Interview with Daisy Gilardini

Here we are with another extreme and amazing photographer. Her name is Daisy Gilardini and she loves photographing in extreme conditions, especially in the Polar areas. She’s very keen on nature and earth conservation issues and she loves working on these aspects as well with her wonderful photography.

We are very honored to be able to interview her, as Gitzo is sponsoring her work and missions.

MSoX: Now Daisy, here are my first questions: How and when did you start this amazing and freezing photographic adventure?
Daisy Gilardini: It all started long ago… I was only 4 years’ old when I received a gift from my Godparents, a little stuffed seal pup. My Mom explained that the seal pup was coming from a very cold place and it lived on and under the Polar ice. I was mesmerized by those stories. Thereafter, I dreamed to be able to see them in their natural environment.
Once I’d grown up I started saving my money to realize my dream.
It took me seven years but finally in 1997 I boarded the Russian Icebreaker Kapitan Khlebnikov for the semi circumnavigation of the white continent. It was love at first sight. Ever since I’ve spent most of my time photographing the Polar Regions.

MSoX: Who are the photographers that have mostly inspired your work?
Daisy Gilardini: Before the expediton I remember spending hours and hours looking at the images of Tui de Roy and Mark Jones’ book “Antarctica”. It was such a great and joyous surprise when boarding the icebreaker to discover they were also on board.
A couple of years later inspired by Cherry Alexander’s winning image of the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year 1995 “Chinstrap Penguins on a blue iceberg” shot in the Weddell Sea, I was back there again. This time another wonderful surprise awaited me when I found out that Cherry was on board as well.
Other photographers that are inspiring for my work are Martin Hartley who I deeply admire and respect for his extreme expeditions in the Arctic Ocean to support science.
Norbert Rosing and Thomas Mangelsen for their amazing images and knowledge of Polar bears.
Paul Niklen for his amazing understanding of the Polar regions and underwater photography.

MSoX: What kind of photographic education do you have?
Daisy Gilardini: I come from a financial background and I have a degree as “Swiss certified expert in finance and accounting”. I started my photographic career 21 years ago but I only started full time in 2006.
All I know about photography today I have learned in the field with great photographers that were willing to share their knowledge and passion with me.
I have to give special thanks to my mentor Darrell Gulin who has followed and supported me during the past 11 years. I wouldn’t have managed without him.

MSoX: You have been awarded many prizes, does this mean you work a lot for contests? What would you suggest our readers to do to be as successful as you are?
Daisy Gilardini: I only enter the most prestigious photo contests as it is very time consuming.
In order to succeed in Wildlife photography I apply what I call the “3P” rule:
Passion, Patience and Perseverance

MSoX: What is the shot you feel to be your favorite ever?
Daisy Gilardini: In 1997 during my first trip to Antarctica we came across a heart-shaped iceberg.
We were on a zodiac and only from a certain angle you could see the heart. I quickly took a shot and a few seconds later the heart disappeared.
I feel like a piece of my heart was stolen during that trip because every year I have to head back South again to reconnect with it.

MSoX: You use cameras and tripods in very extreme conditions. When you are on such expeditions what equipment do you carry with you?
Daisy Gilardini: Euphemistically speaking let’s say I don’t travel light.
I have been priviledged to get assignments in some of the remotest places on earth. Quite often logistics is a big deal and expenses are huge.
In these situations you really have to be ready and expect the unexpected, therefore, I usually carry all my equipment with me.
This means my tripod with ball head, flash, two camera bodies, and all my lenses from the 16mm fisheye to a 400 mm telephoto.
Occasionally, when shooting wildlife in the Arctic I’ll also take along a 600 mm.

MSoX: Any good tips for cleaning and maintaining your tripods for perfect functioning? Our readers are always looking for good tips when sea water, mud and dust are all over their equipment.
Daisy Gilardini: I usually clean my tripods with a humid cloth after it has been exposed to salt water, mud or dust.
While shooting in extreme cold conditions your enemy is condensation. I try not to expose the equipment to fast changes of temperature and sometimes I simply leave my camera bag and tripod outside in the cold.

MSoX: You run workshops, what kind of workshops? Can you give us your schedule and topics?
Daisy Gilardini: I usually run workshops while on board vessels in the Arctic and Antarctica. While cruising from one landing spot to the other I teach from basic to advanced classes of photography. During landings participants are free to experiment by themselves or join me. The images shot during the day will be reviewed and commented on in order to improve the photoshooting next day.
This summer I’ll be leading a small group (only six people) focusing on grizzly bears and puffins in the Lake Clark National Park.
I still have a few places available for the dates July 30th to August 4th. Please do not hesitate to contact me for further information.
daisy@daisygilardini.com

MSoX: Well Daisy, we really thank you very much for your time. When is your next adventure?
Daisy Gilardini: I look forward to be back in Alaska this summer. After the Polar Regions this is one of my favourite destination.

We are looking forward to hearing from you again.

View Daisy Gilardini profile here

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