Name?

Richard Gaston

Age?

27

Where are you based?

Glasgow, Scotland

How do you make a living?

Photography; commissioned jobs, selling prints & upcoming travel book to be published Spring 2017

What camera do you use?
Canon 5D Markii

How has travel made an impact on your life?

Initially, travel was a place and time for leisure, predominantly embarking on hiking expeditions or day trips to the Highlands of Scotland to grasp a sense of adventure not far from home. Along the way I took photographs building up an archive of imagery which I posted online with no real intent – solely because I liked the look of the image. However, through persistent experience of photographing in the mountains I began to develop a knowledge and skill base in that respected field which I then began to take seriously. To cut a long story short, I have become self-taught in the profession and I am now fortunate enough to be able to use the Scottish Highlands as a place of work producing work for various clients in need of outdoor imagery. The essence of what I am trying to convey is how travel has developed my photography from something of an interest into a profession.

What is your relationship to travel/adventure, and what does it mean to you?

Adventure has given me the opportunity to develop my character as a person and as a professional; discovering my interest in exploration came late on in my life, I was tired, impatient and my priorities were all wrong. However, through the experience of adventure I have become somewhat calmer with life itself gaining an understanding of what matters most which gave room for a new a sense of freedom, patience and content. Without this discovery, I would be pursuing a curious life of what if? Now I can live a life where I would rather risk too much than too little.

A trip to the ‘Island on the Edge of the World: St Kilda.’ An uninhabited archipelago situated 100 miles from the Scottish mainland.

On the Isle of Rum during the deer rut. As we lay down for the night, we could hear the sounds of the deer as they roamed amongst the glens, aggressive and intimidating they sound.

Summer in West Highlands of Scotland – one of the wettest regions in Europe.

Beginning our ascent on Binnein Mor. A long-haul hike in the midst of winter, beginning at sunrise and completing our route at sunset.

The Old Man of Storr, Isle of Skye. Commonly visited, uncommonly shrouded in snow. The snow had completely melted the following day as we passed by the iconic landmark.

Arising early to catch a glimpse of a sunrise over the rugged landscape of Assynt. From the summit, a vast mix of sensations: the cold breeze in the clouds combined with the warmth of the first glow of light.

Camban Bothy, remotely located within the highlands of Kintail. We set on foot hiking through the glens arriving just before nightfall. These were the sights early in the next morning.

From what had seemed a wasted journey, faffing around the surrounding hillside, patience got the better of us. Close to turning back, we forced ourselves to continue unaware of what was before us. Hands down the surrealist landscape I have encountered in Scotland.

Lagangarbh Cottage – quite possibly one of the most photographed houses in the country.

Beginning in the pitch dark we summited ahead of sunrise. Perfectly situated as we were cascaded with color as the day transitioned from night to morning. 

@richardgaston