Every photo you take is a great image to learn from
Mark Miller is a landscape and nature photographer located in southern Michigan, the US. He also shoots weddings and portraits from time to time and plays around with everything in between. Mark got his start in photography in 2011 and is self-taught through reading, YouTube, and trial and error. NiSi is happy to have this chance to talk with Mark and get to know what attracts and inspires him in photography.
Z for Zoe and M for Mark Miller
Z: Hi Mark, it’s nice to meet you! Firstly, could you share us three random facts about you?
M: I’m a pretty big smart A#@ and love to joke around!
I love pizza so if you come on a workshop with me you can plan on having a pizza night! Or at least I will be!
I’m a big sports fan so when I’m not with my family or out shooting, I’m likely out doing something active.
Z: What inspired you to make a career out of photography?
M: Well for me it started out as a hobby on Instagram years ago. However, the more time I spent learning, shooting, and creating, I quickly found a new passion in my life. I love the whole creative process and I really enjoy teaching others. Although I do still have a day job I have found a good mix with photography in shooting freelance and teaching workshops. Someday I’d really like to work in photography solely but until that day comes I do have a pretty good thing going now!
Mosquito Falls
This image was taken during my Waterfall Workshop a couple years ago in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. It took a long hike through the woods over some rough terrain to get back there but it was well worth it.
Taken with NiSi V5 PRO + ND (3 Stops)
Z: How do you think landscape photography and traveling have changed your view of the world?
M: Photography has changed my view of the world immensely! Before I picked up photography I really didn’t see the world for all that it is at all. I didn’t have much desire to travel or see different places. I guess you could say I was somewhat blinded to the beauty and amazing places around me near or far. Since getting a camera in my hands and learning to see differently I have been fortunate enough to travel and shoot in some amazing places like Moab Utah, Southern California, and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to name a few of my favorites.
Turbulent
This image was taken a couple weeks ago on another trip to the Upper Peninsula. We were shooting along the shores of Lake Superior at Hurricane River Campground. I’m a sucker for the rocks and crashing waves!
Taken with NiSi V6 + ND (10 Stops) + Medium GND
Z: What is your workflow like? Do you have any preferences while shooting?
M: Typically, I am always chasing sunsets and sunrise. When I find a location to shoot I spend a little time observing the area for different subjects, foreground features, interesting lines and or angles. When I settle in on something I like to play around with different compositions until something speaks to me. Sometimes I will see it right away and know exactly how I want to shoot something but a big part of my creative process is spending the time to see how different angles, levels, etc will change an image. I really like to slow down and live in the moment. When I first started out I would rush to a spot and start shooting without thinking much. These days I spend more time enjoying and seeing the moment.
Laguna
This image was taken in Laguna Beach near Pirates Tower. I went there to shoot the tower but the tide pools and crashing waves on the rocks were a nice bonus!
Taken with NiSi V6 + ND (10 Stops) + Medium GND
Z: When did you start using NiSi filters and why?
M: I first started using NiSi Filters about 3-4 years ago. In the past I had used and tried several different brands with mixed results. Whether it was poor optical quality, color cast, or poorly made products I seemed to always have some sort of issue I wasn’t happy with. I had heard some positive things about NiSi so I decided to try some NDs to see how I liked them. For the first time I had found a line that didn’t leave me with something I wasn’t happy about. Overall I really love the quality of my NiSi system.
Z: Which NiSi products do you usually use in your work?
M: I currently use the NiSi V6 holder. As far as filters go; my most used filters are the landscape CPL, 10 stop ND, Medium Grad ND, and Reverse Grad ND. My favorite subjects are shooting seascapes, waterfalls, and sunrise/sunsets. These filters work perfectly for what I like to shoot!
Z: Among all the photos you took with NiSi filters, which one is your favorite? What went into creating it?
M: I have a lot of favorites but this one taken in Moab stands out because it was not a shot I expected to get that day. It was taken at one of my workshops while teaching someone how to use filters. We had gotten the group up early, 4:30 am early to set out for a sunrise shoot at Turret Arch. Toward the end of that morning session I was talking to someone about shooting with filters and doing long exposures. I ended up setting my camera up to run an exposure for them as an example right before we left the location and headed for the next. 6 minutes later I had ended up with my favorite shot from that trip by far! I had setup using the old gnarled tree on the right as an anchor in my foreground with Turret Arch in the background with the early morning sunlight casting some color on the clouds above. I ran the exposure at f6.3 for about 6 minutes and I believe I was using my 10 stop stacked with my 6 stop ND.
Taken with NiSi V6 + ND (6 Stops) + ND (10 Stops)
Z: What do you think is the most important lesson a photographer needs to know?
M: I work with a lot of people that expect every shot they take to be “great”. I really try to emphasize to them that not every photo is going to be a great image but every photo you take is a great image to learn from, good or bad. I have yet to meet a photographer that goes out to shoot and comes back with every shot being a winner.
Z: Any plans for the future, photographically?
M: I really hope to do a lot more traveling and teaching workshops. 2020 was somewhat of a bust due to the current environment we are in so hoping to pick back up soon with some of the plans that fell through this year. Hawaii, Maine, and a few other locations are hopefuls for 2021 if all goes well. Fingers are crossed!
