Paweł Uchorczak

"My adventure with photography began in 2007, when my grandfather bought me a compact camera to take pictures of fish we caught together," says Polish landscape photographer Paweł Uchorczak. When the fish refused to bite, Paweł turned his attention and newly acquired camera towards a different subject: "I was fascinated by the whole environment during those fishing trips," he recalls. "The meadows and fields were the places where I first learned the art of landscape photography."

Paweł received his first DSLR – a Canon EOS 350D – as a gift a year later, and this is when he started to take his hobby more seriously. After a few years learning his craft as a hobbyist, Paweł entered a photo into the Panoramic category of the 2013 Sony World Photography Awards – and won. The prize was a two-year scholarship to the ROE Art School in Wrocław to study photography. "After graduating in 2015, I decided to start my own photography business," he says. "I gave myself a chance to try my hand at professional photography; after eight years, it's clear that I made the right decision."

In addition to hunting for beautiful landscapes, Paweł is always on the lookout for dramatic weather. "My work is characterised by unusual weather conditions," he says. "Storms and lightning are exciting, and I love big, foreboding dark clouds and beautiful, vibrant rainbows." On dark, clear nights, he also likes to experiment with astrophotography, and in 2015, Paweł was lucky enough to capture the aurora borealis outside his home in Opole, Poland.

He is often commissioned by tourist boards to shoot mountains, forests and skies in remote places around the globe, and also shoots weddings for couples who want natural landscapes to feature heavily in their shots.

When Paweł isn't on commission, he runs landscape photography workshops for small groups of enthusiastic students. "I love spending time in great company and in beautiful places," he says. "It's a privilege to be able to share my knowledge with people and watch their passion for landscape photography develop." In addition to teaching camera skills and techniques, Paweł also makes a point of immersing his students in local culture, which he believes adds authenticity to their work. He plans to devote the rest of his career to chasing dramatic landscapes and weather conditions – and bringing students along for the journey.

What challenges are unique to landscape photography?

"A landscape photographer must be flexible and prepared for new journeys and challenges. I know that appropriate preparation for such trips is the key to success, so I prepare interesting places to photograph and arrange complex logistics in advance so that I can devote my time to getting the shot when I'm in the field."

What are your favourite scenes to shoot?

"I enjoy shooting wide-angle seascapes, using ND filters to extend the exposure time. I also like to play with perspective using a telephoto lens such as my Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM, particularly where there are rolling hills such as in Tuscany, Italy or in the Czech Republic. More generally, I am passionate about good light. I love the golden hour – that fleeting moment that changes the landscape around me for a short time."

What does the creative process look like for you?

"I plan my trips meticulously, but I still do a recce (reconnaissance) on arrival. I always take a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV with a Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM lens, and a Canon EOS R6 with a Canon RF 70-200mm F4L IS USM lens. This combination means I am prepared for all situations and that I don't waste time changing lenses. Sharp images are essential in landscape photography, so I use a tripod and carefully select my aperture."

How much time do you spend editing your images?

"I hunt for the right light rather than trying to add it in later, which means the better the weather, the better the shot. After post-processing, I like to print my work. Physical copies bring my work to life in a way that digital photos can't match."

"Light is the essence of landscape photography. Learning how to understand light was a breakthrough for me, and I now plan all my shoots around the light conditions. A great way to learn is to look at the work of other good photographers – once you know a little bit about light, it's easy to tell the time of day each photo was taken and the effect that has had on the final image."

Instagram:@paweluchorczak

Website:szkolakrajobrazu.pl