Nathan Landers also known as itsnedkelly on instagram is a nomadic photographer that together with his partner Tegan Phillipa travel the world. You will find them either in their Dolce Sole Camper or catching flights whilst documenting their adventures. A couple years back, they sold everything they owned and bought a one way ticket around the world, spending 7 months together exploring and documenting their travels. Never did they imagine that this would turn into a career. Their photos beautifully showcase cities, people, sensuality, nature, love and adventure. We asked Nathan a couple questions…
Interview by Eva Davidová
Where are you currently located?
At the moment Blue Bay NSW Australia but moving the Gold Coast QLD very soon.
Often times in your photos, the subject in the front is blurred while the background is in focus, would you say that is your signature style?
It definitely has turned into that haha. I first started shooting like this because I was trying to mimic film, I love that candid, crooked, grainy, out of focus imperfect look – like some just grabbed any Point’ n ‘Shoot camera and snapped one without thinking. There is some pure and raw about it that just draws me in. Unfortunately in my line of work of living out of a suitcase (pre COVID) I don’t have the time or patience to shoot film so I shoot digital and it allows me to have a few goes at that ‘candid’ moment. I also shoot like this because sometimes I want to make the story about the moment and not the subject.
Last country you visited before lockdown?
Japan. New favourite country.
“Sometimes I want to make the story about the moment and not the subject.”
Your girlfriend appears in many of your photos – would you say she’s kinda like your muse?
Yeah I guess she is haha. We travel everywhere together so it’s just easy to use her as a model. She is an absolute pro in front of the lens and knows what I’m thinking before I even say it out loud. She’s also an incredible photographer too so she sees angles as much as I do.
When and how did you discover photography?
I always felt I had an eye for it but never took it seriously until Tegan and I travelled the world for 7 months about 4 years ago. We had a lot of downtime while travelling, and with Tegan’s photography school background and my obsessive learning capabilities we started shooting travel pics and short videos with an entry level canon camera/50mm lens and a go pro. This was before instagram was saturated in travel content and travel companies took notice of us which was our leg in.
Song you can’t stop listening to right now?
Thats a tough one! I love dance music and my favourite tune turn over is pretty quick but ‘Schacke – Kisloty People’ comes to mind.
Your first camera was?
Couldn’t tell my first camera ever but my first pro-ish camera was a Nikon D7200 with a kit lens.
“I love that candid, crooked, grainy, out of focus imperfect look.”
If you had to guess how many countries have you visited?
25 give or take.
What made you sell everything and get a one-way ticket around the world? What was the
hardest thing about this step?
I love travelling and before I met Tegan I lived in Vancouver for two and a half years, then Berlin for a year so selling everything to go again was easy and exciting for me. The hardest thing was convincing Tegan to sell all her Keeping Up with the Kardashians DVD’s.
What inspires you most?
Tegan of course, but definitely a lot of Instagram accounts I follow. In fact virtually all my inspo would be from Instagram.
How would you describe your personal style?
A mixture of Simon Phoenix from Demolition Man, Drazic from Heartbreak High and Justin Bobby The Hills
What camera do you love using lately?
Contax T2, mainly because I finally have time to get film developed!
“Love can bring absolute fire to your work but it can leave you for dead on other days.”
What does travel mean to you?
Everything. I have an appetite for learning and new experiences so being lucky enough to work as a photographer internationally is a dream.
What is a photo-shoot you did that was particularly memorable?
New Delhi, India. Tegan and I were shooting for Intrepid, we both had a severe case of diarrhoea (sorry for the image) which made it very memorable.
What’s your superpower?
Being able to pick anything up and learn quick
How do you think being in love affects creativity?
That scale would be off the charts. It can bring absolute fire to your work but it can leave you for dead on other days.
Love all your photos from Japan – in what ways did this country inspire you?
Countries we go to for the first time generally inspire me. It feels new and uncharted which gets me thinking creatively about ideas and angles and how I can reveal it through my eyes.
Lastly, How would you describe your ideal travel destination?
Take New Delhi’s post apocalyptic street kaos, condense it into New York City and drop me in there to snap the madness. Basically the opposite of relaxing.
