story in a single frame. I believe what makes a good photograph is the emotion that the photo is able to convey to the viewer. Sometimes photos require context to be appreciated; but, every now and then, images can instantly evoke a reaction and can speak louder than words.
photoED: How has working in photography influenced you personally?
Juan:
Photography has given me an opportunity to tell my own story and share the stories of those around me. I have gained a greater insight into creating human connections in our fast-moving world and a stronger focus on living in the moment and being present. It teaches me to have patience, to slow down, and to be observant.
The photography community has also had a huge impact in diversifying my views and on my learning about different cultures and experiences, which I’m very passionate about. I’m naturally a curious person and I constantly seek answers to my never-ending questions. Photography allows me to keep learning, exploring, and being open to people.
photoED: What has been your favourite or most personally impactful photography adventure?
Juan:
One of my most favourite personal adventures to date was a solo trip to Banff to explore the Canadian Rockies. It was originally scheduled to be with a few other photographers but due to challenges in planning and scheduling the trip didn’t work out with the group. So I made the decision to go ahead and travel on my own. I was there for a month and the experience ended up being incredibly fulfilling. Travelling alone gave me lots of time for personal reflection and creative growth. The days were filled with morning sunrise missions, afternoon hikes, and nighttime astro-photography skies. This trip gave me more technical confidence in photography, while challenging me to step out of my comfort zone to be more intentional with my creative process.
photoED: Tell us about your hardest or most challenging day as an outdoor photographer. What keeps you going on a hard day?
Juan:
Unexpected weather conditions and patterns can always affect outdoor photographers. You can always plan ahead, packing the correct gear, arriving on time, and scouting the location, but nature will always have the final say.
I once drove four hours to Killarney Provincial Park to photograph the Milky Way. Conditions were looking great, the sky was clear, the temperature was comfortable, and I had planned to stay up all night photographing the stars. As night got closer, conditions took a turn, the temperature dropped, and clouds began to set in to the point where there was no visibility in the sky. I ended up sleeping in the car. This was not comfortable at all but I wanted to make the best out of the long drive. The next morning I put on my hiking shoes and trekked around the park. The day turned out to be amazing, and the views on the hike were incredible.
Many trips that have had similar outcomes always teach me some great lessons. Learning to adapt, staying patient, and accepting the unpredictable will take you to meaningful adventures and might even lead you to even more incredible images.
photoED: Where do you hope photography will take you in the future? Do you have a dream project or client?
Juan:
I hope photography continues to open many doors to travel experiences and storytelling opportunities. I’d love to collaborate with more brands and clients who trust my creative vision and are open to experimentation through working on projects that push boundaries. Seeing my photos printed on a large scale would also be a dream!
photoED: What advice do you have for photographers just getting started?
Juan:
Don't get fixated on what gear to use. The best camera will always be the one you have with you.
It’s easy to get caught up in equipment, but the most important aspect of photography is being able to understand compositions, framing, lighting, and telling a story simply by learning how to see.
Also, don’t be afraid to photograph everything and anything you find interesting. This will push your creativity and allow you to be ready when great opportunities arise. When I began in this field, I photographed everything from cars, to streets, to portraits, to products, to events. This practice forced me to quickly adapt and get comfortable with the gear I was using. Each of these subjects require different settings, so the experience helps photographers to understand the functions on the camera.
Being curious and open to continuous learning is essential to developing your craft.
GEAR UP
What camera and equipment do you most use now? What’s your favourite lens? Tell us about your experience using NIKON products.
Juan:
My go-to cameras are the Nikon Z 8 and the Z5II. Although I have primarily worked with still images, I am beginning to explore video with Nikon’s new lineup of hybrid cameras.
In terms of lenses, my workhorse is the Z 24–70mm f2.8, which allows me to cover many situations without going too wide or being too zoomed in. For landscape and travel photography, I’ll always have the Z 14–30mm f4 handy because it can capture a wide-angle perspective, which is ideal. I also use this lens for astro-photography to capture the nighttime scenes, as it’s super sharp, portable, and lightweight for longer hikes.
I also carry a Z 70–200mm f2.8 for when I need that extra reach or want to focus or isolate subjects. These three lenses cover 99 percent of the work I do. I have found them to be a perfect balance of quality, performance, and portability. I have nothing but positive reviews about this gear. This is my optimal workflow when heading out on an adventure. Nikon’s products have given me freedom and confidence to focus entirely on the subject, which at the end of the day is what matters the most.
To see more of Juan's work, find him on Instagram: @juanrojaspaez
