Judith Kuhn
1. Can you introduce yourself and talk about how you got into photography?
Hello! I am Judith, I would like to call myself an “ambitious amateur photographer”. My main focus is nature and landscape photography, but I also like to make detours to other genres. I have now started with wedding and pet photography.
Everything I know about photography is self-educated. A few books here, some internet research there, inspiration from the works of other photographers, and a lot, really a lot of trying things out has brought me to where I am today.
2. Where did you study photography?
Everything I know about photography is self-educated. A few books here, some internet research there, inspiration from the works of other photographers, and a lot, really a lot of trying things out has brought me to where I am today.
3. Do you remember your first shot? What was it?
I am not sure. It was probably the Hotel (an old palace) in Austria where I spent some holidays with my parents as a child. I loved it very much.
4. What equipment do you use?
First and foremost, I photograph landscapes. I have two lenses in my backpack for this genre: the Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM and the Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM. Various ND and GND filters as well as a tripod are of course always included. Sometimes I also use the Tamron 70-300mm 1: 4-5.6 SP Di VC USM with me for detailed shots.
Occasionally I do astrophotography with the Sigma 14mm f/1.8 DG HSM Art.
Of course, a tripod is indispensable in landscape photography. Here I prefer a traveller tripod from Rollei due to the small pack size and weight. My second big passion is wildlife photography. Here I have the Tamron SP 150-600mm F / 5-6.3 Di VC USD G2 (also very heavy and therefore not always in the backpack) for the larger and more abrasive specimens and the Tamron SP 90mm 1: 2.8 Di Macro 1:1 VC USD for the tiny ones
For indoor photography and other occasions where you need an ultra-wide angle, I recently added the Sigma 12-24mm f / 4 DG HSM Art, which is not always included due to the weight. I use all those lenses with my Canon EOS 5D Mark IV.
My newest toy is a drone: the DJI Mavic 3 for unusual perspectives, abstractions, and a view over the fog.
5. What do you hope to achieve?
My dream is to be able to make a living from travel and nature photography. To be able to take pictures for magazines in faraway countries, to sell my pictures and calendars on the side, and to offer workshops and coaching for small groups from time to time.
6. What compliment inspired/touched you the most?
Some people have already said or written to one or the other of my Northern Lights pictures that it is the best Northern Lights picture they have seen so far. I'm particularly happy about that because it's not easy to photograph the Northern Lights in the right weather conditions and with the right foreground. Especially if you don't live in the Arctic.
7. What inspires your unique storytelling?
My love of nature.
8. What THREE (3) words describe your photography style?
Powerful, expressive, and honest.
9. Congratulations! As the winner of the London Photography Awards, what does it mean for you and your team to receive this distinction?
Thanks! It always makes me proud to receive awards in photo competitions. It motivates me to keep going on.
10. Can you explain a bit about the winning work you entered into the 2024 London Photography Awards, and why you chose to enter this project?
I received the London Amateur Category Winner of the Year award for my series on the dunes of the Rub al-Khali. It was my second visit to the largest sand desert on our planet and I am fascinated by the magic. The endless dunes that are constantly changing, the colours that change with the position of the sun, the structures in the sand, and the variety of life that you don't expect there (and hardly see, since it mostly happens at night).
11. How has winning an award developed your career?
I'm an amateur photographer, so I don't have a career. Receiving an award is purely motivating for me.
12. Name 1-3 photographers who have inspired you.
I'm less inspired by certain photographers, it's more individual pictures by different photographers that I get my inspiration from.
13. What is your key to success? Any parting words of wisdom?
Watch, try, and never give up.
