![mads_profile Mads Tolstrup Suprabeam Team](https://suprabeam.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/mads_profile.png)
Suprabeam Ambassador Team
Mads Tolstrup
PHOTOGRAPHER ADVENTURER
Revolving around nature.
As a lot of kids Mads grew up playing in nature with his friends, only coming home for meals and sleep. And as a lot of other kids, priorities change when growing up. Mads moved to the big city to study for a degree at Copenhagen Business School, but found himself missing playing around in nature. While studying Mads got more and more serious about photography, and started getting paying jobs.
After his graduation Mads assessed his options and tried to figure out how he could make a living doing what he loved; playing around in nature. So, instead of finding a job he loved, he made a job out of what he loved doing.
Fast forward 7 years; Mads now works full-time as an outdoor photographer, with a steady base of customers from the outdoor gear industry, adventure travel companies, and tourism organisations. His business strategy focusses combining his love to the outdoors with visual storytelling and marketing concepts.
You can find him hiking, biking, paddleboarding, or surfing around his home base on the island of Møn, Denmark with a camera in his hands. Or on the occasional mountain top somewhere else on the planet.
The island of Møn serves as the outdoor photo studio and playground, while also being one of the darkest areas in Denmark with a Dark Sky Certificate – another reason why the Suprabeam collaboration is relevant.
“I love being in nature and working with like minded clients with a passion for the outdoors and gear”
Q&A
Q:
What is the best thing about working the way you do?
A:
I love being in nature and working with like minded clients with a passion for the outdoors and gear. As well as getting an inside of the modern day marketing machine of the outdoor business.
Q:
Are there any downsides to your job?
A:
As an independent freelance photographer there are always many things you need to take care of, that might not be your burning passion, such as paperwork, accounting and planning. But the freedom and creativity will always keep me going.
Q:
What is the most special place your job has taken you?
A:
I think it would be some of the remote nature areas such as the swedish part of Lapland on a sled dog farm, as well as places as the Atlas Mountains and Caucasus Mountains. During COVID it was an eye-opening to discover almost every corner of the kingdom of Denmark – I am amazed by the western coast of jutland, all the tiny islands and of course my own neighborhood; Møn.
Q:
Do you have any unfulfilled goals job-wise?
A:
I still dream about longer expeditions where I can focus on the same project for many weeks.
Q:
Do you have any heroes or idols?
A:
I am a big admirer of some of the explores such as Thor Heyerdahl but also modern day types as adventurer Mike Horn.
Q:
What is so special about being in nature?
A:
For a modern day person it is special to get closer to some of the senses that I don’t stimulate much on a daily basis – like being exposed to total darkness and feel the sounds and smells of nature like our ancestors did. Mentally it is a big advantage to get out some hours and escape the computer and phone – especially on the eastern side of møn where there’s no phone service. It boosts the energy and inspiration of my work and life.
Q:
Why did you choose to settle down on the island of Møn?
A:
I like the grand nature of the eastern side of Møn with the unique 8 kilometer stretch of the cliffs as well as the hilly forest behind, which is unique for a flat country as Denmark. It serves as a wonderful playground and sometimes feels like the end of the world while just being 1h30 min from the capital Copenhagen. I’ve met many like-minded people in the area who make the experience even better.
Q:
Summer or winter?
A:
Winter, if snowy, or else the autumn is special in Scandinavia and i like to still have a bit more daylight than the few hours during winter.
Q:
How do you use headlamps or flashlights in your day-to-day life?
A:
I like to stay active during winter but it requires some light during the winter. So everything from hiking, running and biking – but also during work so keep track of the gear in darkness and light up a photo/video set.
Q:
Do you have a favourite Suprabeam light or accessory?
A:
The v4pro is my go-to model for the dark winter for biking and running – and the s4 for a camp setting and less intense situations.