Ewen Bell: Travel Photography Master | Get The Shot Ep. 7

Join us for a masterclass in global visual storytelling with Ewen Bell, a veteran Travel Photographer renowned for his work in the Arctic Landscape and beyond. Ewen shares his compelling shift in philosophy, arguing that all photography is ultimately an act of creative expression, not pure documentary. This episode offers invaluable insights into developing unique imagery, hosting transformative workshops, and the challenges of modern vlogging as a creator.

Watch the full episode here:

Photography as Expression vs. Documentary

Ewen Bell challenges the traditional notion of photography as a purely objective act, emphasising that every choice, from lens selection to framing, transforms the image into a personal statement of expression.

• Defining Photography: Ewen views photography as an act of personal expression, not an accurate or absolute documentary of the world [11:59].
• Aspiration over Reality: The concept of documentary is often more of an aspiration than a reality, as the photographer’s perception inherently shapes the outcome [12:31].
• Creator Choice: The selection of location, lens, and even which image to share makes the final product art, regardless of the desire to champion a documentary ideal [12:46].
• Creative Tools: Technical knowledge should be treated as a creative tool, much like spanners in a toolbox; you only need the ones that serve your creative destination [14:34].

Mastering the Arctic Landscape

Ewen shares his affinity for the cold and how he captures the striking beauty of the Arctic Landscape, revealing how the environment itself becomes a collaborative element in his Travel Photography.

• Hiding Imperfections: Ewen is drawn to snow because it simplifies the scene, draping an otherwise ordinary landscape and hiding unappealing elements [02:14].
• Light and Canvas: Snow acts as a white canvas that plays with light, becoming reflective and taking on the colour of the surrounding light, such as a subtle green cast from the Aurora Borealis [02:29].
• Aurora Colour Saturation: A strong Northern Lights display can saturate the Arctic Landscape to the extent that the snow itself appears green, requiring consideration during composition and editing [04:07].
• “Ice Cream Trees”: He seeks out specific dips in the landscape shielded from the wind, allowing snow to pile up on the trees and create visually stunning compositions [03:17].

The Workshop Model: Curation and Uniqueness

To keep his teaching fresh and exciting, Ewen Bell constantly changes the itinerary and approach of his two-week Workshops, focusing on small groups and the essential skill of visual curation.

• Avoiding Repetition: Ewen intentionally avoids running the same trip twice, believing that his own excitement is necessary to inspire his participants [07:13].
• The Group Dynamic: Keeping a group small enough ensures individual attention but large enough to facilitate organic, unexpected conversations that are as valuable as the structured presentations [09:05].
• Go Slow Travel: The foundation for successful Travel Photography is to travel slow, spending two or three nights in one place instead of rushing to see everything [22:05].
• Story vs. Theme: A common mistake for photographers is confusing a theme (e.g., “a book about doors”) with a story, which requires focus on transition and narrative [19:55].

Reducing Friction in Content Creation

The transition from a written blog to modern media like vlogging and YouTube presented significant technical and mental challenges, forcing Ewen to adapt his planning to reduce technical friction in his workflow.

• Video Complexity: Ewen acknowledges that video is significantly more work than photography, with multiple elements like good audio and lighting contributing to production friction [16:37].
• The Algorithm Shift: He began exploring vlogging and other media after observing that Google is now acting as an “answer machine,” causing traditional photography blogs to lose relevance [27:26].
• Vlogging Style: His current successful vlogging approach is to simply pretend he is having a conversation with someone who has asked a specific question, simplifying the process and reducing planning friction [28:21].
• YouTube’s Power: Despite the struggle for views, he values YouTube as the only platform that allows him to share 8 minutes of his photographs and the story behind them, providing a high-quality viewing experience [39:51].

“For me the draw is the culture, the draw is going somewhere that’s special and is outside your zone, but your photography is still you.”

– Ewen Bell

Ewen Bell’s journey from traditional Travel Photography to embracing vlogging and navigating the complexities of social media, all while championing the art of expression, provides a truly inspirational masterclass. His emphasis on slow travel, deliberate curation, and reducing creative friction offers actionable lessons for any photographer or videographer looking to elevate their craft. We extend our sincere thanks to Ewen for sharing his valuable experience and philosophy on Get The Shot.