MEET DAVID CLAPP | LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHER

Meet David Clapp | Landscape Photographer

"You can photograph something that's very normal and everyday and turn it into something unique. It's given my work such a strong identity."

David is a leading UK landscape, travel photographer, architectural photographer and tour leader, undertaking commissions for clients worldwide. Represented by Getty Images.

From the sand dunes of Death Valley through to the rolling green hills of Dartmoor, photographer David Clapp spends his days capturing stunning landscape and travel shots. Famed for pushing the boundaries of his technology, both in photography and post-production, his innovative work showcases the best of nature from all corners of the globe, experimenting with techniques from HDR through to infra-red.

Seeing the world in a new light: creative approach to shoot unique photographs

David has shot Canon cameras since 2002 with a Canon T90 film camera. His kitbag consists of a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, EOS RP full spectrum for infrared, a modified EOS R for astrophotography. He always uses mirrored and mirrorless systems as they both have their benefits.

From after-dark portraits to shooting stars, David recommends the three essentials EF L series lenses – the EF 16-35mm, the EF 24-70mm (both types, f4L for everyday and f2.8L II for astrophotography) and the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 IS II. The compact size Extender EF 1.4x III can also be very useful for increasing the reach.

Canon's latest mirrorless cameras and supporting lenses give you creative freedom and flexibility while keeping everything simple. There's a lot to discover after sundown, and the right Canon kit coupled with research, patience and practice guarantees capturing great images.

When working at sunset, its easy to forget how beautiful twilight can be. Nearly 45mins later the Skys out into deep roasted oranges and far exceed expectations. Work until you need a torch to find your way back. Taken on a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV with a Canon EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM lens at 24mm, 1/6 sec, f/11 and ISO800. © David Clapp

Taken with just minutes to spare before I helped to pack up the entire factory before a heavy rainstorm, this is a great example of using large apertures to get everything in focus. The incense sticks create these beautiful repeating patterns but need precise focus. Taken on a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV with a Canon EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM lens at 70mm, 1/40 sec, f/16 and ISO400. © David Clapp

Just a short window of opportunity was all that was needed to create this otherworldly scene. At first glance I thought the water was bioluminescent, but it was just the sea caught in a bright street light. Taken on a Canon EOS R5 with a Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM lens at 24mm, 1/15 sec, f/2.8 and ISO1600. © David Clapp

5 tips for landscape photography

1. Do your research and then stop. There is nothing worse than image blindness from inspirational over exposure. Arrive at a location, throw your arms wide and get to work. Cliches are the inability to see past derivative ideas.

2. Now your equipment inside out. Understand the strengths and weaknesses of your kitbag. Learn to utilise every aspect of the menus, features and optics. Strike spontaneously with a professional acumen. Predict your settings before you lift the camera to your eye.

3. Custom controls are a great way of storing a snapshop of the entire cameras settings and retrieving them from a quick turn of a dial for handheld landscapes. Many cameras contain as many as three custom settings or more (C1, C2, C3) so store your presets to save you from menu digging.

4. Learn to see differently by using the camera in different aspect ratios. The beauty of these modes is that they teach you to spot compositions and encourage a more interesting approach to an image, a bit like choosing different time signatures in music.

5. Many landscape photographers fear the use of high ISO, but there has never been a better time with the quality of our modern cameras. A higher ISO like 1600 is virtually noise free, even on most consumer cameras and should be embraced. Shooting landscapes with a long lens can benefit greatly from high ISO, lifting the shutter speed to reduce camera shake.