From Sea to Soil, Sam Scales on Documenting the Wild Through Photography
We discuss cultivating a life in the wilderness, capturing the beauty of natural light, finding daily habits that nurture creativity, and discovering your unique 'voice' as a photographer
Sam Scales is one of those rare photographers whose work causes you to catch your breath, at the sheer beauty he’s able to capture within the constraints of a photograph. I first stumbled across his work via the earlier imagery of skincare brand Haeckels, and, yet Sam’s work is so much more than a commercial endeavour. These are images that capture the real spirit of nature; a scene that we might witness after a long walk as the sun is setting, or when the light falls across our path in a certain way, fleeting and transient. We’ve all experienced these moments, when nature has both overwhelmed our senses and humbled us, making us feel the magic of being part of something bigger, and a part of life. Capturing these same emotions and vivid sensations in a photograph is no easy feat, yet Sam manages to make it look effortless.
In this interview, we delve into Sam’s creative processes, learn some of his secrets for capturing nature, and discover how he achieves such dreamy, painterly images using his camera.
Hello Sam, and welcome to LAND Journals. Your images create such a feeling of connection and resonance, recreating those ordinary, but majestic moments we can sometimes experience when we are out in nature and immersed in its beauty fully. Saying so much, by saying so little visually, is a skill that few photographers can claim to have. Yet, you clearly have a deep and personal connection with the natural world, which translates into these emotional photos. I’d love to find out more about your working practices and how your creative process looks.
Rachel: Can you share your morning routine? Are there any rituals or habits that you have in your life that then feed into your creativity?
Sam: Most of the time I keep to the same daily routine, starting with breakfast and a cup of tea. I try to start working at the same time each day, this allows me time to get work done, and then I’m also to switch off. Me and my fiancé work together, so we have the same work practices. A morning walk is always the best way to start the day. Having this general routine really helps if I need to work on, or complete a certain project. This rhythm helps me with productivity, which then allows me the space for creativity.
As I work across both illustration and photography, I have to stay as productive as possible for both myself and my clients, I find it important to have a natural flow to my creativity, not forcing anything.
Rachel: Are there any parts of your home in particular where you like to work, can you share how this looks and feels?
Sam: If I’m working from home I work at my desk, giving me enough space for either my laptop, pencil and paper, or my lino tools. Obviously, my favourite place to work is outside. Either creating work for my print store or photographing for my clients. The mix of being outside and then at home means that I can get to appreciate both.
Rachel: How do you prepare for a day of shooting, do you have a go-to checklist or is it based on the weather that day? How do you plan ahead and create the right circumstances to capture exactly what it is that you want, and then make magic that happen?
Sam: If I’m shooting for myself this is a lot more open, it’s down to wanting to be in a certain location and seeing what happens. Sometimes I check the weather and outdoor conditions, but most of the time it’s always special to just go. Then respond to whatever’s in front of me rather than create the scene myself.
If it’s a commercial shoot, then I have a window of opportunity - I have a shot list with a deadline. For these jobs it helps to stay flexible and to respond at the right moment, checking all of the conditions and locations. If I plan everything right, once I’m at the location, then the thinking has already been done. This allows me to get into my flow and know that I can capture everything that’s expected.
Rachel: You have a very specific viewpoint which is undoubtedly formed through years of hard work and investigation, to arrive at your current viewpoint. Can you share a pivotal moment or experience that has sparked your passion for photography, and capturing nature in its truest form?
Sam: I think this viewpoint comes from a genuine love for what I do, it’s a way of communicating rather than just creating. I think it’s difficult to always show nature in its purest form, as I’m always creating a frame within a scene- finding the right light, noticing shapes within a landscape and then capturing a moment.
A pivotal moment for me would be photographing the Jurassic coast in Dorset. In the early days, while learning photography, this location undoubtedly sparked my love for landscape photography. I just wanted to be outside, to go for a walk, to see new places and switch off. I felt like I had an excuse to go by having a camera with me. This taught me how to slow down and notice how the location feels. The sights, sounds and smells are all part of this. To summarise this, it’s mostly about being outside and just connecting with nature.
Rachel: Can you elaborate on any specific techniques or practices that you use to capture the moods of nature, using natural light in your photography?
Sam: I feel like it’s about being excited while on location, being inspired by the strong golden light glowing over sea mist, long shadows created from rock forms. The list goes on. I would say it’s less down to technique and more about being in the moment. For this reason, I would say to simplify as much as you can, just use one lens and a single focal length- most of the time I just use a prime lens. This way you can refine your style, narrow your focus and be concise.
Rachel: Your work often evokes a sense of wonder and serenity, a feeling of actually being in nature and the emotions felt whilst being in these landscapes. How do you hope your photographs impact viewers and their perceptions of the natural world?
Rachel: Thank you, that really means a lot and exactly how I feel about being in nature, so that is the exact hope that I have that anyone would take away after seeing my work. I would love for my photographs to simply inspire someone. That could be in any form; to care about our environment, to be outside more, to be creative or to spark someone’s imagination.
Rachel: Many aspiring photographers struggle with finding their unique visual voice. How did you discover your photographic style, and what advice would you offer to those seeking their own artistic identity?
Sam: I guess like anyone else, this comes from constant creation. The more that you create, the more you have to notice how you see the world, then once you have a way of looking I feel this approach can be applied to anything. My advice would be to approach everything in your own way, there is no set rule or path to take. Everyone is unique and our views of the world are what makes us different. Always follow what interests you, try and repeat. As a creative, I feel like your unique voice can change and evolve over time.
Rachel: How do you kindle your creativity back to life when you're feeling out of sorts on any particular day, do you have any practises that bring you back to yourself?
Sam: This is a good question and I feel I touched on this before, it’s about not forcing anything, if you don’t feel like doing something, then take a break and come back to it later. Obviously there are times when deadlines come into place, but for the most part, switching off is as important as being productive. If I’m ever feeling out of sorts, then I have other tasks I try to complete, plus going for a walk, it’s important to have that balance between being productive and then being able to switch off.
Rachel: Nature can be so unpredictable, how do you adapt your photographic techniques to varying light conditions and within these natural environments?
Sam: I feel like my photography techniques stay the same in any condition. Keeping things as simple as possible and having a refined kit helps in all of the possible conditions. From a long hike in perfect weather to a heavy downpour, I try to not be too precious with my camera and this allows me to be as present as possible.
Rachel: What do you take with you when you’re out photographing landscapes, do you have a go-to pack of things, and do you shoot within a day - or do you stay out for days at a time to find and capture what you imagine?
Sam: When I’m out photographing landscapes my full kit includes; my Nikon F3, Sony a7riv, 55mm ziess lens, 35mm 1.4 Art lens, Sony 70-200mm g master, Mamiya RB67, spare batteries, extra SD cards and a rocket air blower (changing lenses outside always risks dust on my sensor so I always have this with me). However a lot of the time I just have one camera and only one lens with me.
Most of the time I’m in familiar locations shooting them over a long period of time, revisiting the same place teaches you to see the same location differently. It always allows me to see the varying conditions, as it can look and feel so different throughout the year.
Rachel: What are you reading or learning about right now?
Sam: I’m currently reading The Caliph’s House by Tahir Shah. We went to Marrakech early this year so this book feels so descriptive and evokes that Moroccan feeling. I find reading so good for my creativity and it’s a special feeling when you have a really good book to get into.
Rachel: What’s on your working playlist right now?
Sam: Air by Jonny Nash & Teguh Permana, Sampha, James Blake and Home Grown. Most of the time I just need some background music to help me work.
Rachel: Is there anything currently inspiring you that you can share?
Sam: I’m currently really inspired by the commercial projects that I’ve completed recently. They’re always full of great ideas, and so I often make something that I wouldn’t have created myself. I’ve been leaning on the illustration side a lot too, in the same way that landscape photography helps me look, this slow process filters throughout everything that I work on. Having people want my vision and way of creating to represent their brand is always so special to me.
Rachel: What’s next for Sam Scales, this year and beyond?
Sam: To keep having this career is the dream, and if I can keep finding a way to make this work, then I’ll be very happy. I have some potential jobs in the works, that I’m very excited about.
Find out more about Sam Scales and his work here.
The Land Journal Interviews
Welcome to a series of curated interviews on LAND Journals, with the handpicked people who inspire me the most. These are the individuals who have a unique perspective on life and bring something entirely new into the World. They challenge my viewpoint and rouse my thought processes, bringing an enlivening new interpretation of life, and, I’m hoping that their insights will do the same for you. These truthful conversations are important, unfiltered, and mostly unedited. So, if you haven’t already, subscribe for more deep dives into the lives of some of the most fascinating people around.
If you’d like to be considered for an interview, get in touch via email: hello@rachelholland.co.uk