Photography—it’s all about commitment, passion, and skill. Ever wondered what a day in the life of a professional photographer is like? People wanted me to document a typical day at work, giving you an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at my shooting schedule and techniques in the field.
This was taken from a recent article done about me:
This week, we’re spending the day with Tampa based landscape photographer Erik Cocks. He takes his Nikon and Mamiya medium format cameras to shoot the subjects he enjoys the most—moody landscapes from mountaintops to rivers.
It’s rare to find a landscape image that can tell a powerful story, but Erik Cocks has managed to deliver this consistently in his fairytale-like body of work. When it comes to capturing a blanket of fog rolling over the hills or the golden light of the sun setting over city rooftops or even a flower bathed in bokeh, we look to him for inspiration.
Aside from his photographs in full color, he is also not afraid to shoot in black and white with a minimalist style, creating atmosphere of stillness, heavy with mystery.
Perhaps it’s because of his sharp curatorial eye or his natural skill in spotting and working with great light. Whatever it is, we can some find some answers and inspiration in the 24 hours of his life that he documents for us.
Scroll down, and see what it’s like to be spend a day in the life of a professional photographer.
A Day in the Life of Erik Cocks when “working” on a trip:
4 A.M. I wake up and check the latest weather forecast on my phone. It looks very promising, so I quickly pack my stuff, check if I have all my photo gear, and set off.
I stay in my converted Van so that I don’t have to drive far. The van also allows me to get into parks as a “camper” and allows me to be inside the closed gates well before sunrise.
6 A.M. I am walking up a narrow trail in the Olympic Park National Forest in Washington. It is still dark. I can see dozens of eyes, reflecting the light of my headlamp when I look deep into the forest. If I slip in the wet darkness on this small path, I will fall about 300 feet. I am not on a hiking path. I’m on a deer path through the woods and on the edge of a mountain, found on a previous trip, marked with GPS. I’ve tried this path before and arrived after good images could be created.
6.45 A.M. I arrive at the viewpoint. It is on a cliff high above a valley and waterfall. Everything below is covered with a blanket of fog, only treetops and hills are peeking through. It is late November, and it is freezing cold. I am setting up my tripod. I’m already seeing some great compositions as the darkness lets us.
7:30 A.M. Sunrise. The sun is slowly making its way up above the horizon and the first sun rays pierce through the mist. The golden light together with the colorful trees create such a wonderful performance. I start to create images, while enjoying the beauty of a wonderful autumn morning.
9 A.M. The mist in the valley is almost gone, as the sun is getting higher. Having packed my gear, I just sit on the rock, have breakfast, and enjoy the view.
10 A.M. It is a nice and sunny November day, so I’ve decided to scout the area and look for some new locations. Olympic Park is a beautiful national park in the northern part of Washington State. There are so many valleys, gorges, and rock formations there. You could be exploring it for weeks, and still discover new views and unseen spots.
12 P.M. I am getting tired as I have been hiking almost all morning in a harsh terrain. I head back to my van. As I come back to the main hiking trail, there are already many hikers, and it is getting quite busy. Time to rest and time for lunch.
2 P.M. I am sitting in one of the local restaurants enjoying a cup of espresso after a great lunch. I check the latest weather forecast which looks good.
3 P.M. I have decided to go to the beach. Not to sunbathe in November, but to get some great shots of the rocks and driftwood. It is a 50-minute drive. On the way, I stop to check my favorite waterfalls, but there is almost no water, as there hasn’t been much rain recently.
4 P.M. I park my van and head to the rocks.
5 P.M. I am setting up my gear at the viewpoint. The trees in front of me are colored in red and yellow. It was a fantastic autumn mood.
6 P.M. I am shooting the sunset. The wind is blowing pretty hard, so I have to hold my tripod because it almost fell over. I capture some really nice shots with clouds that were on fire, then pack my gear and head back to the parking lot.
7 P.M. I am already in the van driving back to my camping area.
8 P.M. I stop at the gas station to grab some food and a cup of tea.
9 P.M. I arrive home. I quickly check the images I took today on my computer. It seems there could be some keepers. All in all, it was a wonderful and successful day.
10 P.M. I am completely exhausted, so I am going to bed. Good night…
We hope reading about Erik’s day hiking in the woods of Washington State gave you some insight into landscape photography work. Want to see more of his photos? Scroll down for more breathtaking landscapes to inspire you: