Pauly Vella

Sydney based Pauly pursues his passion for photography when he's not busy being an air conditioning mechanic by day. He's amassed an impressive 290,000 followers on Instagram and his beautiful landscape and nature shots of Australia have helped him travel across the globe doing what he loves.

Your girlfriend installed the Instagram app on your phone back in 2011, obviously not knowing that you’d become an Instagram superstar. What drew you to using the app when it was still in its infancy?

What really stood out to me about Instagram in particular was that I could get a first hand view of anywhere in the world right from an app on my phone. Not only is it a view into much of the world I have never seen before but it's from a photographers point of view rather than a tourism advertisement which to me makes it feel more real. I think that is what we're all looking for in terms if travel. To experience the 'real' side of a destination. The experience of what it feels like to really be there is far greater than the tourist side of things. Instagram opened up a whole new world to me and gave me a platform to share my side of the world. I was very surprised at the talent on Instagram that people would share through their phones. It was incredible to see people capturing these breathtaking shots and sharing them instantly via Instagram.

You’re a very prolific Instagramer and post multiple images each day. How do you find time to take and edit such a constant stream of imagery and are you finding it harder, now that you’ve got such a large following to please?

It isn't easy to find time to always photograph different areas and new subjects although it is my passion. Once I started to get addicted to Instagram I would be shooting more often to the point where I was planning shoots in all of my free time like afternoons, on the weekends, and even before work for sunrise. I think that the larger following I have built up inspires me more to go to different places and new techniques. My followers know what to expect from me with my landscape beach shots, which are my personal favourites but I do get a lot of positive feedback from my followers on other types of photography like portraits, night shots, waterfalls and animal portraits which I often like to include on my feed.

Sam Abell once said “a mad, keen photographer needs to get out into the world and work and make mistakes”. You obviously started out taking mobile photos but you now often shoot on a dSLR and you’ve also started an online photography course. Can you share with us some of the mistakes you have made, which I am sure have helped make you a better photographer?

There are many mistakes I have made that have really changed the way I shoot. It's more about getting set in a good routine and planning how I am going to shoot now. For example once I plan on a location I do a fair bit of research into how best to capture the shot I want. I have learnt over the past year of using a DSLR the angles and lighting that work best for a situation. Let me finish by saying if you are going to take a mobile phone in an underwater case into the ocean for some nice wave shots, make sure you have it strapped to your arm...

As the weather, cityscape and scenery in and around Sydney is so conducive to great photography, do you think it’s easier to take good photographs in your country than somewhere else that is perhaps not quite as blessed with great light?

I am truly blessed to live in one of the most incredible scenic countrys in the world. Sydney in particular is a beautiful city and has great photography opportunities wherever you turn. I think that from a photographer’s point of view if you can convey a feeling or an emotion through a photograph and truly give someone a view that is true to that country then that is a beautiful photograph. Light is very important to a good photograph but I think no matter where in the world you look there is beauty. It just takes someone with a good eye to capture it.

You’re a keen musician, singer, songwriter and photographer but do you have a preference for one over the other and how would you like to see your creativity develop?

When I was growing up through high school I was obsessed with music and art! I started to get into music when I was 13 playing the drums in a band with friends and then moved on to guitar and vocals towards different styles of music. My love for photography originated through my love of the ocean and developed from there. As I am now finding success through my photography via Instagram, I am more than happy to take photos whenever I can which does fill up a lot of my time. But when I have some free time I write music with my band as often as I can and will shortly be releasing our debut album which has been a dream of mine since we began writing together. I am very excited to see what the future holds in terms of both photography and music.

You were one of a number of Instagramers flown to Hamilton Island as part of their social media campaign last year. Were you at all surprised that they picked you, what are your thoughts generally on using Instagram for social media campaigns and have you been involved in any since then?

Hamilton Island truly is a beautiful paradise. I was quite surprised when I was offered the role and had never even thought that my following in Instagram could take me to such a wonderful place. I am proud to say since the first ultimate Instameet campaign in November 2012 I have been back twice and loved it even more. Instagram social media campaigns can have huge benefits for brands and destinations if they are done well. When I started my Instagram account it was to share the beauty of where I live and not to advertise. I want to stay true to why I use Instagram to share with my followers. I have been involved with various social media campaigns including Hamilton island, the great ocean road, tassie journey, the Whitsunday Instameet and I am just about to experience an incredible trip to Quebec in Canada! With a few on the horizon for this year I couldn't be happier to be where I am right now and am so grateful for the support I have received from my followers from all over the globe.