MEANINGFUL ART: A look behind the scenes with Rebecca Kempton

Rebecca Kempton is a multi-award winning NZIPP Accredited Professional Photographer, based in the Wairarapa district of New Zealand. Known for her skill across multiple genres, we asked her to explain her creative process.

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Rebecca, your work often carries a distinct sense of storytelling. What was the initial idea behind this piece, and why did you feel inspired to create it?

I wanted to create a vertical layered piece that brought together the essence of my journey summiting Tongariro, Ngauruhoe, and Ruapehu earlier this year with my In Pursuit of Giants crew. Those mountains hold such personal meaning, and I wanted to encapsulate the experience into a single, cohesive image. Vertical landscapes have been intriguing me a lot lately, partly because they challenge the usual way we approach landscape photography. A vertical format allows the eye to travel up or down the image, almost as though it’s climbing the scene. It creates this constrained yet expansive feeling, and I find it calming. I also think it pushes us as photographers to think differently about what we’re trying to communicate in an image.

How did you approach creating this piece? Can you walk us through your process?

It’s a very organic process for me, which might sound cliché, but it’s true! I started with a rough idea: I knew I wanted the image to be vertical, and I had a selection of images in mind to work with. Beyond that, I let the creative process guide me. I began at the bottom, where I felt the eye should naturally start. For this piece, that was my intentional camera movement (ICM) image of Ngauruhoe. It became the anchor for the composition, symbolizing the beginning of the climb.

From there, I worked my way upward, blending layers from other photos. Each layer was chosen carefully—sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn’t. There were moments when I stepped back and realized something wasn’t right, so I’d adjust, delete, or try a different element. It’s a cycle of trial and refinement.

One specific detail I loved incorporating was an ICM image of one of the crater lakes. If you look closely, it’s near the top—a small hill with a light, flat oval beneath it. Interestingly, people often interpret that area differently; some see sand or waves, which I love because it makes the piece interactive in a way.

I placed the clouds at the very top. While they were clouds I had looked down on during the climb,

I wanted them to act as a visual endpoint. For me, they symbolize the peak of the experience.

Like any landscape we admire, this image needed areas of light and dark, depth, and balance to guide the viewer’s eye naturally.

What advice would you give to someone trying to create something like this?

My best advice? Just start! You don’t need to have the entire concept figured out from the beginning. Sometimes, you’ll start with an idea, and it’ll evolve into something completely different—that’s okay. Sometimes it doesn’t work out at all, and that’s okay too. Every attempt is a learning experience.

I often shoot multiple exposures in-camera, which can be a fun way to experiment. Start with one image that feels right, then build from there, always keeping an eye on layers, depth, and balance. Don’t be afraid to let happy accidents shape the piece; those moments can lead to something unexpectedly beautiful.

When you think you’re finished, take a step back. Look at the image with fresh eyes after a few days, or even squint at it to see if the balance and flow hold up. That distance can reveal things you didn’t notice before.

What was your final plan for this image?

This piece was created specifically for the Iris Awards Landscape Open category. It’s such an incredible platform to showcase creative work, and I felt this piece represented not just the physical landscapes I encountered but also the emotional journey of climbing those peaks.

Lastly, what does this piece mean to you personally?

For me, it’s more than just a composite or a landscape image— it’s a reflection of that experience with the In Pursuit of Giants crew. It captures the ascent, the beauty, and the personal growth that comes with challenging yourself in nature. Every layer in the image tells a part of that story, and I hope it resonates with viewers in their own unique way.

IMAGE © REBECCA KEMPTON. THIS FINAL IMAGE, CREATED FROM THE ABOVE RAW FILES WAS ENTERED INTO THE LANDSCAPE OPEN CATEGORY IN THE 2024 IRIS PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS, AND RECEIVED A SILVER WITH DISTINCTION.