preloaddefault-post-thumbnail

After drooling over adventure travel photographer Jeff Bartlett‘s photos (and subsequently suffering from a serious case of wanderlust), we decided to get the skinny on his hefty travel photography resume.

Jeff has travelled to more than 10 countries, but has a special place in his heart for his home country: Canada. His goal is to inspire others to get outside and explore the world — now, that’s something we can get behind!

Want to see more of Jeff’s stunning snaps? He’ll be taking over our @Cheapflights Instagram account Monday, May 4, so head on over and check it out. You can also catch Jeff as the guest judge for our #ShowUsYourCanada Instagram competition (ending May 5!).

Q: Tell us a little about yourself.

A: I’m an adventure photographer and writer based in Jasper National Park. My biggest passions – cycling, skiing, and hiking – are synonymous with active travel, so I use my craft to tell compelling stories about mountain life and culture.

My photography uses a unique combination of vibrant landscapes and the occasional placement of people within them to engage a true sense of place. Coupled with my active writing style, my simple aim is to inspire people to get outside and explore.

Q: Where did your passion for photography come from?

A: My passion for photography took a very long time to set in. I began travelling straight out of high school when I was returning to Canada to work seasonally in the oil and gas industry each year. My job involved a lot of waiting time, so I used to pour through travel magazines. After a few years, I realized I wanted to be producing the content in the magazines I was reading. Eventually, I decided to go to journalism school to become a travel writer. Then I improved my photography to help sell more travel articles. After a year or two, photography took over and I began to focus more and more on the craft.

Q: Where is your favourite place to take pictures?

A: That’s an easy one. My three favourite travel destinations are Norway, Iceland and Patagonia (both the Argentina and Chile sides), but nothing beats photographing the wilderness that surrounds my home in Jasper National Park. The Canadian Rockies are magical and the best places are on the Alberta side of the divide!

Q: Tell us a little more about your travels.

A: I barely consider myself a traveller, but I’ve slowly added to a big list of destinations. I’ve travelled extensively though Chile, Argentina and Uruguay. I’ve island hopped across the Caribbean and explored the Nordic countries – Sweden, Norway, Finland and Iceland. I’ve also seen most of Canada and a whole swathe of the United States. My first trip abroad was to New Zealand. In the next few months/years, I’d love to get back to New Zealand and Patagonia, but my current bucket list also includes Bhutan (unfortunately, I just declined a trip there due to a scheduling conflict), Mongolia and Greenland. I love harder-to-reach places because the locals are often less tourist savvy, which makes for more authentic and less economic-driven interactions. The other travellers you meet in these types of places tend to be a salty lot, too, which is always great for swapping stories over a campfire!

Q: You sound like a traveller to us! What is your favourite thing about Canada?

A: I think Canada is just surreal. We have so many incredible landscapes, so much diversity, incredible wildlife, and plenty of people who are chasing their passions in the mountains.

The skies were dancing in Vik, #iceland last night, so I had to take a celebration selfie ☺

A photo posted by Jeff Bartlett (@photojbartlett) on

Q: Do you have any photography tips, tricks or hacks you’d like to share?

A: I spent years refusing to believe two pieces of advice from my college professors, until I realized both were 100 per cent true. First, to take better photos, you need to take plenty of bad photos. It’s a learning curve and each bad photo is part of the process. Second, begin where you mean to end. I spent years trying to work as a photographer, accepting all assignments and shooting weddings. I wasn’t passionate about it, but as soon as I let those projects go and focused on adventure, my photography improved and I began landing more and more work.

I found three Icelandic horses standing in a field! #bestanimals A photo posted by Jeff Bartlett (@photojbartlett) on

Q: You consider yourself an adventurer. What are some of the most adventurous things you’ve done?

A: Sometimes I feel like a fraud calling myself an adventurer, as there are so many people getting out there and pushing themselves in ways I couldn’t imagine. But when I think about it, adventure is more a way of travelling that focuses on experience. I’ve also managed a few interesting trips, like turning my honeymoon into a 4,500-kilometer cycle tour across Argentina, hiking across Patagonia, ski touring the Lyngen Peninsula in Norway, and piecing together a series of hike, bike, and ski adventures here in the Canadian Rockies.

In the next few months, I have some pretty big adventures coming, which I’ll be sharing on my blog, Adventure Freelancer.

Q: Do you have any crazy travel stories?

A: I tend to roll with the punches quite well. I’ve always said my favourite part of adventure is not knowing where I’ll sleep at the end of the day. In a three-night span, I once slept in Butch Cassidy’s former homestead, behind an abandoned gas station, and in the front yard of a friendly local who let us set up camp after we were caught stranded on the roadside with a pair of broken bicycles.

Q: What does an average day in the life of Jeff look like?

A: I wish it wasn’t true, but it still involves plenty of computer time, just like any job! A surprising part of a photographer’s life is spent sending emails; however, I always escape for a two-to-three hour mountain bike ride, to climb a mountain, or, in the winter, to go skiing.

On assignment, a typical photography day starts about 45 minutes before sunrise, when I am in a desperate search for coffee. Once caffeinated, I head out to photograph the sunrise at a pre-selected location. After the golden light fades, I’ll normally try to keep shooting for a few hours, during which I usually try to get my action photos for adventure stories. Once the sunlight is too harsh, it’s either nap time, lunch time, or fun time. I often opt for the latter, and squeeze in my mountain bike/hike/ski time. I usually try to grab an early dinner and then head out to shoot again for one or two hours before sunset. Ideally, I’ll shoot until twilight fades. At that point, it’s either time for bed or time to keep shooting if the night sky suits the assignment!

Q: Any advice for an aspiring travel photographer?

A: Do not listen to the jaded photographers who complain that it’s tough to earn a living as a photographer because the industry is changing. It has always been and always will be hard to make a living from a passion; however, there are few things as rewarding as turning a passion into a career. For what it’s worth, I personally believe it’s easier to earn a living as a photographer today than it has ever been. Sure the landscape is much different; however, the demand for imagery has never been higher. When was the last time you read a book? When was the last time you had the patience to watch an entire YouTube video? Photography continues to stand out because it has impact and it’s quick — just like our attention spans demand!

 

Featured image: Jeff Bartlett

About the author

Brittany DietzBrittany has travelled to London, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Mexico, The Caribbean, Canada and all over the U.S. She's passionate about travel and has big plans for future trips! Brittany is a Content and Social Media Executive at Cheapflights.

Explore more articles