If there's one word to describe Frans Lanting's photos, it would be otherworldly.
As a widely acclaimed National Geographic photographer, he uses nature and wildlife photography as a tool for conservation and as an art form.
Born in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Lanting initially studied environmental economics at the Erasmus University; photography only came to him as a pastime during his student days.
"I was studying to become an economist, and I would sneak away to a nearby city park next to the university, and I would lose myself in the patterns of nature," says Lanting, in an interview with the correspondent from the Natural History Museum in London.
Soon after attaining his master's degree, Lanting began photographing the natural world and has never turned back.
Lanting has gone on to produce numerous photography magazines, books, and exhibitions across the world. His keen sense of the nuances of the natural world and intuition for photography translates into a distinct and relatable photographic style.
It begins with empathy
Lanting believes that, to be an effective photographer, you have to respect animals and plants for who they are. Often, he would get inspiration from scientists and environmental activists and imbue their insights into his images.
Through his photographs, Lanting expresses our deep connection and ancestry with the natural world—elevating photography as a platform to present works of art and campaign for global issues.
The art of seeing
According to Lanting, there's a clear difference between taking pictures and making photographs—one is simply a photographic record while the other is deliberate and expresses scenes in a poetic fashion.
Making photographs
There are plenty of reasons why Lanting's photographs are so mesmerising. Still, we can boil it down to these six major reasons:
A clear subject
An unusual perspective
A great composition
The correct lighting
A compelling moment
A personal meaning
The last point stands out because Lanting loves to communicate and share his personal experiences with the natural world through his images. He has a clear visual intention and directs his energy and photographic talents towards creating the desired image.
Looking at the image above, the focal point is evidently the herd of wildebeest. By filling the frame, Lanting highlights the wildebeest crossing the Mara River in Kenya and more importantly, the struggle for survival in the natural world.
"There are few phenomena like it on the planet that express the vitality of life like this crossing does. But not every wildebeest makes it, and it's an emotional experience to witness the drama of those who succeed and the struggle of those who do not," says Lanting.
It probably took years of experience and research to become familiar with the wildebeest and landscape and be at the right place and time to capture this photograph.
Exploring composition
Like most great photographers, Lanting is well-versed with the principles of composition. His firm grasp of the fundamentals, combined with relentless effort and patience, allows him to produce breathtaking images.
Here, the choice of a wide-angle lens stretches the perspective and gives "breathing room" to the bullfrog. As Lanting mentions, he had to carefully inch towards the edge of the pool to capture a close-up of the bullfrog with his short-range lens.
It takes plenty of effort, but the final result is a stunning, intimate portrait of the bullfrog. Using a polarizer, Lanting also assimilates the blue sky and water, further immersing the viewer into the scene.
You can tell that there is luck involved in this next photo. But it also requires skill to recognize an opportunity and seize it when it arises.
By incorporating the pattern of giant tortoises, it does two things. First, it adds depth to the image by creating a leading line that converges into the scene. Second, the visual path guides our eyes into the image and helps our mind to organise it as a whole.
A lot of it comes down to Lanting's developed intuition and understanding of which composition technique serves the story he wants to tell.
Looking for light
While I won't go into details on the different aspects of light (that's an article for another day), there are essentially four characteristics of light:
Quantity refers to the intensity of the light
Quality refers to the softness or hardness of the light
Direction refers to whether the light is coming from the front, side, or back
Colour refers to the warmness or coldness of the light
This photograph below provides a great representation of the use of light.
In preparing for this photograph, Lanting scouted the Sossusvlei landscape in Namibia to understand the light and its relationship with the trees and sand dunes. As the morning light crept in, he noticed a magical moment where the sunlight hit the base of the dunes, but not the claypan.
The following day, Lanting had already pre-planned where, when, and how he would capture his image. With a simple click of the shutter button, he created a surreal photograph of the camel thorn trees against the backdrop of the glowing dunes.
The colour contrast between the warm orange dunes and the blue claypan floor brings another layer of depth and enchantment to the image. Inspired by his love for oriental art, Lanting had reproduced the same impressionistic, painting-like element in his photograph.
This story illustrates the combination of working with light and waiting for the right moment to create the ideal image.
Telling stories
In his expansive book Eye to Eye, Lanting takes us on an intimate journey through the natural world. From close-ups of animals to their relationships within families and societies, Lanting illuminates the strength and dignity of animals in nature.
In creating his book, Lanting underwent hours of research and preparation to understand how the story would progress. He would seek the advice of scientists to obtain a deeper understanding of the subject and figure the best way to communicate that insight.
Similarly, when you're thinking about the various photographs that would make up an article, magazine, or book, it starts with researching and talking to experts to gather a loose framework of picture ideas.
When you're on-site photographing the scene, keep these ideas in mind but be open to new experiences that may add value to the story:
Consider how the visual story starts and ends
Consider the different story angles and themes
Consider the different perspectives (i.e., close-up, medium, wide)
Consider the various tones and emotions of the story
Consider adding symbols and other impressionistic elements
Consider how to make the image relatable to the viewer
Naturally, if you're working with other collaborators, like editors and art directors, they will also give their inputs on the story. Learn to take in their ideas and work with the story as it evolves. With preparation and time, you’ll work towards creating more enduring images and see how different pieces fit into your visual story.
Making a difference with photography
More than simply taking beautiful images, Lanting believes that his photographs can illuminate issues—such as pollution, conservation, poverty, community, and cultural diversity—and drive change.
Biologists and designers have both lauded Lanting's works as inspirations for science and art—one that challenges us to look at animals in the eye and see the relationship between animals and people.
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Click here to view the Frans Lanting Photography Pinterest board.
About the author: Darius Tay is a photographer/visual storyteller who loves capturing meaningful moments and uses photography to tell stories and find beauty in everyday life. If you would like to leave a comment or engage him, feel free to email him at dariustay5@gmail.com.
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