Room + Wild Naturals: Tommy Clarke
Aerial photography serves as a transformative lens through which the Earth's landscapes become living canvases, each stroke capturing the delicate balance between fragility and beauty. From lofty perspectives, the intricate details of terrain unfold, revealing nature's artwork in every contour and hue. The camera's eye becomes a storyteller, narrating the interconnected tales of mountains, valleys, rivers, and coastlines that shape our world. Witnessing landscapes from above, we are granted a unique vantage point to appreciate the fragile elegance of our planet. The juxtaposition of vast expanses and intricate patterns highlights the sublime artistry of nature, emphasizing the need for preservation and responsible stewardship. Through aerial photography, we embark on a visual journey, not only observing the Earth's splendor but also recognizing the importance of safeguarding these awe-inspiring landscapes for generations to come.
In R+W Naturals, we connect with extraordinary people making waves in sustainability, art, design, architecture, gastronomy, wellness, and wildlife — from travel and hospitality industry icons to acclaimed architects, designers, influential artists, forward-thinking musicians, and boundary-pushing chefs.
Tommy Clarke, an extraordinary aerial landscape photographer, embarked on his artistic journey by realizing the unique perspective he could achieve by taking to the skies. His breathtaking images, resembling abstract art, capture diverse landscapes, from the enchanting salt lakes in the Western USA to the mesmerizing volcanic rivers in Iceland and the ethereal coastlines of Australia. Inspired by abstract expressionist painters Mark Rothko and Barnett Newman, Clarke sought to create abstract works authentically, avoiding image manipulation.
We spoke with Clarke about his creative journey, visiting the last remaining wild corners of the world, and capturing the raw power of nature.
Barbuda
R+W: A person’s journey can take on many forms. We read that you took up photography as another way of exploring the world when you broke your back at 16. This is a resilient and fascinating story that pushed you in the direction of your unique style. What does adventure mean to you today?
TC: The meaning of the word adventure has evolved throughout my life. At one point it meant riding motorcycles around Spanish mountains before hanging out of helicopters taking photos. Now, as a father, the desire to push those limits has started to wane. Adventures for me, at the moment, are more family-orientated these days! But as we live half the year on the island of Martinique, we often get to hike to waterfalls and explore empty beaches as a family, which seems to quench my adventure thirst.
Martinique Surfers
R+W: Iceland is a unique destination. The air and the water quality is like nowhere else on earth. The energy is different, and you are different. Your Iceland pieces are some of our favourites. It is here that landscape truly becomes art. Tell us about your experience shooting there. What was the most fascinating discovery? What took you by surprise? What is your favourite shot from this trip and what would you shoot if you came back?
TC: Funnily enough, I was trying to convince a friend to book a trip to Iceland yesterday! It’s a place like no other and once you are lucky enough to visit, it seems that it’s just a matter of time until you book your next trip. I spent a week there shooting my Iceland series, as the weather is so changeable that you need a good amount of time to find a window to fly in. I was pursuing my continued love of taking aerial photographs that feel entirely abstract and my research of the southern Icelandic river systems seemed to be the perfect location for that. But the wonder of this shoot was being able to put the camera down and take in the wondrous beauty of the country, since we were in the air for extended periods of time. Usually, I have an hour or two in a helicopter to get my shots, this time I was able to sit back and fully appreciate how lucky I was to be in that aircraft. It meant my photos felt less frantic and forced, I was able to work with a fantastic pilot to fly over the perfect locations for the shots I wanted. I remember one particularly fondly - a cluster of glacial ponds, all of different colours. It wasn’t on our original flight route but we spotted it in the distance and we went to explore it. Going back for me would be to see the Aurora Borealis, it’s been a lifelong dream of mine to see it.
“I was able to sit back and fully appreciate how lucky I was to be in that aircraft. It meant my photos felt less frantic and forced, I was able to work with a fantastic pilot to fly over the perfect locations for the shots I wanted. I remember one particularly fondly - a cluster of glacial ponds, all of different colours. It wasn’t on our original flight route but we spotted it in the distance and we went to explore it. ”
Coloured Depths
R+W: We were fascinated to learn the story behind the SALT series. Free from retouching, the project reveals the extraordinary and unaltered beauty of salt-extraction ponds, showcasing naturally occurring textures and colors. You explored events happening at a microscopic level that were causing a larger effect, like the red and green hues being caused by micro-algae living within lakes, thus capturing a specific moment in time. Tell us more about your process in this series, and how you arrived at the final product.
TC: This series started after my mum sent me a picture she’d seen in a news article, about colourful landscapes around the world, and in it was a blurry picture of these amazing salt ponds in the San Francisco Bay area. At the time I had been wanting to carry on my abstract aesthetic and I really wanted to push it further to emulate the work of Mark Rothko. This looked like the perfect spot for that with the salt ponds of different colours, separated by straight lines. But it took months to research when would be the right time of year, time of day, tide time etc, so it was probably about 18 months after finding out about them before I stepped in the helicopter to fly over the area. It would be fair to say I was pretty relieved the see the beautiful shades of red and orange when we got into the air.
“At the time I had been wanting to carry on my abstract aesthetic and I really wanted to push it further to emulate the work of Mark Rothko. This looked like the perfect spot for that with the salt ponds of different colours, separated by straight lines. ”
Thirds (Salt)
R+W: Tell us about your all-time favourite aerial shot and the story behind it.
TC: My favourite shot is called ‘Entry’, of swimmers running down Bondi Beach in Australia into the ocean. It was my first time in a helicopter, let alone taking photos from one and I had spent all my savings on the 1 hour charter. When I sat in my tiny apartment after the shoot and looked through the images, seeing “Entry” made me realize I had gotten what I was after. Vodafone went on to buy a series of photos from that shoot a few days later changing the course of my career.
“My favourite shot is called ‘Entry’, of swimmers running down Bondi Beach in Australia into the ocean. It was my first time in a helicopter, let alone taking photos from one and I had spent all my savings on the 1 hour charter. When I sat in my tiny apartment after the shoot and looked through the images, seeing “Entry” made me realize I had gotten what I was after.”
Entry
R+W: Shooting aerial gives you a perspective many don’t have. How can you use your work show the fragility of landscape? Are there any sustainable initiatives you are currently working with?
TC: It really does give you a whole new view of the world, I wouldn’t go as far as to say the same as the ‘Overview Effect’ experienced by astronauts, but maybe on that scale. I have photographed so many scars in landscapes caused by industrialization and I can often see ocean plastic piling up on beaches from the height we fly at! During the pandemic when travel was so limited I decided to analyze my work and see how I can move forward more sustainably. I opted for a small series of shots using satellites that were already in orbit. The series still had the style and aesthetic I strive for, but there was no increase in my carbon footprint while creating it. It is a passion project for now but I’d like to expand it in time.
“I have photographed so many scars in landscapes caused by industrialization and I can often see ocean plastic piling up on beaches from the height we fly at! During the pandemic when travel was so limited I decided to analyze my work and see how I can move forward more sustainably. I opted for a small series of shots using satellites that were already in orbit. The series still had the style and aesthetic I strive for, but there was no increase in my carbon footprint while creating it. ”
R+W: Where has been the most fascinating landscape to shoot and what are the most incredible natural sights you’ve ever seen?
TC: Although not very exotic, I flew over Devon and Cornwall once and chose a route over all my favourite beaches where I’d spent holidays growing up. It was a special flight for me, flying over all the areas I treasure so much from my childhood. Those are the photos that hang on my walls at home.
Salcombe (Devon)
R+W: Galapagos is one of the last thriving wild ecosystems in the world. Tell us about your discoveries while there, and what wild remote destination is next on your list?
TC: That was a dream trip! To receive an email asking if I’d like to go to this bucket list location, to use a brand new Olympus camera, was a day I won't forget! The islands were incredible and flourishing with life but what struck me on land was that the animals had no fear of humans - they had no natural predators on the island we visited so these big bright orange land iguanas would walk right up to us to rest in our shadows! It felt almost like an animal sanctuary at times. I largely spent the trip impersonating David Attenborough which felt very appropriate! A dream trip, in regards to remoteness, is to sail across the Atlantic. I love the oceans and to cross one by sail would be a very inspiring experience.
Galapagos III
Galapagos
R+W: Travel is often work for you. What does a perfect vacation look like?
TC: These days it would be probably a cottage somewhere in Devon (or Iceland!). I’ve been so fortunate to travel the world for the last 15 years that I value being in one place much more now and Devon is where my heart beats the slowest.
R+W: Is there a landscape hotel you have visited that has changed your life? Or, at the very least, opened your eyes to something new?
TC: I stayed in a converted power station in Iceland that looked like a villain's layer from a Bond movie. It was called Ion Adventure Hotel; the pool steamed from the natural heat coming through the ground and the bar was all glass so you could sip cocktails while watching the Northern Lights. It was on that trip that I decided to come back to do a full aerial series over Iceland.
Orange Umbrellas
R+W: What is your current passion?
TC: I adore everything ocean-based; so surfing, paddle boarding and sailing are what keep me busy these days. But fishing is my current passion. I love that I’m able to feed my family from time to time with what I catch and it’s the closest I can get to meditating!
Scrape
Learn more about Tommy Clarke.
Room + Wild is the leading content platform for landscape-enhanced architecture, ecotourism, nature-based destinations, and sustainable travel experiences. We work with extraordinary retreats all over the world to inspire, influence, and spread awareness of landscape architecture, environmental initiatives, and earth mindfulness.