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Take A Trip Across America On Season 3 Of View Finders
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I have a confession to make: I am not originally from Georgia.
One of the many transplants to the Peach State, I was unprepared for the sheer amount of variety and diversity of landscapes in Georgia in comparison to the Midwest states where I used to live. I wanted to venture outside of Atlanta, my new home, but the prospect was daunting: where to start? What needed to be on my bucket list of the most extraordinary places in Georgia that I needed to truly experience to appreciate?
Enter the View Finders. Three years ago, GPB introduced Georgians across the state, myself included, to View Finders, an adventure documented by two photographers throughout Georgia in search of awe-inspiring locations to capture on film. Paired with powerful music and conversations with experts about each spot photographed, photographers and co-hosts Chris Greer and Paul Daniel, along with the entire View Finders team, have spent two seasons exploring everything from canyons and mountains to swamps and the seaside. Viewers have followed their journeys deep into caves to the highest point on the Appalachian Trail in Georgia and we just have one question: what’s next?
What’s next, as it turns out, is a national affair: Season 3 of View Finders sees the return of Chris and Paul, and their passion for capturing the variety of natural beauty in the great outdoors, but on a larger scale. The View Finders team is going cross-country (with a stop in Georgia!) and I caught up with Chris Greer to find out how the production has changed since going beyond Georgia’s state lines, the mechanical star of the show, and if he had any tips for budding photographers inspired by his and Paul’s work.
Georgia Public Broadcasting: How did you get started in photography? What drew you to the style of photographs you capture on View Finders?
Chris Greer: When I was 12, my dad handed me a camera and several rolls of film. He has been a photographer for most of his life and taught me the essentials at a young age. I've always enjoyed taking pictures, especially of landscapes and other natural scenes because I enjoy being outside so much and experiencing nature and all the beauty that can be found in the outdoors. This photography felt like a perfect fit for View Finders. The show has allowed me to combine my love of photography as well as travel and experiencing the sublime beauty of the great outdoors.
GPB: Seasons 1 and 2 have taken the View Finders team across Georgia, but Season 3 takes you to various locations across the United States. What has been the biggest change for you in photographing these locations and capturing these stories outside of Georgia?
CG: By far the biggest change for season three is the complexity of filming in distant locations. It requires a lot more planning and also creates a lot more challenges when it comes to a filming schedule it cannot easily be modified, even if somebody gets sick or travel arrangements unexpectedly change. Certainly many of the new locations we visited are truly stunning and have a very different feel than Georgia, but accessing those distant landscapes comes with plenty of challenges along the way.
GPB: Could you share with us one fact you learned while making this season that surprised you?
CG: When we were filming in Vermejo (a Ted Turner Reserve in New Mexico), I learned a lot about bison. I didn’t realize that the bison is the largest land mammal in North America, sometimes weighing over 2000 pounds. Also fascinating is the fact that many years ago they roamed freely throughout the entire United States and could be found even here in Georgia. It's hard to imagine bison just roaming freely throughout what is modern day Georgia, but kind of cool to think about.
GPB: One of the recurring members of the View Finders team is, of course, the View Finders car! When you've been out and about filming, has anyone recognized the car (and you!)?
CG: Yes, the car is very recognizable and certainly gets a lot of attention no matter where we are filming. For example, we were in Acadia filming an episode and suddenly a passing car stopped. A woman got out and ran over and said "Hey, you're the View Finders! I love your show so much, I watch it all the time back in Georgia." It was certainly unexpected but also pretty cool. We took photos with her and the car behind us, and this is just one of many times the car has brought people over for conversations and some photos.
GPB: The View Finders team visits the Golden Isles area of Georgia this season. For those of us who would love to take a trip there ourselves, what, in your opinion, are the must-sees and dos?
CG: The Golden Isles are really beautiful and they each have their own personality. I love the laid-back charm of Saint Simons Island, which includes some really beautiful beaches, and of course, the pier that you can access right out of the main historic district. That, coupled with the lighthouse, creates very interesting photographic compositions. Of course, I also love quiet, natural spaces, and I think Jekyll Island has that in spades. I never tire of photographing Driftwood Beach and highly recommend it to everyone. Also, if you can grab a bike there are endless paths to explore throughout Jekyll and the scenery is just stunning.
GPB: It's hard not to be inspired by your beautiful photography and stunning videography in View Finders! Do you have any tips or resources for newbies to get started taking photos and videos of the world around them?
CG: I always tell people who are new to photography or video production that the best thing you can do is just capture lots and lots of content. Take photos constantly and it doesn't matter if they are bad photos. You will learn from them and will develop your own style, which will help you grow your skills and understanding of composition and light and improving your eye for interesting images. I think being a photographer can help pave the way for really interesting videography as well, because you already have a foundation when it comes to compositions and the understanding of light, which are very important concepts when filming video.
Driftwood Beach and the Saint Simons Island Lighthouse are now on my list of places to see and shoot for myself, but I’m also inspired to look beyond Georgia, too. And who knows: maybe I’ll see the View Finders car along the way.
Season 3 of View Finders premieres Monday, March 17 and will air Mondays this spring at 9:30 PM on GPB-TV, our website, and our app. Catch up on previous seasons now on our website and GPB Passport. New episodes will be available to stream upon their release.
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