Interview: Rado Markovič Hribernik, Photographer

Hello shutterbugs, 🙂

I’m on my second coffee and editing my second interview of the day. This will be the 22nd interview with photographers. I’m grateful to each of you for being willing to share your experiences with us. We love reading stories about your beginnings in the world of photography and what you’re doing today, and of course, we love to see the photos that you share with us.

Capturing the Magic of Urban and Natural Landscapes: An Interview with Photographer Rado Markovič Hribernik

Today, we have Rado Markovič Hribernik with us, who enjoys photographing landscapes and urban motifs and edits his photos using Adobe Camera Raw and Adobe Photoshop. Read this interesting story and take a look at the beautiful photo gallery that Rado has shared with us.

You can find Rado here:

E-mail: rado.marko.h@gmail.com
Instagram: @radomh
Twitter: @radomh
LinkedIn: @radomh

Hi Rado, how long have you been working as a photographer now?

I have been working as a photographer for slightly over 5 years now. I bought my first and, so far, only camera back in 2018, and ever since, it’s been my best friend on every trip, holiday, or each time I get bored and feel the need to do something creative.

What inspired you to become a photographer? What were your first steps?

Even though I have been interested in the visual arts for pretty much my entire life, I haven’t really bothered to try them myself until recent years. Perhaps it was my profession that guided me towards discovering this previously unknown passion of mine. Since I work in digital communications, I spend a lot of time on Instagram, where it is difficult not to notice all those fancy landscape photos of world-class photographers. Of course, at first I believed that it was impossible for me to create such magic, but as time passed, more and more I felt the desire to try it myself, and so this chapter of my life has begun.

Are you a professional or an amateur photographer?

Photography is my passion and an activity that fulfills me. A playground where I can express my creativity and escape from obligations and the monotony of everyday life. So, regardless of the earnings that emerge from doing what makes me happy, I do not and am not highly likely to consider myself a professional photographer in the future.

What is your favorite subject to photograph?

Mostly landscape and urban motifs, but I do not tend to focus on any particular elements. As an important part of the Slovenian, or, if you want me to put it that way, European, cultural, and architectural heritage, churches have always amazed me as a motif, and when I think carefully, they do appear in a major part of my photography work. Luckily, the Slovenian landscape is full of them, as they are typically found on almost every beautiful hill, so I’m unlikely to run out of options when trying to discover and portray something new.

What kit do you shoot with?

Camera:

Nikon D-7500

Lenses:

AF-S DX NIKKOR 18–140 mm f/3.5–5.6G ED VR
AF-P DX NIKKOR 10-20mm f/4.5-5.6G VR
NIKKOR AF-S 50mm/1.8G.

How would you define your photographic style?

I believe that a brilliant photographer has the virtue of making his work stand out in the flood of already existing pictures of the very same motif by being able to bring it to life and fill it with dynamics and vibrance simply by finding the best angle or perspective for it to shine in a proper way, thus making it unique. I strive to achieve that with each motif in any given circumstance.

Which editing software do you usually use?

Mostly Adobe Camera Raw and a bit of Photoshop when necessary.

John Wanamaker said: Half the money I spend on advertising is wasted; the trouble is, I do not know which half. Do you gain your clients by advertising or in another way?

It is my idea that someday I might set up my own website with a shop, and then classic advertising might as well be an option. However, as merely an artist and not a professional, I am currently using Instagram and other social media as a showcase of my work to gain recognition, and I am happy with that so far.

How does your typical working day look like? What do you do when you are not working? How many hours/days per week are you working? What do you do in your free time?

Very untypical for an average person, but probably not for one that works in the sports show business. I get up, usually between 10 and 11 a.m., and get busy. I’m not familiar with concepts such as working day, day off,” or work schedule, since my obligations are usually spread throughout the day until late at night, but then again, there are days that are more easy-going. One could argue that my work is simply a part of my lifestyle, and luckily, I am in love with what I do for a living. When not busy professionally, I like to spend time in nature, surrounded by family and friends, or doing some sports, mostly football (the real, European one), swimming, and obviously, taking photos. It keeps my mind clear and fills me with positive energy.

What would you do differently if you would start again?

In Slovenia, we have a proverb saying that “After the battle, everyone can be a general.” Of course, with today’s experience, I would have done a thing or two differently. Sometimes, when looking back at my old work, I do realize that I did not use the entire potential of some motif in given circumstances, and perhaps there is not a single thing that bites a landscape photographer more than missing a chance to take a great shot in a spectacular skylight. However, every path is a learning experience, and mistakes are the best teachers in life, so really, all in all, I do not have any true regrets.

A professional photographer is also an entrepreneur. Entrepreneurs have many things in common. They read a lot. What about you? What are your favorite books?

I admire certain novelists who are able to describe situations so superbly that pictures run through your imagination, making your mind wander away from reality. While perhaps my favorite book ever read was The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, I believe that nobody can paint the world as brilliantly as Leo Tolstoy did, and I consider him my favorite author. Since I am a graduate of social sciences, geopolitical and social-criticism works are my cup of tea as well, and my recent reads included the likes of Orwell’s Animal Farm, Brzezinski’s Grand Chessboard, or Marshall’s Power of Geography. I enjoyed every one of them.

What was the best advice you have ever received as a photographer? Do you have any advice for other photographers?

Never mix your photography endeavors with your private life. Enjoy your free time with your family and friends, and focus 100% on your work while on photo missions.