Welcome to our Photographer Spotlight series! Each week, we will do a profile of one of our favorite photographers in Northern California. Every photographer has a unique style and we love showcasing the incredible talent of our local photographers.
This week we're featuring Patrick Mueller, who dazzles his followers with some of the most unique and beautiful outdoor photography we've ever seen. He truly finds unique ways to capture the incredible destinations of Northern California.
Patrick uses his photography not for fame or notoriety, but because it gives him a deep sense of concentration and enjoyment, or "flow." And you can certainly feel his enjoyment in his photography. We caught up with Patrick to talk about his creative process and what makes him tick:
Photographer Spotlight: Patrick Mueller
1. Where are you from and where do you do most of your photoshoots?
I currently live in the Redding area which means the majority of places I shoot are local, mostly within a 1.5 hour drive. I frequently visit the Lassen, Burney, Shasta, Whiskeytown, and Humboldt areas. When I have a longer stretch of free time I’ll jet out a little further.
2. What sparked your interest in photography?
A gradual interest developed over several years when I was just beginning college. Having always spent a lot of time outdoors and wanting to share those experiences with others, I turned toward capturing photos with my phone. Phone camera quality was still relatively poor at that time so I upgraded to a DSLR and my interest increased thereafter.
3. Take us through your process from initial photo conception to finished product.
The majority of times when I head out to photograph, I’m simply chasing environmental conditions and constantly reassessing to make the best image I can with what I'm given. That being said, I do have a growing list of specific ideas in my head that I hope to bring to fruition. These all require very specific conditions and/or a lot of planning and logistics.
Either way I am constantly checking weather reports, satellite images, live webcams, social media hashtags, sun and moon set times/locations, tides, ect. for a number of locations. I then identify the amount of time I have available and head to a location within reach with a high likelihood of conditions being ideal or unique. Once I have taken an image I try to edit it in a way that preserves the emotional response I had while in that space.
4. What makes a photograph “authentic” in your mind? How do you try to differentiate yourself from other photographers?
Authenticity is a difficult thing to achieve in most nature and landscape photography today. I mostly follow what I think might make a particular location look interesting or different, which is usually weather or a new perspective. Surprisingly a lot of places have not been photographed much in the winter or during short transitional periods; these are the places I try and reach at just the right time.
I also find it delightful to throw human subjects into a frame and make them as small as possible, which I think really reminds us just how small and insignificant we are; it’s humbling.
Patrick Mueller 530-638-6580
5. What are your biggest challenges when doing a photoshoot?
Being late or trying to do too much. Majority of the time it’s the first one; no matter how hard I try I am usually 10 minutes late to a location, meaning I don’t get the best frame for the fleeting conditions because I didn’t have time to scout/set up. For sunset/ sunrise this is especially true. But I do learn from my mistakes by identifying the frames I wish I had and going straight to that spot when I am inevitably late the next time.
If I do happen to be on time or have all day to scout, when the moment comes I try and “catch ‘em all;” I try to get multiple good shots instead of focusing on making a single great one.
Patrick Mueller 530-638-6580
6. What are your photography goals/bucket list? What current photographers inspire you?
Honestly I don’t have any large extrinsic goals related to photography, like shooting for Nat Geo. or anything. Currently I spend most of my time taking photos because I love doing it. For me, photography creates what psychologists call ’flow,’ a state of deep concentration and enjoyment. It also motivates me to explore the natural world, giving me amazing experiences that have changed my perception in profound ways.
At the moment I am content with where I’m at and look forward to steadily improving for my own personal satisfaction. The photographers who inspire me are ones that use their skill to make the world a better place, even if their style or subjects are much different than mine. My favorites are Paul Nicklen and Joel Sartore.
Patrick Mueller 530-638-6580
7. What is your favorite photo you’ve shot? Can you tell us the story behind the photo?
This last summer, during the Perseid meteor shower, I hauled a bunch of gear up to the summit of Mount Lassen to watch the shower. I rolled out my sleeping bag on the concrete platform on the north end of the peak and lie awake throughout the entire night watching meteors streak across the sky; my total tally was over one hundred. I captured this just as the moon was rising to silhouette myself and the peak against the mountains below and stars above. If you look closely our nearest neighbor galaxy, the Andromeda, can be seen in the top left quarter of the frame. This is actually a composite, meaning I blended the meteor from another shot I took that night onto the rest of the photo.
I love this image because it immediately recreates the magical emotions of star gazing watching a massive meteor shoot across the sky for split second; in my opinion, this is what photography is meant to do.
You can follow Patrick's work on all his different pages:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patrickmuellerphoto/
Instagram: @ohtombombadil
Website: https://patrickmuellerphoto.myportfolio.com/
Preferred contact: patrickmueller67@gmail.com