The Traveling Photographer

with Dave Williams

Steve BrazillNovember 18, 2021

If you’ve been watching the show for a while then you may have seen the “Aurora and the Night Sky” episode with Dave Williams. Dave is a travel photographer, based out of London, and one of the most adventurous people I know. More on that in a minute.

I met Dave by chance a few years ago at Photoshop World. I was interviewing people in a hallway when I asked two people walking by if I could ask them some questions (they kindly said yes). What I didn’t realize at the time is that it was Dave Williams and Sian Elizabeth. Before this chance meeting I was aware of Dave Williams, due to his work with KelbyOne, but I really didn’t know it was him when I asked for that interview, until noticed his instructor badge. Since that time I have gotten to know Dave a bit better, and have even had the pleasure of hanging out with him at a Platypod dinner. He is one of the most knowledgable guys in the business, and yet one of the most humble.

Dave’s mantra is, ‘lend me your eyes and I’ll show you what I see’. I like that saying, and it sums up his work well. Dave’s images take you places, and make you feel like you’re there, and that work has been featured in publications and campaigns for clients including Time, National Geographic, Forbes, Boeing, Huawei, Microsoft, Triumph, Conde Nast, and Shell to name a few. He also works closely with several companies within the photography and travel industries, including Platypod, Wandrd, Litra, Drobo, Blackrapid, Passion Passport, and Lonely Planet.

You can find Dave’s tutorials and writings in various places, and I have the links below, but many will know him the same way I did, his classes at KelbyOne, along with his writings for Photoshop User Magazine and ScottKelby.com, and through Photoshop World. He also writes writes journalistic and inspirational articles for DIY Photography.

Since that last episode, Dave’s life has changed a bit. He now lives in a van he calls “Kofifernweh”, and this is not a ‘normal’ van. Seriously, this thing is insane – you can read about it here, and take a tour of it here. While living in this van, Dave is traveling, and photographing, and writing, and doing a cool new series called Due North.

Due North is a series documenting his winter mission to hit as many Nordic countries as possible. You get to follow along with Dave as he drives through some of the most photographic landscapes in the world. You can catch the show over on his YouTube channel.

I’m so glad Dave has found the time to come back on the show, and for this episode we will be talking about his image of the famous Glenfinnan Viaduct. This location, and the old trains that travel it, has been seen in four Harry Potter movies, The Crown, and in many other shows and movies.

Join traveling photographer Dave Williams and me as we chat about his life in a van, and as we discuss his image of the iconic Glenfinnan Viaduct, on this episode of Behind the Shot.

Connect with Dave

Dave’s Due North Series

KelbyOne

Dave’s Aurora Book

Dave on DIY Photography

Dave’s Photographer Pick

Sian Elizabeth (Mentioned during the show)

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