Benjamin Hardman
Photographer
Benjamin Hardman is an Australian freelance landscape photographer based in Iceland. Benjamin’s fine-art works encapsulate the North’s most obscure landscapes – the barren, cold and volatile environments that are inhabited by colossal ice structures, carved volcanic mountains and resilient wildlife.
What motivates you in the morning?
The Icelandic weather generally gets me out of bed in the morning. With the North Atlantic ocean bringing such chaotic wind and storms to Iceland, you never know what nature is going to bring when you wake up!
What is your mantra for when things are tough?
When times get tough, I like to take a breather in nature before diving into the challenge at hand. A long hike always clears the mind!
If you could do anything else, what would it be and why?
I am quite obsessed with coffee. I could definitely see myself roasting coffee one day.
Describe your best moment ever.
The first moment I sat face to face with a Polar Bear in the high Arctic was a life changing moment. They’re such incredible and resilient creatures, and seeing them in the wild on the sea ice showed me just how important it is to protect the Polar regions.
How did you get into your profession?
I started shooting images of my friends surfing back in my home town of Perth Australia. I quickly realized that photography was my thing and started to explore as many different avenues and styles I could find. One I visited Iceland, I realized this was the place and subject I wanted to focus on.
What is the best piece of advice you've ever received?
Point the camera in the right direction and hope for the best.
What are your top three Pelican products?
I love the 1510 carry on case. I take it everywhere with me and it has been a huge level up from carrying my equipment in rough situations in my camera bag. Knowing my equipment is safely stored at all times gives me absolute peace of mind.
The Pelican SD card reader case is another go to of mine. It is a small one but it is just so nicely made and trustworthy storage for my important material.
The 1610 case has become my main storage box for my cinema video setup. It has plenty of space and wheels, making it possible to haul heavy equipement from my house out to my vehicle and into the field.
