Mieke Boynton’s Spectacular Abstract Landscape Photography
Mieke Boynton, an award-winning landscape/aerial photographer, is known for her inspiring landscape photography taken in such locations as Australia, Iceland, New Zealand, South America and Africa. Her signature work incorporates light, perspective, colour and texture to highlight natural formations and turns them into magnificent abstract art. As a result, her photography shifts viewers’ emotions and imagination away from the literal to the symbolic.
We are thrilled to be able to interview this vigorous and constantly “on the Qui Vive” outdoor photographer. Let her images and her words take us to some of the most remote regions in the world.
Q: You are such a keen photographer revealing the beauty of natural landscapes. Please share with us the path you took to become such an extraordinary photographer.
A: When I was young, I had some amazing and inspirational Art teachers. I loved learning about Art History and the theories of all the different Art Movements. Unfortunately for me, at that time, Photography wasn’t really taught with the same depth and richness, so for many years, I took photos simply to record important events and places.
That all changed in 2018 when I moved to the vast and ancient Kimberley region of Western Australia, and I absolutely fell in love with the dramatic landscapes there. My family lives in Victoria, so I was about 5000km (roughly 3000 miles) away from home, and originally, I started taking photos with a little point-and-shoot just to share what I was seeing with them. I loved the feeling of being all alone out in the vastness, but at the same time I felt more connected to Nature than ever before. Gradually, I began taking more artistic photos and trying to be in the right place for the right light. The following year, my parents bought me a Nikon DSLR for my birthday and from then on, I was hooked. For me, the experience of being there at the right time and capturing those magical moments has always been the most important part of the photographic process, but without the internet and some really helpful people on photography forums, I would’ve had a lot of difficulties learning the craft! Most of my learning has been from experimenting with camera settings and asking questions online. And making lots and lots of mistakes!
I steadily improved with my landscape photography and then in 2012, I had the opportunity to go up in a helicopter as part of a 5-day photography workshop, and I will never forget the impact of seeing the beauty of Nature’s artwork stretched out across the landscape below. It was like viewing a giant canvas painting from above, and the thrill of flying just made it so much more memorable. Since then, aerial photography has become what I’m most well known for.
Q: In which region do you focus on your aerial photography? What are the characteristics of that region that are important to you?
A: I’ve been very fortunate to have had opportunities to photograph aerials in some of the most remote and photogenic Australian locations, but also in Iceland, Namibia, and New Zealand. Most of the locations I choose to visit are inaccessible by car (and therefore by drone!), and although the locations are all very different, the one thing they have in common is their potential for beautiful abstracts because of their fascinating combinations of colors, patterns, and textures. I try to photograph straight down to avoid giving away the true scale or the sense of perspective – that way, the viewer is invited to respond to the emotion and symbolism of the image, rather than simply the actual physical elements at that location.
Q: What is photography to you? What do you wish to communicate to viewers through your photography?
A: I’m often asked whether I take my photos with a drone. The truth is that I’ve never held a drone, let alone taken a photo with one. There are a number of reasons I don’t use a drone but the primary reason is that it’s the experience of the moment that matters to me, and flying is such a thrilling experience! It’s actually the same as with my landscape photography too: when you’re out in the middle of nowhere, and the light paints the landscape with colour and shadow, it fills your heart with awe and wonder. It makes you feel special. It makes you feel connected. I would like to think that it’s the joy contained in these moments of capture that makes my photos a little bit different. Whether that’s a fantasy or reality, I’ll never know… but I believe that if a scene doesn’t make my heart beat a little faster at the moment of capture, it’s unlikely to make the viewer feel anything either. It’s those rare joyous moments that make me love it so much… and if I can convey just a fraction of that through my work, then I feel as though I’ve achieved something!
Q: Please share with us some of the challenges you have faced when photographing the outdoors.
A: When I was growing up, my family would occasionally go camping. Dad would pack the car and we’d drive somewhere. While Dad set up the tent, Mum would arrange the food and the bedding, us kids would go and collect firewood and then Dad would light the fire and cook dinner. Basically, Dad would run the show. I didn’t realize it at the time, but it gave me the false idea that only the boys were the ones who had the skills required for a successful camping trip. When I moved to the Kimberley, I met an amazing friend who had a 4WD and all the camping gear and we went on a trip together. I realized that I could do everything she could do. So on the next holiday, I hired a ute and went “out bush” by myself for 10 days, learning the hard way how to change a tire, drive a 4WD off-road, use a camping stove, plan my fuel stops, and all the rest. It changed my life. I think we’re often held back by ideas of what we can and can’t do, without stopping to question the truth of those perceptions. I love photographing snow, for example. It makes the whole landscape seem pristine and pure. But it usually requires getting up at 4 am, wearing appropriate clothing, putting the car into 4WD when it’s snowing or icy, and putting chains on the tires when it gets slippery. This isn’t a problem at all if you know what you’re doing – but these aren’t the skills that are traditionally passed on from mother to daughter. So if you’re not sure what to do, you can get stuck thinking that it’s just too hard. But it’s not!
Q: Please share with us some of the memorable moments in your photography career.
A: I’m quite a competitive person, so most of the highlights of my photography career have been related to achieving goals (such as the MFIAP – Maitre de la Fédération Internationale de l’Art Photographique) or winning awards (such as the Epson International Pano Awards). However, meeting my partner Matt Palmer who is also a highly acclaimed landscape photographer, and opening a photography gallery together has definitely been a dream come true for me. He is an exceptional photographer, and I love how he sees the world. We always go out shooting together and come home with completely different photos. It is wonderful to be able to share these experiences with the love of my life.
Q: As an accomplished photographer, what advice would you give to aspiring photographers?
A: I think it’s really important to do it as a hobby/sideline job until you have both the skills and a definitive body of work to make it a full-time profession. I was a teacher and then a librarian for six years, doing photography every weekend and evening. It was many many years before I was confident that I could make it into my full-time job. If I’d tried to do it sooner, I wouldn’t have had enough savings to survive my first year! I would also say that photography is just like learning an instrument. You need to practice. You can’t expect to play in a symphony orchestra the first year you play the flute! But on the other hand, if you’re willing to practice and work hard at it, and you have “the eye,” then all it takes is time.
We thank Mieke for spending time with us. Her enthusiasm for outdoor photography is the underpinning of her success. Here are her links:
Alpine Light Gallery
Website
Facebook
Instagram