Go behind the lens with John Knopf: Your Take

Amid Las Vegas' glitz and glam, Your Take contributor and professional photographer John Knopf stays dedicated to capturing the surreal beauty of landscapes everywhere.

At the age of 4, Knopf held his first camera. Over the years, Knopf kept coming back to photography and eventually realized it was his passion.

Three years ago, before he moved to Vegas, Knopf was encouraged to follow his dreams by his then-girlfriend's stepfather, professional photographer Jeff Mitchum.

"His passion for photography inspired me," Knopf says. "I thought to myself, 'Even if I go broke doing this I will be satisfied if I can put my art into the world'."

Armed with Mitchum's advice and editing tips, Knopf decided to test his talents in Vegas. His first gig was photographing Las Vegas entertainer Frankie Moreno's show. Moreno loved Knopf's work so much he hired him as a photographer on the spot.

Soon enough, Knopf's network grew and he began taking photos for Britney Spears and Carrot Top. Before he knew it, he opened a fine art gallery at the Stratosphere Hotel in 2013.

The self-taught photographer strictly uses his Hasselblad Phase One camera to capture the beauty of the world he calls a "masterpiece." He only uses Lightroom to edit his images; perfecting the image in the camera is most important.

Knopf now plans to tour with musicians and photograph landscapes during his downtime.

"I want to capture that epic moment in history to remember forever," Knopf says. "We overlook so much day to day, like an epic sunset or the power of waves from the ocean.

"When someone looks at my photo I want them to feel as if they are there looking through my eyes."

As for photography tips, Knopf says don't do what everyone else is doing — search for different angles and the shot someone else can't get.

For more of Knopf's work, visit his Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and website.