Award-winning landscape, fashion and wedding photographer Paul Hoelen recently spoke to Australian Photography + digital magazine about his his passion for image-making in its many and varied forms. In this edited extract he shares some useful tips for new photographers hoping to improve their skills. Story by Marc Gafen.
It wasn’t until his early twenties that Paul Hoelen started taking photographs. Up until then, his true passion lay in exploring and adventuring through the wild and remote areas of his native New Zealand. Given his regular exposure to breathtakingly beautiful scenery it’s no surprise his first love – and by his own admission probably still his still greatest – is for landscape photography.
Shooting full time for the last five years (and 10 before that in a part-time capacity) Hoelen had an unusual entrée into the field. During his university years in Dunedin, studying psychology, he got heavily into bushwalking, light mountaineering, surfing and skiing. Away on these adventures, often in magical locations around New Zealand’s South Island, he felt a growing interest in capturing these special moments so they weren’t lost forever once a trip was over. "I could write, but somehow it was too difficult, and singing or painting wasn’t my thing, so photography won out!"
Across a diverse range of genres from fashion, portraiture, wedding, architectural, nudes and large-scale event photography, his true love is his wilderness work. These days Hoelen, who lives in Hobart, works predominantly on his landscapes, but he also takes on art commissions, event photography, environmental portraiture and boutique weddings. "Working across multiple genres keeps me fresh
and doesn’t limit what I can shoot," he says. 
"I hadn't slept for three days and I have absolutely no recollection of taking this image, and yet it's turned out to be one of the most significant images of my career so far!" says Hoelen. "I love the layering of landscape and story present in the dramatic graphic silhouette brought to life in the ambient glow of the dust in the dawn light. The main structure is a sculpture at the famous Burning Man Festival in Nevada USA. Canon EOS 20D, 28-135 IS lens @ 135mm, 1/1000s @ f/16, ISO 100, Curves and levels adjustment, sharpening in Photoshop CS4.
Advice for enthusiasts
One of the more common mistakes Paul Hoelen sees in those newer to the craft is too much of a focus on gear and equipment, too early in their progression. “You don’t need a great camera to learn how to take great photographs”, he says. “In fact, it could even slow your growth in some ways by doing too much for you.”
He goes on to say that it’s important to recognise the camera is simply a tool, and it’s your heart and mind combined with all your previous experiences which are the true creative source.
An important suggestion he offers is to throw yourself in at the deep end and shoot on manual, but to take advantage of the fact that digital provides immediate feedback.
“Use it,” he says. “Learn about histograms and think before you shoot. Ask yourself what you’re really trying to say with the image, and whether you’re clear on exactly what the subject is.”
Shooting with like-minded people is something Hoelen believes will also help accelerate skills. Joining a camera club or organisation like the AIPP is a useful first step, as is getting out on field trips, and importantly setting yourself small projects to test your skills and learn from mistakes.
Another trap is getting too focused on post production when you’re just starting out. Hoelen’s advice is to shoot as well as you can ‘in camera’ and focus, first and foremost, on the craft before immersing yourself in post production.
"This shot was taken from a homemade plane flying over a geothermal feature in Yellowstone National Park," says Hoelen. "I could only shoot when we were at a 45 degree angle. I couldn’t shoot through the canopy so the only option I had was to push my hand through the tiny pilot's window and shoot blindly!" Canon Powershot G12, 25mm focal length, 1/1250s @ f/8, ISO 250, Lightroom for basic corrections. Viveza 2 for sharpening and local contrast adjustments.
Paul Hoelen’s Photo Tips
• Focus on capturing what you love and are fascinated or moved by.
• Practice your craft regularly – get to know your equipment and its strengths.
• Don’t be afraid of critiques – enter awards and absorb what the judges say about your work.
• Listen to your subject with your heart and mind, not just your eyes and ears, and search or wait for the critical moment.
"Quite unbelievably, this art piece consisted of two full size 18-wheel trucks balanced precariously on top of each other," says Hoelen. "You could actually climb up through it to a small viewing window on the top and far side – which I did of course!" Black Rock City, Nevada Desert, USA. Canon EOS 20D, 1/400s @ f/6.3, ISO 100. Lightroom 5 for basic corrections and toning.
"I was on location for a week in the Vale of Belvoir shooting for the Tasmanian Land Conservancy with 12 of the best landscape photographers in Tasmania," says Hoelen. "For eight days straight we had rain at dawn! So everyone left bar Grant Dixon and me and on day nine we were greeted with a spectacular misty dawn and sunrise. Perseverance pays off sometimes! Somewhat unexpectedly, I was drawn here to the man-made features in the valley." Canon EOS 5D Mk II, 70mm focal length (EF 24-105 f/4L IS lens), 1/40s @ f/11, ISO 100, Silver Effects Pro 2 for toning.