Daniel Kordan

How did you become a worldwide acclaimed professional photographer? What’s been your education in this sense? 

In my early years, I attended a painting school. I was a student at this school for six years. I learnt the techniques of painting, which undoubtedly extended my understanding of beautiful compositions and harmonious colour palettes.

I learned to understand the value of intuition. It's a central key to achieve unique results.  

About 10 years ago I started as a guide in a mountain club. This gave me the opportunity to travel to amazing places making a great impact on me.  

My photography career definitely started from painting, and then with my skills as a scientist it later developed into photography. 

How did you find your voice and your style?    

It has been a long journey. Making a great landscape portfolio has also taken many years. It's not something you finish in no time.

It took around 7 to 8 years of my career, just to form my skills and portfolio. Finally after all these years of intense work, my work started to pay off and I got more widely recognized, and financially I began to make it a livelihood.  

What are your most important source of inspirations? Any photographers you had as a model to follow? 

Finding new inspiration is important. Besides workshops, I get inspired by documentaries, videos, movies, books and on my own Instagram feed.

I also let myself be inspired by gifted painters. Ayvazovskiy, Monet, Rembrandt, Paul Signac, Caravagio are some examples. Painters like these, influenced both my approach in designing images and their work has helped me improving my colour- composition skills.

You have a wonderful quote from Lord Byron in your site, is there any connection between your photography, and poetry, specifically poetry of the English Romantics? 

I’ve not only been into landscape photography. For a period of time I was chief editor in the printed magazine called: “Continent expedition”. We wrote about people who conducted challenging and exiting travels. Before photography painting and poetry was a great way to interact with nature and bring its beauty to the world.  

How much study and scouting are there behind one of your photographs? and what is the weight of the postproduction in the final result? 

Although I have been many places, I still feel that I have a lot of areas to explore. When I look at the world map, I do it with great excitement studying my own “white spaces”.   

Firstly, I focus on a pictures style. It´s about the way you seek specific compositions. Secondly, I´m looking for a desired colour representation. Editing of course becomes a part of the process, but as you understand: It's not the most central aspect.

Nowadays, when there are so many photographers around the world, it has become even more important to differ from others. Regarding this, my workflow is quite special. I think it differs significantly from other photographers.  

What is the most inspiring country or place that you have ever photographed? 

I would like to mention some examples. We had an astonishing astrophotography trip in Bolivia and Chile visiting wonderful locations for night photography. It was a mind-blowing experience.

When I travel, I'm not just exploring. I also feel like I'm an observer. For that reason it's important for me not to rush. I try to set aside enough time to harmonise myself with the elements: absorbing the landscape and meditate.  

What made you choose Gitzo as a brand for your tripods and heads, when did you get your first one? 

For safe storage of my cameras and lenses, my favourite is

For tripods on hikes and light conditions, I mainly rely on Gitzo Traveler tripods.

I must be confident in my equipment, it's like a well trusted friend who's always here with you to help. That's why I choose Gitzo, for at least 10 years I use just their tripods because it's my well trusted friend I can rely on and trust the most precious things for me - my compositions.