Robert HardingA chat with Michael Runkel
Dynamic travel photographer Michael Runkel has been traveling the world for 28 years and aims to visit every country on earth. Blown-away by his epic, colourful and atmospheric photography, we asked him the secrets of his spectacular career.
Tourist walking along a giant sand dune, Merzouga, Morocco, North Africa
Where are you from and where do you live?
I’m from Nuremberg, Bavaria, where I currently live. This year I’ve been in to a few countries in the Caribbean, Sao Tome and Principe, all five of the Channel Islands, Crete, Rhodes, Ireland, Malawi and Zambia.
How did you first get into photography?
I travelled to Cambodia in 1993 with a photographer couple, when the country was still in a state of civil war. One of them had a Minolta D-9000 and was taking great photos of Sima Reap and the untouched ruins of Angkor. Every morning we would drive through the mine fields on little motorbikes, past corrupt soldiers. The atmosphere was incomparable, and it inspired me to start taking photos myself.
Prayer flags crossing the Friendship Highway between Lhasa and Kathmandu, Tibet, China
Where are you now and what are you shooting?
Right now I am Nuremberg because my wife and I are expecting a baby in the next few weeks. I have some cruise ship assignments around Europe in September. I also plan to go to the Guyanas in the South America for 10 days in the fall. Over the next ten months I plan to travel through the Carribbean, the Central Pacific, and South Georgia and the Falklands. Next April, my family and I will do a round-the-world trip for five months.
Colourfully dressed local tribes celebrating the traditional Sing Sing in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea, Pacific
What are your favourite destinations/subjects to photograph and why?
I love to photograph festivals of remote tribes and more ‘off the beaten path’ spots.
And since I haven’t been through parts of these regions yet, Africa and the South Pacific. Another favourite is UNESCO World Heritage Sites- I’m trying to visit all of them. At this point I’ve photographed over 580 of them.
How would you describe your style?
I love vibrant colours and to make people in my portraits smile.
Friendly girls, Carnival in the town of Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe
Can you recall a favourite experience on your travels?
I’ve been travelling for 28 years, at least four months a year, so there are countless experiences. One of the moments that stands out is standing on the rim of the active Tolbachyk volcano in Kamchatka, looking right down into Dante’s Inferno as magma erupted like fireworks. That was an amazing experience.
Backlight of fishermen in a little fishing boat at sunset, Lake Malawi, Cape Maclear, Malawi
Can you recall a particularly challenging experience while taking photos/travelling?
Once in Khartoum, Sudan, to photograph the Dervish ceremony. I had an official permit from the government, but a few local guys had a problem with me shooting there. They kept pushing my camera away, so we took it up with some guards who cleared it with the master Dervish. He had no problem with me taking photos, but the men continued to object. It’s just what happens sometimes.
Fishing boats in Nyhavn, 17th century waterfront, Copenhagen, Denmark, Scandinavia
What cameras and equipment do you use? Do you have a favourite?
I use a Nikon D4 and a D800. My lenses are a 16-28mm, 24-70mm, 70-200mm all 2.8 lenses. Also a 1.8 50mm and a 50-500mm Sigma. I use a Nikon SB910 and a SB 600 flash. My tripods I get from Cullmann, who produces excellent-value tripods.
I don’t use Apple products simply because it’s incompatible with other gear. Doing travel photography in remote countries, it’s just more dependable to go with a PC-based system. So I use an Asus ZENBOOK with an I7 processor and 12 Ram when I travel.
I love my 24-70mm lens, it’s my go-to piece of gear.
Colourfully dressed man, Carneval in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, West Indies
What are your tips for taking a good photo?
Everything is about the light. For starters, I always plan ahead so I hit the right season. Once there, I follow the weather forecast and try to be at my chosen spot at the right time of the day. I extend it a bit further and google what time of the day there will be light on a certain building, for example.
With taking portraits, I always try to be very friendly and open with my models. It helps that I am pretty capable with languages and come along with quite a lot of them.
Early morning view of the countryside surrounding the temple complex of Borobodur, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Java, Indonesia
What advice would you give for young photographers starting out?
Don’t start out shooting what’s been photographed a million times before. Try to capture a unique perspective of a subject, a new angle. Bring something unique to the frame and develop your own style. Also, don’t expect this business to go quickly, it takes time to nurture relationships and a solid foundation.
Man rowing his little rowing boat at sunrise on Inle Lake, Shan States, Myanmar, Asia
What are your future plans?
I’m planning to visit and photograph every country on this planet before I turn 50. I am member of all the ‘most travelled people’ clubs, and thebesttravelled.com recently rated me as number 8 in the world.
See more of Michael Runkel’s photography