Scott Woodward, adventure photographer

When Scott Woodward was young, his father taught him how to operate a manual camera and imaginatively compose an image. More importantly, he says, his dad instilled in him a sense of wonder and adventure, and he atributes this to making him a photographer.

Scott was voted “One of Asia’s Finest Photographers” by Nikon and his pictures have appeared in National Geographic, The New York Times, GQ and Travel + Leisure magazines.

What kind of adventures do you love?

Clearly, I love photographic adventures. The time explore any destination with my camera is an experience I relish.

I once read that a camera is a great excuse to delve into a place deeper than we otherwise would. I like this description. Creating a special photograph forces us to look at our surroundings differently, to explore a place further, to look beyond the obvious and to hunt for something original and inspiring.

I call my photography style “Choose Your Own Adventure Photography”, after the books I used to read as a child. Literally and creatively, I can go one direction and discover a remarkable photographic opportunity; or I can go another direction and find something entirely different. It is this adventure that is the beauty of photography for me.

What’s your perfect destination?

Bhutan. There is no other place like it on earth. As long as I can remember, I’d fantasised about visiting the remote and enigmatic Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan. So, two years ago, when I was invited by my friend, and documentary filmmaker Mike Rogers to accompany him and his crew on a shoot, I leapt at the opportunity.

Cradled deep in the creases of the soaring Himalaya, and landlocked by China to the north and India to the south, Bhutan is a destination of breathtaking natural topography and a proud people with a vibrant culture.

Exploring and photographing Bhutan was my dream assignment come true. And the result was the most amazing travel and photography experience of my entire life. I can’t wait to go back.

What sports do you love?

Being a proud Canadian, I am clearly passionate about ice hockey. It’s in my blood. I have a Slingbox connected to my father’s TV in Canada so I can watch live streaming of hockey games on my laptop in Singapore, or wherever I happen to be travelling.

Who’s your adventure hero?

American photojournalist James Natchwey.

What would be your desert island discs if you could choose only three?

I love music, and am constantly trying to discover new artists, so my “favourite” music is always changing. But if I were to be stranded on a desert island today, my three CDs would have to be Vampire Weekend’s “Contra”, The National’s “High Violet” and Broken Social Scene’s “Forgiveness Rock Record”. But who buys CDs anymore? Why can’t I just bring my iPod to this desert island?

What's your favourite book by an adventure athlete, explorer or traveller?

I really enjoyed Rory Stewart’s The Places in Between.  It is an epic adventure best described on his website www.rorystewartbooks.com: “In January 2002 Rory Stewart walked across Afghanistan – surviving by his wits, his knowledge of Persian dialects and Muslim customs, and the kindness of strangers. Along the way Stewart met heroes and rogues, tribal elders and teenage soldiers, Taliban commanders and foreign-aid workers. He was also adopted by an unexpected companion –  a retired fighting mastiff he named Babur in honor of Afghanistan's first Mughal emperor, in whose footsteps the pair was following.”

What’s the best piece of travel advice you’ve been given?

“You never know if you never go.” It’s a saying my dad has, and I like it because it’s applicable to so many aspects of life.

What’s the most extreme adventure you’ve had?

I have been fortunate enough to experience a lot of amazing adventures in my life. I have been skydiving twice: once with a childhood friend in Canada and another time with my brother and my dad.  I also did the 134m (440 feet) Nevis bungy jump in Queenstown, New Zealand with my wife, which was pretty extreme. Most recently, my father and I rode motorcycles 1,700km (1,050 miles) through Malaysia. It was an awesome father-son adventure.

What’s the best piece of kit you’ve invested in?

In a historical sense, my first digital camera – a Nikon D70 – in 2004: it is what brought me crashing into the digital age of photography without ever looking back. In a more recent context, an Apple iPhone: if there is a better gadget out there, I have yet to find it.
 
What adventure sports are you going to try next?

I am not sure if you’d classify it as a “sport”, but an “adventure” I am hoping to have soon hot air balloon ride over the ruins of the ancient city Bagan in Myanmar (Burma) at sunrise.

What’s the one thing that would make your travels better?

More money.  But I am pretty sure that would make everything better.

www.scottawoodward.com