It’s one thing to spend a day on a helicopter expedition to a remote glacier, or cannonballing at dusk into the waters of a Mexican cenote. It’s entirely another thing to be not only paid to have these bucket list experiences, but to come away from them with images that nearly two million people look at and think, “wow.” In other words, professional photographer Alex Strohl is living the dream at the age of 28.
Originally hailing from just outside of Madrid, Spain, Strohl now calls Whitefish, Montana home. That’s quite a move for anyone, but put into context — he considers himself an adventure photographer who delights in the most challenging terrain and weather — it’s easy to understand the allure Montana holds for him.
Nonetheless Strohl is increasingly away from home, keeping a rigorous travel schedule to fulfill projects for clients like Land Rover, Johnnie Walker, Contiki, and Inspired by Iceland. Then there’s his 1.9 million followers on Instagram and students of his photo workshops who thirst for fresh content and inspiration. It’s enough to exhaust anyone, but Strohl is only energized by being constantly on the move and in creation mode.
Somewhere between adventures, Adorama caught up with Stohl to discover how he makes the most of short summers in colder climes, and why he always stays out past sunset.
Adorama: First things first. What is your gear setup and your usual editing workflow?
Strohl: My main workhorse is the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV with the Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8 III USM lens. Those are always along for the ride, although when the going gets rough I also have a Canon EOS-1DZ Mark II and my “extreme lens,” a Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens. For shooting after sunset, during the “blue hour,” I use a Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM wide angle lens, and usually end up with my favorite photos of the day. My drone shots are made possible with the DJI Phantom 4 Pro, but if I’m going somewhere far on foot I pack the DJI Mavic Pro for its portability. Now pack all this into a Lowepro Whistler BP 450 XL Pro Grade Outdoor backpack, and that’s me.
As for editing, I utilize Adobe Lightroom CC for basic adjustments and grading, and Adobe Photoshop for cropping, curves, and optimizing for the web.
Adorama: What would you consider to be elements of your signature style?
Strohl: When you see the work it is often vast landscapes, people being outside, traveling, and exploring their surroundings. I often shoot a single person, which allows the viewer to imagine themselves in the image, which I think of as “empowering the individual.” I focus mostly on northern landscapes which are full of life, with water and trees. And I mostly shoot in the evening after sunset, the so-called “blue hour.”
Adorama: Was there a moment you remember first falling in love with photography?
Strohl: Growing up in Spain, outside Madrid in the Sierras, initially shaped my love for the outdoors. My father was a forest engineer and so I spent a great deal of my childhood roaming the mountains and forests surrounding my house. I’ve taken that passion and turned it into my work, and photography organically developed from those beginnings. In sum, it is a reflection of the things I grew up loving.
Adorama: How do you make a living right now, and how big a role does your photography play?
Strohl: I am a full-time photographer and filmmaker, although I also make workshops to empower individual creatives. Consulting for various start-ups in the travel and technology fields, and speaking engagements round out my schedule.
Adorama: In a caption on one of your images, you noted that you shoot 80% of your pictures between June and September. How do you prepare for these integral months, in terms of advance planning for the shoots?
Strohl: My love of summer mostly comes down to thinking in advance — like, over winter — what I want to shoot, then finding the stories, and researching places. This lengthy process results in my favorite part, the shooting, which typically happens in summer. Also the access to remote places is easier, with no snow. And there’s always the bonus to summer that usually sees my clients going on holidays, which means I can shoot more personal work.
Adorama: What are the questions you *always* make sure to ask a client before agreeing/signing a contract?
Strohl: I typically want to know three things. One: What’s the audience for whom we’re making the film or photos? Two: How does the client track success? (So I can be sure to hit all points and fulfill expectations). Three: What’s the budget?
Adorama: You enjoy giving an aerial perspective in your shots, whether by drone or aircraft. What do you find to be the greatest challenge in making aerial photography align with your vision or plan for a shoot?
Strohl: Communicating my vision with the pilot is the biggest thing. I’ve learned that it’s important to remember that both of you–the photographer creating the work and the pilot enabling this creation — are equally important in getting the shot.
Adorama: Can you share a tip you’ve learned from shooting from small planes?
Strohl: Fast. Shutter. Speeds.
Adorama: What’s your single favorite photo you’ve captured and shared, and can you tell the story behind it?
Strohl: It’s one shot I got during a day where I drove a Land Rover on a frozen lake in Iceland [see the image below]. I can’t even begin to explain how difficult it was to pull off the shot off, and it still gives me chills when I look at it. Since I first visited Iceland in 2011, I had longed to see it in winter. Finally it happened, and Iceland in the winter exceeded every scenario I imagined. The days are short and the sun is so low that the light is the softest I’ve ever witnessed. It’s like being in a lucid dream.
Check out Strohl’s full Through the Lens episode below:
