Interview: Claire Gonzalez, Travel + Landscape Photographer
Photographer: Claire Gonzalez
Based: USA
Website: nomadiclens.art
Instagram: @nomadiclens.art
The Interview
Quick-Fire Questions
Favorite lens? Canon RF 24-105mm. My go-to lens, I can get wide landscapes, and zoom into details.
Presets or manual editing? I use presets then manually adjust my photos.
Sunrise or sunset? Sunset, fading into blue hour.
One national park you’ll never get tired of photographing? Grand Teton National Park, the mountains, the sagebrush, the wildlife!
1. Travelling full-time is quite unique. How do you think it’s shaped the way you see the world and photograph it?
Travelling full-time has shaped the way I see the world in every way. Living out of a camper has taught me that no two places feel the same. Every landscape, town, national park, and moment carries its own feeling. Because of that, I’ve learned to slow down and really pay attention to the feeling of a place, not just what it looks like. Traveling also has pushed me creatively. I’ve had to learn how to photograph in completely different environments. From deserts and mountains, to quiet coastlines, and places not even on the map. Constantly adapting to changing light, weather, and moods. I think it’s made me more observant and intentional with my photography. More than anything, living this way has given me a deep appreciation for how diverse and beautiful this earth is. It’s made me want my photos to feel immersive and honest, almost like a memory someone can walk into.
Camper life has also shown me how materialistic our culture is, and how freeing it is to live with less. Packing for long trips, with a cubby all for myself, there are so many things I do without. And the thing is, I don’t really miss them. I carry less, but experience more, finding meaning in moments instead of belongings.
2. Do you remember the moment photography first became something you genuinely loved?
I was 12, and at the time we were living at home. One evening l took my mom’s phone and started taking pictures of our blooming garden. I found myself getting unique angles and being so happy looking through the photos after. To me, photography is a way of keeping moments alive. It lets you hold onto the feeling of that exact moment forever. I first felt that appreciation back home in my family garden, amidst the flowering chives and the unruly thyme.
3. What’s been your favourite national park or landscape to photograph so far, and why?
Yosemite National Park has always been a place of awe for me, even just from pictures. To actually go and see the place l only dreamed about was truly the best experience. l left a part of myself there. There in the beautiful dreamy landscape, where everywhere you looked was something gorgeous and wonderful. When we visited, it was rainy and foggy, with mist always dampening our clothes. While others were disappointed in the sun not shining, l was as pleased as could be! I love the moodiness that cloud and fog gives. It adds so much to the story of a photograph.
4. Your work has such a cinematic and atmospheric feel. What usually draws your attention when you arrive somewhere new?
Because I am constantly moving and seeing new places, I think I naturally look for what makes each place distinct and different in its own way. I love noticing the differences in the landscape, weather, and light, and finding ways to photograph those elements in a way that feels immersive.
5. Do you have a favourite type of weather or light to shoot in?
Golden hour and blue hour are when I feel most alive with my camera in hand! I especially love the way sunset brings warmth and emotion that you wouldn’t expect to even the plainest of landscapes. I also love when it is about to rain and there are thick clouds hovering over the landscape.
Creating such raw beauty that I am naturally drawn to.
6. What is your current creative goal?
I am creating a curated collection of work for my print shop. All images are chosen for their storytelling and timeless feel, in order to bring a sense of wonder into your space..
7. You’ve completed The Freelance Travel Photographer Course while building your portfolio on the road. What were some of the biggest lessons or shifts in mindset you took away from the experience?
Completing the course really boosted my confidence and encouraged me to put myself out there more. It gave me the push I needed to build my own website. I learned so much throughout the course, from photography techniques and storytelling, to curating a portfolio with intention.
8. What’s something people might not realise about life on the road and photographing + studying while travelling full-time?
People often see the beautiful places and freedom that life on the road gives, but not always the more difficult parts behind the scenes. Long drives, unpredictable weather, limited space, constant movement, and trying to balance photography and school while traveling full-time is a lot. But I think those experiences are part of what gives my photography emotion. Living this way has made me more observant, resilient, and deeply appreciative of the world around me.
I’ve also learned not to take ordinary things for granted. Whether I’m boondocking in the Tetons while snow blankets the mountains, bundled in layer after layer trying to stay warm, or going days without a shower, it’s made me appreciate the simple comforts I used to overlook, steamy hot water, warmth, and the little luxuries that become truly meaningful on the road.
9. What’s one location that completely surprised you when photographing it?
Utah’s Bentonite Hills. Known to have incredible landscapes like that of the planet Mars! I have been there a few times. The first time I got my Wanderer on Mars shot, which placed in the 2025 Sony Youth World Photography Awards. The second time I went to a different area of the hills, this time with my drone. This area was so different from the first it is hard to believe it is the same place! Once you get high enough, just after sunset, the colors come alive! Blues, purple, mauve, and white swirl into the most beautiful, other-worldly display.
10. What advice would you give other young photographers wanting to develop their creativity or confidence behind the camera?
I once had a mentor give me very wise advice. He said,
1) Learn your camera, so adjusting settings becomes second nature. Especially in the dark during astrophotography.
2) Invest in a solid tripod.
3) Don’t get stuck on your mistakes. There will be times you forget an important setting, lose a file, or something doesn’t transfer correctly. It happens to every photographer. Learn from it, move forward, and keep creating.
I would also add, start with what you have, master manual mode, and don't be afraid to just go for it! I think a lot of people wait until they feel “ready,” but creativity develops through experience! The more you shoot, the more confident you will become and the more you’ll discover your own style.
Follow Claire’s adventures on Instagram here
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