Landscape photographer Frannz Morzo in his gallery on Granville Island, Vancouver | Photo courtesy of Frannz Morzo
He calls himself The Light Chaser.
“I call myself the light chaser because I chase the lights in landscapes – sunsets, sunrises, any source of light elements,” says Frannz Morzo, Vancouver-based landscape photographer.
New kid on the block
Together with his parents and siblings, Morzo immigrated to Canada from the Philippines when he was 15 years old. Morzo’s creative roots can be traced back to his music, which started as early as high school when he became a member of the music band at Killarney Secondary. He used to be an aspiring recording artist, singer and composer and later on did many video productions.
“Then I discovered the camera. I enjoyed taking pictures and videos of my family. Photography became a hobby,” says Morzo.
Morzo found playing with the camera settings – shutter speed, aperture, the challenges of natural lighting – intensely fascinating. About three years ago, he met the late John Corvera, one of the prime movers of the BC Squared Lenses Photography Club. Corvera, who soon became a mentor, taught Morzo about basic night photography. From then on, Morzo began learning as much as possible to improve his craft.
“I learn a lot from other photographers, who eventually become my buddies no matter their background, age or race,” says Morzo. “In photography, there are no language or cultural boundaries. We have a common bond – the excitement of catching what your eyes see permanently in an image.”
Getting his footing
By attending photography seminars, Morzo has now become a colleague of roving photographer and Canon Philippines Ambassador Edwin Martinez. This led Morzo to join photo safaris all over the U.S. and Canada.
The beauty of nature has always been a fascination for Morzo, who has developed what he deems his own style in landscape photography: straight descriptive, meaning a straightforward style in which the landscape or nature shot he takes shows its most natural and real image, with the vivid and saturated side effects still on the believable side.
“What you see is what you get and it’s close to reality,” says Morzo.
Morzo has works on the city of Vancouver, but mainly seeks out wilderness locations, from the coastal beauty of the Wild West Coast to the rugged interior parks in B.C., to the grand vistas of the Canadian Rockies.
He is particularly proud of his Canmore Mountain shot taken in Canmore, Alberta. To chase the best light, Morzo said he was in the lake an hour before sunrise.
“Hard work, perseverance, timing, available natural light and weather are critical elements when it comes to landscape photography. All the elements should come together,” says Morzo. “Photography is not for lazy people.”
Morzo thinks that to be good at any craft one has to enjoy it and first start pursuing it as a hobby. He says the motivation to continue will come naturally, as people discover their passion.
Switching roles
Morzo says it is now his turn to coach, and became a member of Samahan ng Litratista in B.C., an informal multicultural group (Samahan) of mostly Filipino photographers (Litratista).
Morzo recently went on a trip to Iceland on a photo safari with the Samahan, and next on his bucket list is the Patagonia on the Argentinian side.
Morzo says, “You really don’t have to go far. Every square inch in this world can have an appeal. You just have to discover it and it helps to chase the best light.”
For more information, please visit www.frannzmorzo.com.
