Photographer Review: Keith Ladzinski

National Geographic photographer Keith Ladzinski has been one of the organization’s most successful and prominent photographers of all time. Growing up in Colorado, Keith spent most of his time skateboarding and enjoying the beautiful state. Then, one summer, Keith’s older brother brought home a camera. They spent the following months photographing skateboarding, his first true love. Later that year, Keith used his tax return to buy himself his own camera. In the following years, he fell in love with rock climbing. All of this critically shaped Keith’s passion and style for photography.

The photo above illustrates the connection between photographing skateboarding and his favorite, goofy portraiture style he uses today. When he first dabbled with photography, he would go out and take funny photos of his brother skateboarding. As he got older, he continued with this particular style of photography. He became so well known for his funny and amusing images that companies and publications around the country sought to hire him. The front lighting for this composition lights everything pristinely, but what makes it a fascinating artistic choice, is the shadow which is created by the crab. This provides additional depth and an artistic spin. However, the source of the backlight is also stunning and creative. The backlight is coming from the porthole in the door. This helps seperate the subject and, again, provide a unique depth to the photo.

During this same time, Keith really began diving into rock climbing and extreme sports. This was his niche that propelled his career to the top. Pictured are three famous images which Keith took - a climb of a spire in Asia, highlining in Rio De Janeiro, and an Ice climber at a festival in Minnesota. As seen in these photos, Ladzinski goes to literal extreme heights and places to do the work which he loves. The first photo is a very interesting physical composition. The spire is placed directly on a third with the climber exactly on the top right intersection point. The real depth comes into play when one focuses on the size comparison of the various objects in the scene. Without the climber, it wouldn't nearly be as interesting of a scene. One technique which has become one of his signatures, is the use of artificial light in natural settings. At first, I personally did not like this technique; however, I have come to appreciate and enjoy it. The middle image of the highliner is one example of this. Ladzinski had placed a team member in front of the walker with a wireless flash. This is very noticeable when focusing on the front of the individual walking. The image of the Redwood (which Keith shot on assignment for National Geographic to photograph the National Parks) is one of his most famous images (pictured below). Again, this practices the artificial lighting technique. The way Ladzinski practices this technique brings unnatural light to a natural setting. This captures the viewer's eye because there is two points of conflicting interest. The scene is 100% natural, yet the lighting contradicts nature. It is a fascinating use of light which has become his signature. When attempting to distinguish his work from others, this is typically the first thing I look for. The final image above is a stellar composition again, because of the light. There is one source which is spotlighting the climber in a bright orange coat. Which, brings up the next point of interest - the orange coat. Blue (seen in the ice) and orange (the coat) have the highest contrast of any complimentary colors on the color wheel. This mastery of color rounds this image off as a beautiful photograph.

From the same assignment as the Redwood is the photograph of this alligator in Everglades National Park (pictured below). One more aspect of Ladzinski’s work that sets his images apart from others, is his use of wide angle lenses to capture scenes which would primarily be captured with a telephoto lens. In other words, instead of staying a far distance away from his subject, he gets right up to them. This gives a much different look to his wildlife photography. With that in mind and the addition of the sunbeams as the light source, this image is unlike any other Alligator image out there. Most times, to get a shot like this, a drone would be used, but not Ladzinski.

Keith Ladzinski has become one of the most famous photographers in the documentary and conservation world. His name rivals that of Paul Nicklen and Ami Vitale’s. One of the most fascinating parts of his life and work is that he is still his childish self, taking pictures of his brother skateboarding, at heart, and it shows. He goes to places no one else goes, takes images no one else will, and does so with a magnificent artistic eye. His images are real and master light.