I´m Viktoria Haack, ask me anything

[Viktoria_Haack]

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Hi! I’m Viktoria Haack, originally hailing from the UK, but for the past 18 years, I’ve been lucky to call beautiful British Columbia home.

I always struggle to describe what kind of photographer I am because my interests (and therefore my images) are so diverse. I’ve had a camera in my hands for over 25 years, but my love of photography really took off when I worked for The National Trust (Europe’s largest conservation charity) and spent 10 years living on a 500-acre island nature reserve. Walking the same trails day after day brought an awareness of how light, weather, and the seasons transformed even the most familiar places. That experience shaped how I see the world and deepened my connection to the landscape—so much so that I felt the need to start recording it.

Fast forward nearly two decades, and I’ve built a career that spans portraits, lifestyle, weddings, elopements, commercial, and, of course, landscape and nature photography. Despite the diversity of images I produce, my connection to nature is a strong thread that runs through and unites the different genres. Lately, I’ve been venturing into wildlife photography and my continuing goal is to not only celebrate the beauty of the natural world but also to inspire others to feel the same reverence and respect for it that I do.

Using older gear for years meant relying on the fundamentals—light, composition, and a lot of patience. That foundation has been invaluable, and I feel incredibly lucky now as a Nikon Ambassador, to have access to the latest technology. The gear helps, but in the end, it’s still about the eye behind the camera (and maybe a little luck when wildlife cooperates).

Please bring your questions! I’m very much looking forward to connecting with you and answering them!

Website: https://viktoriahaackphotography.ca

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[darren (Darren Smith)]

Hello Viktoria, how did you get into photography

[Viktoria_Haack]

Hi Darren, I have always been interested in the arts and studied fine art and art history/museology before starting work for the National Trust and moving to a small island nature reserve in the UK. Becoming so familiar with the same 500 acres that I walked every day, made me become aware of the smallest changes around me - fleeting light, changing weather conditions and seasons. It was noticing this that made me want to capture those fleeting moments so I started to use the old Nikon that my parents had given me for my 18th birthday. Thanks for your question!

[tom.marin]

Hi Viktoria,
What advice would you offer a photographer who has shot lots of family photos and travel shots for years, but never focused on landscape photography?

[darren (Darren Smith)]

Thanks for the reply…that’s awesome.. guess I could have read your bio as well

[Matt_Payne]

Hi Vik,
It’s no secret that I love your photography!!!
At the risk of sounding a little self-serving, I was hoping you could talk a bit about what your experience judging the Natural Landscape Photography Awards was like. What did you enjoy about the process, what were you most surprised by, and what do you think people could do to get their images more “noticed” by highly qualified judges like yourself?

Thanks again for being such an inspiration to the community!

[Viktoria_Haack]

Hi Tom, I find that most different genres of photography can provide skills that will feed into every type of photography. A travel/family photographer would already have an eye for composition & probably a sense of place or story. For me, landscape photography is very much about slowing down and trying to find that sense of story and mood in the landscape. Carrying a tripod might be less familiar for the other genres but I generally have a light weight tripod with me (even if I don’t always use it!). I definitely appreciate the solitude of landscape photography - it’s where I go to recharge after my commercial shoots. I guess my main advice would be to slow down and become familiar with the natural environment that interests you. Start to pay attention to what draws your attention and start photographing from there.

[tom.marin]

Thank you, Viktoria for your quick and insightful response! You’re right, bringing a tripod on family trips hardly ever happened so it’s a change but I can see its value in slowing you down.
Sincerely,
Tom

[Viktoria_Haack]

Good morning Matt and thanks for the question & kind words!

Firstly, I very much enjoyed the couple of opportunities I’ve had to judge the NLPA. I have to say, initially I was a bit overwhelmed at the shear breadth & quality of images in the competition and wondered how I would be able to choose one image over another.

What I really loved was the opportunity to spend time with the images and to really focus in on subtleties that are often missed when you’re just scrolling on social media. I guess what I most enjoyed was the inspiration from the other photographers and appreciating their view of the world.

I think I was most surprised by the level of talent and ultimately, because of the high quality of entry and technical ability, images that stood out needed to have something more than just that - when an image tells a story, conveys a strong sense of how the photographer relates to the world - that’s when they becoming really interesting to me.

Thanks again for the opportunity Matt, I really enjoyed judging & I’m looking forward to seeing the results of this year’s competition!

[Paul_Holdorf]

Hi Viktoria, thanks so much for being here today. I’ve been a big fan of your work since being introduced to you on Matt Payne’s podcast. I personally am drawn to capturing scenes that include a reflection, which I can see you love also. That one in the grid next to the photo of you is one of my favorites of yours. I am probably less opposed to artistic edits than some, and also actually love to sit at my computer and process images. It’s not nearly as much fun as being out there capturing the image, but it is strangely calming for me. How much of an image like that is captured “in-camera” vs post processing. In particular, I love the way the light is presented in the background of that one.

[Wayne_Roth]

I am traving to South Africa in August, I am considering purchasing a 135mm 1.8 lens since there are a lot of low light situations that you are shooting at early morning and sunset. What are your thoughts, I am also going to bring 70-200 2.8, and 200-600 Sony lens., Thanks

[Viktoria_Haack]

Hi Paul and thanks for your great question and very kind words.

I also feel that sense of calm when I sit down to edit. I love being in the field but I’m not one of those photographers who also hates to sit at my computer to edit. I often set time aside to edit my landscape & nature images like a trip to the spa… glass of wine, some good music, dims the lights, sit with my image & try to relive the moment and feel the mood. When I edit, it’s about trying to amplify those feelings and moments so that the viewer can sense them as well.

In the image you mention, there was a lot of wildfire smoke - so much so that I debated whether to do the hike both because of smoke inhalation but also, I wasn’t sure if the mountains would even be visible. The dawn was very still and the place was empty (normally quite busy). The morning light was very diffused due to the smoke and in post I accentuated that softness as the light came through using some minus clarity, dehaze and some orton effect. The tones are very much as they were on that morning and I used a graduated neutral density & solid neutral density filter to slow the shutter speed to help to create a sense of quiet and time standing still. On this morning, the conditions really provided the mood & I gently enhanced them in post to convey the sense of soft light & stillness I experienced. I hope that answers the question Paul and thanks again for posing it.

[Viktoria_Haack]

Hi Wayne, that sounds like a great trip!

I’m guessing from your choice of lenses that you might be a wildlife photographer? I haven’t been to South Africa so I’m not speaking from personal experience, but it sounds like you have a good range there. I think I would be tempted to take something wider also, as I am a sucker for environmental wildlife images and also might just want to capture a broad landscape scene (not that a longer lens can’t also be useful for those). A fast lens like the 135 1.8 might be really good for those low light situations!

I hope you have a great trip!

[Stan_Rose]

Hi Viktoria–love your work!
As a (physical) gallery owner, I am used to the occasional “Are these Photoshopped?” questions, but only recently I started getting a few "Are these computer-generated?"questions. So, the dreaded question I ask all my photographer friends: How do you see AI affecting our livelihoods and hobbies, and will photogrpahy as an art evolve as a result?

[Bill_Reichhardt]

Hi Viktoria,
Your images are stunning. Since you shoot landscapes and wildlife, I am interested in your mindset adjustments for these different forms of photography. I am primarily a bird photographer also with a keen interest in macro work. When I head out to a familiar location my brain alternates between birds and bugs. Sometimes just easier to start out with a goal of one or the other and only take the needed equipment. How about you? Thanks, Bill

[Viktoria_Haack]

Hi Stan,

Thank you for the kind words about my work. I can imagine you might get many of those types of questions as a gallery owner.

My feeling regarding AI is that it will push us to cherish real moments & the physical creation of imagery even more. There is an upsurge in people moving towards film, slowing down & wanting to connect to the process of creation as an opposition to digital burnout- I see this as one of the positives to AI. I also imagine we may want to see more imperfection in imagery - those natural defects that denote that this was our subject in a raw state, rather than a creation. As we become more isolated in front of our devices, I also see an upsurge in people wanting real, in person connection - photography conferences, workshops etc.

I can’t imagine that photography won’t evolve in some way as a result of AI - looking on the positive side, I hope this may mean more emphasis on storytelling, more injection of real human responses to the world around us.

[Viktoria_Haack]

Ah I feel you on this Bill. It’s always a dilemma to know what lenses to take.

When I head out for a dog walk (which I do everyday), I quite often carry the full range with me from macro, to 24-200, to 180-600 and that way I can follow my interest in whichever direction it takes me! Sometimes though, I don’t want to carry all that gear and I may limit myself to just one lens - on those occasions, I often find myself adapting that one lens to the scene that presents itself - it can be a challenge but also, occasionally provide unexpected and pleasing results!

I do find that like you, my brain will channel into one particular theme: fungi, smalls scenes, macro, the wider landscape or searching out wildlife but I try to keep it open to the other possibilities as well - it’s yoga for the brain!!

Thanks for the great questions Bill!

[Martha_Montiel]

Well hey!! Fancy seeing you here.

You know I love your photography and you are a huge inspiration to a lot of us. I am hoping you can tell me. What inspired you to add women only photography workshops to your list of workshops offered and how are those different than your co-ed ones. Are there a lot of pros and cons and is this something you will continue to offer? Also, do you prefer your whiskey neat, on the rocks or in a cocktail?

[John_Barclay]

I don’t have a question rather I just wanted to gush over you! I have long admired your incredible photography. I simply wanted to say how much I love your work and thank you for sharing so freely what you do. You are an inspiration.

[John_Barclay]

Isnt’ there a song about liking your whiskey neat Martha?