Behind the Lens: Unique angles at Sugarloaf Rock, WA

After being involved in a great discussion with some photographers about the challenges in creating art and something original at a location that has been photographed countless times, I recently decided to drive the three hours south of my hometown of Perth to revisit Sugarloaf rock, one of the icons of landscape photography on this side of the country.

Sugarloaf really is a stunning location and is a place that anyone who passes through should really take the time to stop at. Yet therein lies the problem, when a place has been photographed from every perceivable angle, under every kind of condition, how do you bring something new to the scene? This time I had set out with the goal of making something unique: I really wanted an angle that was new, and something I would be proud to have in my portfolio too.

I settled on two compositions about an hour before sunset and I got lucky: clouds rolled through from behind me, arriving on cue to light up with intense colour and their reflected light bathed the scene with a beautiful warmth.

I first photographed a portrait orientation image (that could be used as a cover) and with that in the bag I stepped out from under the boulder to see the light in full and grabbed my second composition you see here. I’m glad I did.

The challenge when you want to bring something new is to avoid shooting the 'perfect' composition. Think about what you see on social media - if you just set up where everyone else has, sure, you will get a great shot, however it wont give your work any real credibility, let alone give you the sense of accomplishment that comes from creating something unique.

When you try to create something new, you may fail…but that’s ok. You win, or you learn. But eventually the creative process will lead to something special.

Try new compositions, different weather conditions, or different lighting. Pair this with something completely out of the ordinary, like camera movement or intentional motion blur. Step out of your comfort zone and think outside the box. That’s where you will find your creativity.

About the author: Dylan Fox is an award-winning Australian Landscape Photographer based out of Perth. Having always loved to travel and witness nature's finest moments, it was only a matter of time before he started capturing them in the form of photographs. His aim is always to capture photographs that provoke emotional connections.For Dylan, the photograph must tell a story and truly captivate those that see it.

In 2016 he was awarded first place in the nature category at the international black and white photography awards, has been a finalist in the ANZANG awards for the last three years and has been a runner-up in Capture magazine's emerging photographer of the year competition.