Every month we interview another traveller. This time we spoke with Lachlan, better known as Lachie, from South Australia! As an Adventure and Lifestyle photographer he captures amazing images, which he shares on his Instagram account @thebirrell. In this interview we talk about his favourite destinations, his best travel experiences and he gives advice about photography. Read our Interview of the Month July with Lachie!
Could you please give our readers an introduction about yourself?
Hi everyone! My name is Lachlan, but I have been known as Lachie my whole life. I am 26 years old, born and bred in Adelaide, South Australia. My hometown is a smaller city, which is right along the coast, so I am lucky enough to be surrounded by many fantastic beaches. Hence why there is such a coastal theme to my photography .
After finishing school I studied Architecture at the university, but decided that it wasn’t for me and was lucky enough to be offered a full-time job in insurance. This job then took me to go live in London for most of the year, before returning home to Australia recently.
I’ve have played sport most of my life, and will find any excuse to get outside! This was probably a big influence on me taking up photography. I was already going on adventures, so may as well capture the memories!
That is amazing, thank you for your introduction. Where have your last few trips been to?
As I mentioned, I lived and worked in London for about a year. I travelled a bit around the UK and also visited Amsterdam. Prior to that I travelled to Thailand and most recently I have done a bit of local travel in Australia to Melbourne and Sydney.
What are some of your favorite countries? Can you name your top 5?
- New Zealand. A bit biased because my dad is from there, but I love their amazing landscapes and mountain ranges. They have some of the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen!
- The Netherlands. Our time in Amsterdam was amazing. The people there were so friendly and it was a last minute decision so we really didn’t know what to expect, but we loved it.
- Australia. Yes, I live there, but it is such a large country that each state feels like a different country all together. We have some great weather (although summer gets a little too hot!) and I love the beaches too.
- England, and specifically London. I absolutely fell in love with London, but really did not like it when I first moved over. The architecture and heritage is fantastic, and there is always something to see and do.
- Thailand. Spent a couple of weeks in Phuket a little while ago and you get such great value for money. Thai food is definitely one of my favourites too.
Do you have any travel plans coming up?
I am currently planning some local trips around South Australia, as well as down to Tasmania later this year. Also, I need to get across to Bali. I haven’t got around to that yet but it will be before the end of this year. My friends are also going to make me go visit in London again, so will hopefully travel a bit around Europe too.
What is high on your list of places you would love to visit? And why do you want to go there?
Bali is my top location at the moment. It’s one of the only places close(ish) to Australia, and has so many amazing locations. Iceland is a photographers dream, and is definitely on my to do list. It looks like another world over there, so harsh and beautiful at the same time. Italy and Switzerland are also high on my list. Italy for amazing food, and I need to visit the Swiss Alps as soon as I can.
What is the best travel experience you ever had?
My best travel experience would have to be Palm Cove in Queensland, Australia. I actually got dragged by my girlfriend to go, but then ended up absolutely loving it. We ate amazing food, spent a lot of time by the pool, and explored some pretty great tropical places with some friends we met over there. I think the fact that it surprised me as much as it did really made the experience even better.
What is it like to be on the road as an adventure and lifestyle photographer? Do you think you perceive landscapes differently than most?
I definitely think I see places differently than most. Since taking up photography, the way I view my surroundings has changed a lot. I notice a lot more than I ever did before, and have explored places that I would never have had I not taken up photography. The one thing I always need to remember is to not keep looking for the next shot, but taking some time to take in my surroundings and enjoy being in the moment.
When did you start with photography?
I started with photography about two years ago. I bought a camera to document my adventures on the weekend with friends initially, so I had something to look back on and remember the good times. It wasn’t until I was in London last that I started to take it a bit more serious and putting time into learning more about photography. I met a lot of great photographers and would spend every moment I could taking photos and exploring as much as I could.
Do you have any tips for people that would love to improve their basic photography skills?
It’s very cliché, but it really is about practice, practice, practice and more practice. I would often go out and take hundreds of photos at a time and only have a handful that were correctly exposed, in focus or composed well. As time goes on, you learn what works and what doesn’t. Definitely make the most of online tutorials too, they really are a huge help. Lastly, reach out to other photographers and try to surround yourself with a good network of people. You learn a lot off each other, and it always makes it more fun when you have company.
What is your favorite Instagram travel account?
My favourite photographer at the moment is Jason Charles Hill (@jasoncharleshill). Every one of his images makes you want to be right there and experience it, and the locations he travels to are so amazing. He is definitely one talented photographer and someone I look up to. Plus, he is a fellow Aussie!
Do you have anything else to add?
I’d encourage everyone to get into some form of photography or videography. Whether it is something you’d like to do as a career, or just want to take photos of your travels on your iPhone. I definitely believe in capturing the world around us, and having something physical to look back on to go together with the memories.
Great advice and love the inspiration. Thank you for the interview and happy travels!
Thank you so much for having me!
Do you have an interesting travel story to tell? Let us know by sending an e-mail to info@chaptertravel.com and tell us a bit about yourself!