by Yvette Depaepe 
Published the 22nd of November 2021

Daniel Vine Garcia is a self-taught photographer and excels in travel and landscape photography.  He loves to share the wonderful views he witnessed and to invite the viewer to see them with a fine foreground or an ultra-panoramic 180 degrees or more. 

He quotes: 'Those are views that you don't usually experience when you're not a photographer.' 
Daniel is very meticulous when it comes to process his works and he dedicates as long as it needs (about 2-4 hours).
Join me for a journey through his sublime photographs and listen to what Daniel reveals about himself. 
Admire his gallery at the end of this interview and enjoy.

'Hveradalir'

Hi Daniel, briefly tell us about yourself, your hobbies and other jobs.

Hi ! First of all, thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to show my work.
My name is Daniel Viñé García. I am a self-taught photographer, specialized in travel and landscape photography, born in Valladolid, Spain.

Because where I live there is hardly any nature, whenever I can I take the opportunity to make a getaway or travel, and precisely that love of moving led me to get started in photography.

For a few years now I have been travelling around the world, camera in hand, discovering incredible places in moments no less incredible, in which sometimes, being alone makes it unforgettable.

How has your history and life experiences affected your photography?

Photography is the perfect excuse to travel and to visit epic places in no less epic moments.  If it wasn't for photography, maybe I would also continue travelling to more touristic places.

Being alone inside the dunes of a desert at night, being lost in the middle of nowhere in Iceland watching a solar storm, climbing a mountain to sleep there and take the perfect picture, travelling by car surrounded by snow or through the track of a desert, etc.,...
Today I have all those memories thanks to photography.

Which are your most important experiences that has influenced your art?

The experiences that have most influenced my art have been travelling around the world with my life partner, Elena Pueyo (elenita).

Lately it helped my Art a lot to know the mountains through great friends and Spanish photographers such as Adrian Vazquez, Ivan Ferrero (ivanferu), Ruben Vela or Felipe Souto.

What first attracted you to photography?

When I travelled, I always wanted to have my memories and my own version of all those things that I liked. With time,  I understood that I had to make an effort to improve myself to be able to capture and express through my photos what my eyes saw and what my soul experienced.

Describe your overall photographic vision.
I always liked to share wonderful landscapes and to invite the viewer to see them with a fine foreground or an ultra-panoramic 180 degrees or more.  Those are views that you don't usually experience when you're not a photographer.

Why are you so drawn by landscape photography?
Sleeping just a few hours, carrying a lot of weight on my back, missing a good breakfast or a good dinner, walking kilometres in the mountains, driving for hours and hours, these are all sacrifices I'm doing for photography.  I don't know the exact reason but I just know that doing it brings me a lot of happiness!!

What is more important to you, the mood,/story behind your images or the technical perfection?
I believe that we should not focus on certain parameters, and try to get the best image we can get at the moment of taking the picture.

I don't mind that a photo is not technically perfect if I can create something original or unusual or a beautiful atmosphere, although if I have the perfect conditions in a perfect setting in a comfort zone, I will try to make it with the best technique.

What generally is your relationship to your subject matter beyond being an observer?

Do you prepare carefully the locations where you are intending to photograph?

My challenge is to try to get a special picture.  The very first moments, I will take some usual pictures but then I will try to do something new, original and creative.  Sometimes I will get it and sometimes I won't, but I always will try.

And yes, I like to be prepared before visiting the place I am going to photograph and will watch other photos taken there. I like to go when having plenty of time and make a real exploration of the place. It is not always possible because sometimes you arrive later and have just enough time.  Anyway, whenever I can, I will be prepared.

What gear do you use (camera, lenses, bag)?

First of all, I am not sponsored by anyone. What I use is my own decision and what I think is best for me. Hello brands? Haha.

I use a Sony A7riii Camera along with a Laowa 12mm f2.8, Sony 16-35 F4 and Sony 20mm f1.8 for night shots. I also have a Sony 24-105 and a Sigma 100-400, I also shoot with them but I don't usually post those photos.
I have a NiSi filter holder although I also have some Haida filters 100x100, In the past I had 150 filters and currently I love format 100x100.
I use a Fstop backpack is very good for carrying the weight correctly.

I use a light Rollei tripod for hiking and a bigger one for when I don't have to walk, having two is fundamental for me.

I also have a Star Tracker Skywatcher adventurer Mini to get more detail of the night sky.

What software do you use to process your images?

I make some basic adjustments in Adobe Camera Raw (or lightroom) and then export the photo to Photoshop, there I apply my work flow with the help of Tony Kuyper's panel and Color Efex Pro plugin, I love them!

Can you tell us something more about your work flow?

Yes, I like to be very meticulous with my work and dedicate as long as it needs (about 2-4 hours). First I make a series of general adjustments, then I work on the light in depth, after that the colour in depth and finally the atmosphere. At that point I take a break.  And than I make the changes I consider appropriate and do some final adjustments.

I think it is important to be meticulous and take a break occasionally, no matter how long it takes.

What is your most important advice to a beginner in landscape photography and how do you get started?

You have to train and practice, it doesn't matter if you can't visit epic places, you have to work, work, work. Don't have to worry about when the results will be satisfying, they will sooner or later and will come when you least expect it, as long as you work and exercise.

Who are your favourite photographers and more importantly, how has your appreciation of their work affected how you approach your own photography? 
I follow the work of many photographers. I think there is a very high level of photography in Spain and outside Spain as well hehe! Day by day,  I meet new photographers with spectacular work.
I am not going to give the names of my favourite photographers because it would be a huge list, but I can say that I keep the best of each one in mind. For example, when I see an incredible mood, I challenge myself to get a similar mood when in front of an epic panorama. I will try to do the same in other places.  And when I see a perfect focus staking, I will consider that challenge in another scenario, etc..

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?

So far, I have enjoyed experimenting with panoramas. Currently I would love to improve  advanced night photography, capturing as much as possible the starry skies in winter and summer.  That is for sure my next challenge.

Describe your favourite photograph taken by you and why it is special to you?  

I love to photograph caves. This photo is special to me because it was my first cave shot.

'Prehistoric Brain'

Later, I perfected my technique and made this one which also is very special for me:

'The Secret Cave'

Is there anything else you wish to add  and what do you think about 1X as a home base for your work?

Thank you very much for the opportunity to do this interview.

I have been taking pictures for 15 years but I never get tired of the joy photography gives me.  I love taking pictures as much as the first day and I will never stop learning.
I think 1X is great because it is a very objective platform to let me know if my work is good or not.  1X is  much better than social networks, where the likes don't do justice to the work.

If you want to see more of my work, here is my website: http://danielvg.es

and my instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/danielvgphoto/

'The Secret Cave'

'The Secret Cave'

'The wild Boar'

'The Cave and Mountains'

'Dettifoss'

'Maelifell'

'Magic Waterfall II'

'Look at the stars'

'The last lights'

'Spanish Fjords'

'Moses'

'Cabin'

'Magic Waterfall'