Exploring the Wild Tasmanian Landscape Through the Lens of Adam Gibson
Exploring the Wild Tasmanian Landscape Through the Lens of Adam Gibson
Delsey Paris x VISUALPLEASURE
NEW HORIZONS - WORLD TOUR 2024
New Zealand Artist of the week - Adam Gibson
Name:
Delsey Paris x VISUALPLEASURE
NEW HORIZONS - WORLD TOUR 2024
Tasmania Artist of the week - Adam Gibson
Photography:
Adam Gibson
Words:
Erica Nichols
Photographer Adam Gibson has cultivated a diverse portfolio capturing the rugged beauty and quiet pace of life of Tasmania—Australia’s only island state. Be it landscapes, architecture, or faces, Gibson is guided by Tasmania’s dynamic light in every shot. With a lifelong love for nature, Gibson has found his sweet spot, sharing the beauty of this land with people all over the world.
VISUAL PLEASURE Magazine:
How would you describe your photography and how has your artistic style developed over time?
Adam Gibson: I would say my work is influenced by bold graphic composition and a strong sense of dynamic light. I have a fine art background, but worked as a graphic designer for over fifteen years, which I feel gave me a good understanding of composition and what makes a strong image. I think over time, my eye for these moments has become more finely tuned.
When you need some inspiration, where do you go to find it?
Always to the ocean or the landscape. My life and work is built around a connection to the natural environment, so that’s where I find inspiration.
Your portfolio is so versatile, covering people, design, landscapes — is there one you prefer?
I don’t have a real preference for one subject over the other. As long as I can imagine a memorable set of images from a shoot I’m always interested in pursuing the project. The ideal shoot for me has a little of each of the above, people, landscape, design. Any shoot scenario that offers up unpredictable conditions is the best in my opinion, as it allows for ‘happy accidents’ to occur in the shoot.
How does travel influence your work and world view as an artist? Any specific travel stories that have stayed with you or informed your work?
Travel plays a big role in my work. I believe that to make art the only way to do so is through exploration and process. I travel a lot to shoots these days — often internationally, and the feeling of exploring a new destination still inspires me greatly. The feeling of being in a new place and out of my comfort zone will often cross over to my work in a practical way, such as a different framing approach, or the light in a certain place will affect the image. I’m always excited to see how each place looks through the camera.
Working with light, form, composition — how do you strike a balance or figure out which to prioritize?
Light is probably the main factor I think of now in any image or project. I feel that I have enough experience now to know when to shoot an image in a certain location, purely based on the light. I just know if it’s not amazing light at the time, the image just won’t be memorable enough, so I usually will wait for the light to be good before shooting.
How has Tasmania influenced your work and what do you love most about photographing in and around Tasmania?
Tasmania is the single most influential factor in my work, and I probably wouldn’t be a photographer if I were not located here. Shooting the Tasmanian landscape and its unique places is how I stumbled into this profession, and it has just grown from Tasmania’s recent rise to popularity from a tourism point of view. There’s a quality of light here in the colder seasons that is so clean and pure, and it’s what I love the most. That and the quiet, slow pace of the island.
“ I believe that to make art the only way to do so is through exploration and process.”
Tell us about what you’ve created with DELSEY.
My approach with this DELSEY shoot was to showcase some local architecture, and also to bring in a sense of luxury and fashion, given the amazing DELSEY product design aesthetic. Although I shoot lots of architecture, I really do love the fast and loose approach of shooting a model in this way.
What’s in your DELSEY?
1. Headphones. I couldn’t imagine a long plane ride without them. I also like to shoot with them when I can to inspire me and keep focused.
2. 50mm lens. If I only had one lens for the rest of my life it’d be the 50mm. The most versatile lens I know, which is always in my bag.
3. Waterproof jacket. The weather changes so often here in Tasmania and across Australia, so I’ve always got a waterproof jacket in the bag for when I get caught out by a storm!
