by Yvette Depaepe 
Published the 18th of June 2021

Clara Gamito  joined 1x two years later than her husband Juan Pablo de Miguel.  Sharing her life and passion with an extraordinary photographer is a privilege and great encouragement to her.  Using photography as a motivation to travel and travelling as a motivation to photograph, Clara fully enjoys her two main passions in perfect harmony. Let's take a journey together to Clara's favourite locations and learn more about her through this interview.

'Mystic dark Bromo'

Briefly tell us about yourself, your hobbies and other jobs, dear Clara.
I was born and grew up in a small town Alentejo along the coast from Portugal.
Professionally, I have a master degree in Chemical Engineer and I’ve been working in the petrochemical industry in Portugal and Spain.
Currently I live in Madrid, with my husband and my daughter. My husband is a professional photographer and we share the passion for photography and travelling.
Photography occupies almost all my free time, but I also dedicate some time to gardening and follow meteorological, geological and astronomical events.

How has your history and life experiences affected your photography?
I have always had a camera in my life, there was always a camera in my house. My parents instil in me the importance of register the important moments and I had my own point and shoot camera when I was about 12. My mother used to scold me when I return from a school trip and almost all my photos were landscapes and not portraits of me and my friends. To capture landscapes and the beauty of the places I visited has always been my natural photographic instinct.

I got my first digital camera for my 21st birthday, the best birthday present ever, an amazing Sony DSC-P71. It was my camera for about 8 years and I took it everywhere, without any artistic ambition, I only wanted to register the moments and save memories, as I’ve always seen in my house.

During those years I was quite busy studying my degree and starting a career as engineer, but in 2009 my life took a great change, when I accepted a job in Madrid. Suddenly I was in a different country, with a different culture, I had a new job, in a different language and I had no friends nearby. This change gave me the opportunity to explore new and old hobbies, and the most important of them was photography.  In 2010 I bought my first reflex to replace the old point and shoot and enrolled in a photography course that indeed changed my life.  It was the awakening of a great passion.  I start taking photography more seriously as a mean of expression and relaxation, and promptly it became my main hobby, occupying all my free time.

Some years later and thanks to photography I met my husband, Juan Pablo de Miguel  during a photographic trip. Sharing the common passion for photography with him, has undoubtedly pushed me to evolve photographically and artistically.

'The Hidden Valley'

'Between'

'Sunrise at the Canyon'

Which are your most important experiences that has influenced your art?
My art is the result of the time I spend photographing and my own personal evolution in the environment that surrounds me: the artists I follow, the films I watch, the books I read, the music I'm listening.
My passion for landscape photography is a reflection of my main interests: travelling, the Earth Sciences and technology. Sharing my life with an extraordinary photographer is a privilege and a great encouragement also.

 
What first attracted you to photography?
I’ve always been fascinated by the magic of being able to stop the time and capture an unique moment and its beauty. It was when I understood the power of the technique to create an artistic view of that moment, that  I fell in love with photography.

'Winter Sun'

Describe your overall photographic vision.
I would describe my photographic vision as the result of what I’ve experienced in a wonderful place, using the photo to transmit its beauty, the sensations and feelings  I had when I was there.
In the field, I naturally look for colourful wide-angle sceneries, however, lately I have been developing more interest for details and smaller scenes.

 
Why are you so drawn by landscape photography ?
It’s something totally spontaneous.  I guess that it is because in landscape photography I can merge my interests and passions.  It allows me to bring home the beauty of the places I visited and at the same time to express myself artistically.
Photographing outdoors also has an extraordinary relaxing effect on me, I make my mind empty and clear and all my attention goes to my subject and its beauty.

'Frozen'

What is more important to you, the mood,/story behind your images or the technical perfection?
Both are important and for me one does not make sense without the other.
I need to photograph places that inspire me for their story and/or beauty.
Out of control elements like a dramatic sky or a stunning sunset makes it easier to create a great photo, but if I don’t have amazing conditions, I try to find my inspiration in other elements available. Creativity, composition and technical skills are all fundamental and the  tools making it possible to me to create the images that I want.
As a perfectionist, I always try to reach technical perfection.

'The lake temple'

'Stormy temple'

What generally is your relationship to your subject matter beyond being an observer?
I need to connect with the place I photograph.  When I am contemplating a beautiful environment, I'm completely clearing up my mind to give space to my creativity and to focus on photographing.  I try to maintain the interaction with every location with respect for the environment, the rules of the place and private properties.  I do not move rocks, I do not remove bushes.  I photograph what really is there and if a disturbing element like a branch or so, I can easily remove it in Photoshop without any harm to nature.
I also try to act respectful with other tourists and photographers because everybody has the same right to enjoy the locations.

'Water trails'

'Mistaya'

'Dragon tail'

'The Moon on Earth'

Do you carefully prepare the locations where you are intending to photograph?
Yes, when I go on a photo  trip, I prepare it very carefully, in order to maximize the opportunities to photograph diverse locations with good conditions.  Beyond the well-known sites,  I always search for less known locations, mainly exploring Google Earth, Google Street View, 360º pans and people’s (tourists) photos of those places. To me, the best way to judge the potential of a location, is to look at it through other people's eyes.   But I try not to watch other photographer's work of that location, not to influence my own vision.
Once I have decided where to go, I study which light conditions could work the best for each location and plan a route with enough marges to adapt myself to the weather circumstances.
When I shoot near home, I do not really prepare it.  Most of the time too much and I decide to go at the very moment.

'Star Pocket'

'Frozen Kinderdijk'

What gear do you use (camera, lenses, bag)?
For the last 4 years I have been using a mirror-less full frame camera, a Sony alpha 7Rii. My main lenses are a Sony 16-35 f/4 and a Laowa 15 mm f/2, but I also use a 24-105, a 70-300 and a 90 mm macro lens.   I also use circular filters (ND and polariser).
For short runs I use an old Lowepro Passport Sling that I have since my first reflex and it’s very handy. When I need to carry more gear or being more comfortable, I use a Dakine Mission Photo backpack, and for longer trips and travel I use a Dakine Sequence backpack.

 
What software do you use to process your images?
I use Adobe Camera Raw, Photoshop and Nick Collections Color Efex filters.

 
Can you tell us something more about your workflow?
I don’t have a strict workflow, and I’m quite spontaneous when I’m editing.  I use Adobe Bridge to select the photos I will work on and prepare them there, adjusting the exposure, white balance and cleaning any dust spots on the sensor., and in Camera Raw I prepare the image adjusting the exposure, white balance and cleaning any sensor dust.   I then use Photoshop and Color Efex to work on colours, contrasts and to emphasize the light. The filters and the tools I use depend on what result I want to obtain.

'Between Continents'

What is your most important advice to a beginner in landscape photography and how do you get started?
I first learned photography by participating to workshops, by reading technical books and internet forums.  I was totally obsessed and I practised whenever I could.
My advice to a beginner is to study the technique and practice until you have your gear fully under control.  When you don’t have to worry any more about the technical part, you’ll be able to focus only on the creative part and enjoy the process.  Above all, do it with passion and don’t photograph to get  “likes”.

 
Who are your favourite photographers and more importantly, how has your appreciation of their work affected how you approach your own photography?
I really enjoy seeing other photographers work and I’m constantly learning from those I'm following and they are plenty of them. To name some of those who inspired me the most: Erin Babnik, Albert Dros, Simona Buratti and of course my partner and mentor, Juan Pablo de Miguel.   I’m also grateful to have had the opportunity to learn a lot from exceptional photographers like Joel Santos, a Portuguese landscape and travel photographer that also is an extraordinary teacher.  I was also influenced by the energy and skills from the well-known Spanish landscape photographer Javier de la Torre (javierlt) and by the Portuguese landscape and social photographer Sonia Guerreiro.

 
Is there any specific photo taken by another photographer that has inspired you a lot and why?
Maybe the first photo I’ve seen from Mount Bromo in Java, by Joel Santos. I have a particular passion for geology and when I saw his photo, I thought that it was the perfect volcanic landscape.  Some years later I had the opportunity to visit Mount Bromo and make my own photos of this amazing place.  It is absolutely one of my favourite landscapes in the world.

'
Dreaming Bromo'

Are there any specific directions that you would like to take your photography in the future or any specific goals that you wish to achieve?
Photography is my passion and a particularly important part of my life, and I wish it will stay my peaceful place where I can find joy when I need to relax and escape from daily rush.  Fortunately, I have the freedom not depending on photography for a living.  I can enjoy it without the pressure of achieving some goals.  But of course, like everybody, I like to have recognition for my work, and I genuinely enjoy when other people appreciate my photos.  There are some projects on long term which I have in mind.  But for now, I collaborate with my husband in his photography education business, where I’m mainly focused on content development.

'Buttes road'

Describe your favourite photograph taken by you and why it is special to you?
A most difficult choice to make, because every photo has a story behind it and an experience that makes it special.  To answer this question, I will borrow a quote from Imogen Cunningham who said : 'my favourite photo is the one I’m going to take tomorrow'.

'Arctic Dream'

'Dead Horse colors'

'Dark Light'

Is there anything else you wish to add and what do you think about 1X as a home base for your work?
1X has been really important in my development and progress as a photographer and  artist. 1X is currently the best showcase for my work, and through 1x  I had my photos featured in important publications and some partnerships contacted me.
It’s undoubtedly the most complete network for photographers and for people who love photography.

Clara Gamito

www.instagram.com/claragamito/

www.claragamito.com