What inspires your photography?
Nature. It’s as simple as that. I can't get enough of it! When I immerse myself fully in nature I truly feel a part of it and I become the observer who tries to capture the natural beauty of that language through my camera. My camera becomes my sketchbook, as I start to explore and observe the world around me in detail. Living very close to the Peak District, nature is a huge part of my everyday life. It grounds me in the present moment and shows me a deeper perspective so that I am constantly inspired by my surroundings, be that animals, landscapes or a spontaneous moment unfolding in front of my eyes.
How did you get started as a professional photographer?
Photography is something I have always done since I got my hands on my first film camera from my grandmother.
From a young age the camera became my companion and a medium for me to express myself creatively.
For some years I worked as a graphic designer in Berlin for a wall art company. That's when it really developed. I started to share my own pictures that I had been collecting through my love of travel and nature.
What makes a good photograph?
This is the question! Of course there are the obvious technical things like light, composition etc. However, for me personally it would have to be capturing a spontaneous iconic moment. Being in that moment, at the right time, when all the elements fall into play, such as composition,timing and subject, that moment when it all dances in front of your lens and you manage to capture it in that split second, - There is no greater feeling than that! Knowing that it will never be seen again in that exact sequence. For me, that's the thrill of photography and keeps me coming back to picking up my camera.
What work do you most enjoy doing?
I can easily say it's being outdoors and photographing wild animals in their natural habitat. There is nothing quite like capturing a wild animal on camera, especially when you can see them observing you too. There is something unspokenly wild about it. Those kinds of moments give me a buzz, sometimes, you end up capturing the most beautiful moment on camera and other times its a moment for the memory bank. But it's a moment - one that you will never forget. Something ordinary captured in an extraordinary way reminds me how special and beautiful nature is again.That's when playing with my camera truly doesn't feel like a job. It feels like a means to explore and play.
Can you tell us the story behind your own favourite photograph?
My favourite shot would have to be ‘Pink Beach Sunset’. I took this shot on my birthday when visiting Goa in India. All I wanted for my birthday was to enjoy a beautiful sunset on the Beach with my dear friend I was travelling with. And the universe delivered! That's exactly what I got, the perfect sunset better than anything I could have imagined. The bonus is I managed to capture that special moment and now I get to share it with the world. It's an image that I keep above my desk and I will never get bored of it as it brings me a lot of peace. It will be an image I will forever hang on my wall.
Your photos of animals, and in particular the horses in the collection, have an intimate quality to them. Does it take a long time to gain the trust of an animal to be able to capture that emotion?
It definitely helps to read an animal's behaviour for sure. Not only for safety reasons, which is key, but so that the animal is at ease too. The last thing I would want is for them to feel any kind of distress. My number one goal is to always respect the animal that I am photographing, plus the more relaxed and safe they feel then more unique shots can be captured. However I have to gain their respect and trust by showing them that I am not a threat. If you know their body language and behaviour it also makes it easier to capture the shots you want and plan ahead for the exact environment that needs to be created. It takes time and patience to create that, for example, I initially went to see the horses I photograph regularly every day at the same time so that they got used to my pattern of behaviour and so gradually became comfortable with me too.
Your photography collection includes some fantastic landscapes from sunny beaches fringed with palm trees to snowy mountain peaks – where are you happiest?
This is a tough one. As I just love to travel. However, if I had to choose, I would actually say the woods. I am not a person who is good with extreme cold and heat conditions. I live on the doorstep of the peak district where I spend a lot of time outdoors. I love to be amongst the trees and hear the birds sing and the river rush by. For me that will always be a place I return too and cherish. My new collection this year will be featuring some of these kinds of snaps I’ve taken along the way.
What does 2021 hold for you?
For me this year will be a year of new adventures, sharing and personal growth. As well as more time in the wild of course! My new exciting personal collection launches in July. In this I will share images close to my heart and it will illustrate my bohemian side more. So keep your eyes peeled on my instagram (@victoria__frost) and at my athena page. https://athenaart.com/collections/victoria-frost