Capturing Nature's Ebb and Flow by Tim Donnelly

Tim Donnelly is a seascape photographer based in Sydney, Australia.   His splendid portfolio of images is marked by a colourful mix of light, magic, beauty, tranquility, excitement and wonder. These images captures moments in such a way that will impress even the most critical of photographers. Check out below our interview with the author, among the inspiring selection of seascapes.

Tell us about something about Tim Donnelly Photography?

Having lived in Sydney, Australia, all my life, the beach has always been a source of inspiration. Whether visiting for a swim, board, rest or taking the kids for fun, I know the beaches quite well. Since purchasing my first DSLR in 2007 and being fascinated by its mechanics, photography has opened up a whole new way to view the world. The construction of photos meant new possibilities for visiting and exploring the beaches that I loved as a kid. But I soon found the love for the photo was not restricted to the sea and I branched out to find other fascinating landscapes and objects. As an amateur photographer, it certainly is a juggle of life whereby balancing work, family, hobby and motivation is quite a challenge. But certainly one I love doing.

What’s your creative process like?

Looking through my portfolio one would be safe to assume that my inspiration comes from the salt spray that covers you after an outing. The coastal location is such an ever changing beast that is always a challenge to capture. It changes so dramatically with the tides and shifting sands that conditions are rarely the same. However, on the whole, I just can’t get enough of any beautiful landscape that’s being bathed in some gorgeous light. Whether it be light from a stunning sunrise or sunset, or soft light filtering through on a cloudy day it always energizes my creative flair.

Where do you find inspiration and why you like photography?

I draw inspiration from many areas. The number one inspiration though, is getting “that” shot from a mornings outing, editing it and then finally seeing in print. Once that appears in front of your eyes, it just seems to motivate you to want to get straight back in the car and head out for that next shot. Its funny, but these days I can’t really seem to recall being able to drive a car without constantly staring out at the sky and light and trying to visualize a composition in my head. Other inspirations have to be the wonderful photo sharing websites, blogs and galleries. Browsing through all the amazing work out there also drives the motivation train.

I adore photography for its ability to transport me to another place. When I am out there early in the morning or evening, I just seem to be able to see things in a way I never thought was possible. And I have photography to thank for that. I’m not sure what I would do these days without it.

What are some tips you could give to people that really like your work?

Number one tip from me is get out there and practice. You can do all the workshops and lessons that you like but the experience of composing by yourself is something that can never be taught. The elements must be experienced in order to prepare you for where you need to be in order to get that perfect shot. And the reward will grow and grow with each successful shot. The other tip is to take photos first and foremost for yourself! A trap that one can easily fall into, especially in this day and web-age, is taking shots that you think when posted to your favorite website, will get lots of comments or favorites. The peer pressure, if you could call it that, of posting for comments, is a short lived motivation whereas if you take a shot that you truly adore within yourself, this will keep the motivation high going much a longer time.

Can you name one great photographer that inspires you with his works and why?

There seem to be so many outstanding photographers out there these days to just name a one or even a couple. I definitely adore the work that Michael Anderson produces, as the clarity and consistency he delivers is simply astounding. He seems to find the most amazing locations around the world and that old inspire anyone to get out there. A couple of others that offer great inspiration are Marc Adamus and Guy Tal. I've never been one to want to replicate another person’s work so the inspiration these photographers offer are purely results driven.

If you have something else to add (a video/book/about your next project/etc.) just tell us.

The next project I have in mind is a series on the waterfalls of NSW, Australia. I recently headed up to the wonderful Blue Mountains in NSW after some serious rainfall, and the power from the falls set off a spark of motivation not felt for a while.

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Thank you Mr. Tim Donnelly for this fantastic collaboration, for your tips and tricks and for the mind-blowing selection of pictures. Your technique is exceptional, above normal, and we definitely enjoy it. Good luck with your waterfall project, hope that you will find all the energy to create again a new set of fascinating visual marbles.