Southwes and the Thin Place

Southwes and the Thin Place

The creative art of Wes Walker

When did you first become interested in photography? I started shooting in 2011 when I worked at a camp in the mountains in New Mexico during the summer.

Were you self-taught or did you learn in school/from a mentor? My older brother was into photography first and he showed me a lot. My mom is also a painter and we grew up in a very creative environment. But I started to work and figure out my route and style after a few years of on the go learning.

How did you develop your style? I don't know exactly what to call my style. I love western life, and I love the outdoors, and especially love shooting in low light situations and seem to give photos a sense that they might be on another planet. Basically I want to create a world that is different from everything else you might see on social media, but is still real and out there somewhere.

What themes do you explore through your work? Western life, semi-adventure, and minimal landscape. I love strong colors, and it's one of the main things I look for when shooting.

How do you find and choose you subjects or locations? I actually shoot at a lot of the "hot-spots", but try to portray them in a different light. Other times I'm on a road trip and just find something I think looks cool and try to find a way to turn it into art.

What inspires your work? Music and God. I think music and visuals go hand and hand, that's why most favorite movies have good scores, why special memories trigger a certain song. There's a certain spiritualness to nature, when you're in it you can't exactly describe it. But certain places on earth feel "thin." Call it God, call it magic, call it a "thin place" it's a place that we feel is special and inspires us to be more than we currently are.

How do you compose an image? Do you go into the shoot with a specific shot in mind, or does the inspiration strike when you place your model in the setting? Rarely do I have a certain shot in mind. I could almost count on one hand the number of times I've dreamed up a shot, planned it, and then it has actually panned out. It's like expectations are predestined let-downs. When creating pieces that are just for me I go into it with an open eye. The opposite of a commissioned job.

What has been your biggest lesson learned through creating your art? That waiting is everything. I waited and worked through a desk job three years after college. Spending every weekend and all of my time shooting photos where ever I could. Then making the jump to a full-time creative...but then still wasn't getting to shoot the kind of content I wanted because that's not would pay the bills. It's a process, big time.

What do you hope your art says to people? That there's a world full of "thin places" for everyone to go find and make memories at. I hope it conveys emotion, no matter what kind.

Why did you choose your craft (photography)? I actually started as a sketch artist. Drawing anything I saw for years and years. I never really choose it, it chose me haha. I just wanted to do something more, try and capture the beauty and it found its way to me.

If you couldn’t be doing your craft, what would you do instead? More into music, I play a handful of instruments and have a dozen or so songs I need to try and develop but just not really the time right now. Or flipping houses, a different type of creativity.

Any favorite moments of your career so far? I stood at the base of Cerro Torre at night in March of 2019. I realized just how small I am. How millions of people have stood and seen this mountain. All the stories that have happened and mine is one of them. It was when I realized that I had to start developing my own story and stop doing what everyone else was doing.

Is there a defining moment in your career so far? Probably taking the jump from working for a company to working for myself. Being able to plan trips whenever I want and take them is incredible and opens a huge door to possibilities that just are not there otherwise.

Is there anything you really enjoy in your craft vs another line of work? I love editing. But it truly depends on the content. I used to edit for the company I worked for and would've never made it through if The Office wasn't on full blast in the background. Now I edit my own content and it's light jazz that's in the background. 

Biggest pet peeve about the industry? Companies wanting creatives to work for comps and free goods. I get it, I've done it. On both ends. I would save the free stuff and comps for influencers and actually pay your creatives and photographers. They are creating viable content that is going to drive marketing, something most influencers would never begin to do.

Is flannel really always appropriate? Cabins. With pancakes. To impress the country girl I have a crush on. All appropriate occasions.

Bold Exploration - J.K. Winders

Bold Exploration

Following J.K. Winders’ Adventures

“You’re willingly throwing yourself into personal unknown territory for the sake of discovery and illumination.” I love hearing his outlook on adventure and taking in all the things he has learned. Keep reading to see how J.K. Winders finds adventure in the risks.

Why do you adventure? Why do you explore? I like to think that adventures can put you in touch with the broader possibilities of what life can offer. On top of taking the chances to do some incredible things in awe-inspiring places, adventures show you that the set plan is not always the best way and that the worst times today can make for the best stories tomorrow.

I think the biggest misinterpretation I come across from people is that they seem to view exploration as simply wandering aimlessly hoping you stumble on something that made it all worthwhile. In reality, exploration is a journey, it’s a process of discovery, it’s the action of traveling in or through an unfamiliar area in order to learn about it. Out of exploration comes illumination, not just in a new field, but within oneself as well. I discover new capabilities and transcend limits through exploration. I can’t speak for everyone, but that’s why I explore. It makes me a little bolder, a little less fearful, and maybe, hopefully, a little bit better. I like to think that all-around betterment is birthed from exploration. As someone who grew up a little shy and timid, exploration has made me more sure of myself and more courageous. 

Where are you from? I was born near Atlanta, Georgia and lived there for the first eighteen years of my life. And no, unsweetened tea was not a part of my vocabulary. Since then I have lived in Los Angeles, California, Colorado Springs, Colorado, and now I am based out of and roaming full-time in my 25ft Thor Majestic R.V.

When you were growing up what or who did you want to be? The script for my life changed very frequently growing up. There was a time I wanted to be a missionary because I loved the travel and I loved Jesus and it just made sense to little five-year-old me. There were also periods where I wanted to be a train conductor, a filmmaker, an author, a painter, a chef, even a theme park designer. I had so many different interests growing up that gave so many directions to steer my life into.

Why take risks in life? I think we all know deep down that anything worth achieving requires some sort of risk. If you want to experience a beautiful sunrise from a mountain top, you have to be willing to first take a step in the dark. Exploration in and of itself is a risk. You’re willingly throwing yourself into personal unknown territory for the sake of discovery and illumination. Every trail that we’ve traversed was laid down by someone else exploring a part of the empty sandbox. I absolutely understand how crippling the idea of the great unknown can be. But I also know how valuable the growth and discovery that comes from facing it. The first time you jump over a hurdle is always the hardest. You either soar over it or trip and face-plant into the ground. Either way, the fear of the unknown is vanquished because of the action taken against it. 

Favorite place you've visited? Picking a favorite place I’ve visited almost feels like picking a favorite child. But the place that I always search for reasons and opportunities to go back to is Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Growing up in Georgia, we had the Smoky Mountains which I thought were about as majestic as they came. But then when I saw the Grand Teton range, I couldn’t fathom that mountains like that could exist in this world. It’s also a place where I’ve found peace and inspiration to be perfectly abundant and never too difficult to obtain. 

What place do you most desperately want to visit? There are so many places that are still on my list. But right now at this moment I’ll say Southeast Asia. I have yet to venture into Asia and would love to unlock the entire region. I’d love to take the time to do some backpacking through the more off-the-beaten-path parts of Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. But as I said, there are countless places that my journey has yet to take me to that I would love to experience.

What has changed about you because of your travels? I really believe that it’s impossible to harbor any thoughts or feelings of bigotry or intolerance when you venture outside of your cultural bubble. You learn that there are different ways of doing simple things, different values, from different wants and needs. It is a humbling experience to be the outsider in a foreign country. For instance, I’ll never make fun of or be mad at someone who doesn’t speak my language, because I have been that person abroad who’s the only one in the room that doesn’t speak the language. 

I’ve also discovered looking back on my travels is that none of my worries or fears that I stressed myself out over ever really happened. Other stuff definitely happened, but not the terrible, awful, unspeakable scenarios that I had fabricated in the deep dark spaces of my mind. Traveling does put you a little more receptacle to the things you can’t control. Delayed trains, closed roads, bad weather; all inconveniences that can add spice to the stories you’ll one day tell. And it terms fear overall, I know plenty of people that are still addicted to 24/7 news and it instills that anxiety that the world is full of evil and things to be afraid of. I no longer allow myself to fear something or someplace from afar. 

Who is the most dynamic and thought provoking person you've ever met? I’ve known countless people that have inspired me in very profound ways. But the one that comes to mind currently is one of my best friends from my days of living in Los Angeles. His name was Andre and he was an absolute character that taught me the value of living your life as a work of art. He dressed exclusively in clothes from the 1920s, 30s, and 40s, was incredibly industrious in so many areas from wine and spirits to calligraphy, and antiques to craftsmanship. I really was under the impression that he was all-knowing. If we were ever walking down the street together, the people passing by would be so enamored with his overall appearance. He taught me the lesson of how you present yourself is a story of itself, and if you carefully craft it, it has the potential to bring joy to others. He was the one who encouraged me to live your entire life as a story worth telling.

If you could travel with one person in history or in present who would it be and why? I would love to provide some really profound answer like Jack London or the Fitzergeralds or someone like that, but I keep thinking about my great Uncle Buddy who is maybe the most jovial person I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing in my life. He’s someone that in his age loves experiencing things that he never would’ve thought he’d get the chance to experience. He’s a true adventurer in the sense that there is always something to smile at and laugh about. He’s just a happy, infectious soul that you love being around and I would love to travel the world with him. 

What would you say to someone who has never traveled before? I’ll give you a couple of rapid fire ones first; Always be in a mode of learning. Don’t draw too much attention to yourself. Always be aware of your surroundings. Life is too precious to waste it by wearing a fanny pack. The wrong train can sometimes take you to where you really need to be. Pump yourself with plenty of probiotics and vitamin C. 

I also tell people that if they’re going to someplace with a heavy tourist culture to see the tourist traps first and then just get lost. I’ve done the touristy stuff, it’s not that bad, but when you can collect some of those off-the-beaten-path experiences you’ve got gold. For instance, if you’re visiting Venice, swing by the Rialto Bridge and St Mark’s Square, they’re worth seeing. But then pick a direction a start walking. If you’re lucky you’ll end up in the Campo Santa Margarita or some other place where the locals hang out where you indulge in the good pizza and apertivos. The best discoveries are made when you don’t know where exactly you are.

Don’t feel like you have to see and do everything. If you have that mindset, you’ll go through your trip completely exhausting yourself and most likely walk away disappointed  and unsatisfied. Whenever you visit someplace, go with the notion that you will be back one day.

Pack as light as you can, you probably won’t be very far away from someplace where you can pick up a bottle of shampoo if you leave yours behind. Don’t be afraid of ever being wrong or of appearing foolish. Most locals love taking the opportunity to teach outsiders about their culture and their way of doing things, so always try to be humble and teachable. And just be kind, you are the guest after all.

Give us a story any kind of story from one of your trips that will he impactful to the reader. Speaking of Venice… I was passing through a few years ago, and it happened to be my birthday. Up until this point I had been scrambling around parts of Europe trying to see and do as much as I can. I had plans to take the day and get lost in the city. I stopped by a cafe to grab a coffee to take with me on my metropolitan adventure. Like a typical American, I stepped up to the counter and ordered with my money in hand ready to take my morning Joe with me on my merry way. “Okay, go sit I’ll bring it to you.” the barista said to me. I looked down at my money, and back up at her and asked, “Do I go ahead and pay now?” To which she responded, “No you can sit and enjoy it and pay after.” This was new for me, just sitting ands enjoying a cup of coffee. But I did just that, and I still think about that coffee and how slow and beautiful the world seemed in that moment. I actually felt like I was a part of the city for a change which is something I now strive to do with every place I visit.

What is the single greatest lesson you've learned from someone that is different than you? This one’s a little outlandish and cliched I’ll admit, but it’s the one that’s coming to mind.

On one of my first overseas expeditions, I was visiting a friend of a friend in Southern France. He was the kind of guy that I used to be so intimidated by; a tattooed, leather-clad, care-free motorcycle rider on top of being a tall, dark, handsome, suave Frenchman. I was passing through Nice for the night, he picked me up from the train station. Along with my behemoth backpack, I climbed onto the back of motorcycle and we raced off through the streets of the city. At this point I could’ve counted on one hand the number of times I’ve ridden on a motorcycle. I don’t think I blinked the whole time.

After a while he shouted back to me, “When we come into a curve, you got to lean into with me so we don’t wipe out.” That goes against my natural thinking. The is the thing that’s going to hurt so of course I’m leaning away from it. But the way he said it was so profound, mainly because I try to find deeper meanings in most mundane things. But I took that to heart; when you come to a change in the direction of the path, lean into it, commit to it, take advantage of it or it’ll take advantage of you. Embrace the twists and turns because they are a part of the journey.

When did you feel you were most out of your comfort zone? What did you learn from that lesson? When I first arrived in Los Angeles, there were plenty of things that frightened me. I spent the first couple of months couch surfing before I was able to get on my feet. One of my biggest fears was that I would end up having to sleep in my car. There was a short period where I had to do just that. The first night I slept in my car, I found a quiet spot to park in the San Fernando Valley. I buried myself underneath my denim jacket and a dirty towel and settled as best I could into my cramped back seat. The next morning after a surprisingly decent sleep, I snagged a quick shower at the YMCA and I made my way to my favorite diner to indulge in a large, warm Lumberjack special breakfast. If I couldn’t sleep like a king, I sure was going to eat like one. I finally secured a living situation in the trawling city, but this was just a step I had to take to get there.

Since that first night in my car, I have crashed in my backseat countless times and even a few train stations and bus stops. It’s something I don’t even think twice about anymore. And now I live in an R.V. The biggest thing I learned looking back on that is that the desire for comfort can often times be your biggest deceiver and can hinder you from getting to the place in life in which you really need to be. My desire for comfort and stability was one of the biggest constraints for growth that loomed over me. I tell myself now that if I’m scared of doing something, do it scared. 

What would you say to your former self? I really do wish that I could go back and tell myself that there’s nothing wrong with being lost. I haven’t always been adventurous and used to detest the idea of facing extreme situations and uncomfortable circumstances. I liked structure and the times when I could actually plan something. But now I operate in the mindset that no great story has ever happened when someone knew exactly where they were going. But at the same time, I’m glad that I was able to go through a type of metamorphosis and learn these lessons in due time.

What gives you hope? Hope has never been something difficult for to find. The biggest thing that gives me hope, at least for myself, is the notion that there are endless options. The are countless places left to explore, countless things left to learn, people to meet. If you miss an opportunity to capture a story, there are plenty more waiting down the path. I’m in love with the concept of indefiniteness. It’ll be this way until one day when it’s not. I’ll do this until one day when I won’t. Indefiniteness is an integral part of the unknown. It gives me a sense of hope that something could last, but that even if it does end, it can be as beautiful as the beginning and can lead to something better. I love the idea of creating even when I’m an eighty, ninety, or a hundred-years- old, still venturing out, climbing mountains, seeking beauty and wonder. But I also am at peace knowing that some things aren’t supposed to last forever. If something good has come along for you in the past or present, something good can come along for you in the future.

Where to next? Naturally given the current state of the world, plans are changing almost everyday. I had plans for the month of May and June to do some exploring in the California Sierras that had to be scrapped. I even had a weekend retreat for creatives in Yosemite planned that unfortunately had to be postponed. But the changing plans are all a part of the journey.

Currently I have plans set to be in Glacier, Montana for the month of July, and to do some roaming around mountains and coastal regions of Washington and Oregon through the rest of the year. Next year, I’m hoping to make the long trek up through Canada and into Alaska for the summer.

Is flannel always in season? I’m never fully dressed without flannel being a part of my outfit.

See more of J.K. Winders at his website and be sure to follow his work on Instagram and Facebook.

A Conversation Dan Carter

I recently started following London born photographer Dan Carter and his images of South Africa. The purity and the honesty of the images had me wanting to learn more…

Where are you from? I was born in the UK but I’m currently living in Cape Town, South Africa and right now, I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else. It’s the most beautiful, complex and fascinating place and I am determined to dedicate years and years to building our nation. My heart for this country grows every day.

Why do you explore/ what’s changed about you from traveling? For a long time, travel was just an excuse to explore the most beautiful locations and simply to seek out adventure wherever I could; an escape from everyday life. I’m a natural introvert so there was nothing I enjoyed more than heading out to the Alps, finding a little chalet up in the mountains and spending days on my own, running the trails. There’s an unmatched tranquility out there.

These days, it’s slightly different. My greatest goal is that through my work, I can tell a new story and begin to change the narrative.  There is so much beauty and diversity across South Africa and a whole lot more untapped creativity. There is a desperate need to change perspectives and challenge a lot of stigmas. I think it’s really important to remember that whether or not you are a photographer, we are all storytellers and we have to be really careful how we use our voices. We have the privilege to tell stories but even more importantly, a responsibility to play a part in changing stories. Photography has become an outlet to share hope, light and to give someone a voice.

What is your 9-5? I am a full time photographer and have been freelance for the past 4 years, focusing primarily on social media content creation. Before going freelance I talked my way into a number of jobs I was unqualified for, from pizza chef to barista. In the early days, I was desperate to work for myself so I suppose I was chasing the ‘freelance lifestyle’ more than I was pursuing a passion for photography but I fell in love with storytelling in the process. I find so much beauty in the untold.

What is your favorite place you've visited? Without a doubt, Malawi and Rwanda are some of the most incredible places I’ve travelled to so far. Most of us arrive in a country like Malawi with so many preconceived ideas of how it will be yet hour by hour, with every conversation and each km they were broken down. The reality is, we are all somewhat the product of our upbringing but if we are not open to having our perspective challenged, that can be a pretty dangerous place to be.

In Malawi we experienced the most beautiful scenery, staying in mountain huts at the summit of Mount Mulanje and beside Lake Malawi’s pristine beaches. Everyone we met was incredibly welcoming and hospitable; it was a beautiful adventure. The diversity of Southern and East Africa is unmatched and I would love to spend the next few years exploring there. 

What is the single greatest moment of humanity you've experienced while traveling? On one of my first visits to South Africa, I met a young guy by the name of Shawn. He was a car guard which for those who don’t know, is when people (often homeless) will look after your car and help you park for small change. What started with a hot chocolate led to a great friendship and I’d meet Shawn at his spot every evening, chatting about life, hopes and aspirations. It was the biggest blessing to me, that I was able to walk alongside him as he faithfully fought to change his situation. He never lost hope. He never stopped believing that there was more for him, even in gruelling winters, he would never lose hope. It was in these moments that I was reminded why South Africa would one day become home. He’s now living in Johannesburg with an amazing job and a transformed life. His determination, friendship and never failing hope has been a huge inspiration to me.

Who is the most dynamic and thought provoking person you've ever met? One of my favourite photographers is a man called Andile Bhala from Soweto. We were hiking table mountain a few months ago when he turned to me and said, “If you look after the neighbourhood the neighbourhood will look after you…so when the neighbourhood has your back, you’re safe.” It was then that I realised, we can’t always choose where we find ourselves but we can choose what stories we tell and we can choose to seek out the beauty everywhere we go. Honestly, that has shaped my photography forever. I no longer care to tell my own story when there are thousands upon thousands of untold stories that will impact and transform the mindsets of generations. If I can just play a small part in that, I’ll be happy.

What would you say to your former self? Don’t try and do it all on your own. Consistency is always key, just one step at a time and trust the process. You don’t have to see the end from the beginning and perfection isn’t always the goal, sometimes it’s just about telling the story.

What gives you hope? I see a generation who is not defined by their surroundings. I see a generation rising up who refuse to accept the way things are and are prepared to work towards a brighter future. Social media so often gets stick because we’ve created a ‘me me me’ culture but actually, it can be a great platform to showcase your work and tell important stories. Let’s not blame the tool for how we decide to use it.

Where to next? As I write this I’m currently on route to Sydney which is super exciting. The only place I’ve visited in Australia is Melbourne so my expectations for coffee in Sydney have been set pretty high. After that, I’m really looking forward to getting home to Cape Town and spending as much time as possible exploring my city and its' surroundings.

— dancarternow.com | @dancarter

Lakes of teal -Emanuele Mariotti

There’s one word that comes to mind scrolling through Emanuele’s photos, breath taking. Okay, that’s not one word but still. Scrolling through his pics I can’t help but marvel at the insane places he’s been and seeing these places through his lens (literally) inspires me a ton. Plus, I’m always a fan of seeing gay relationships portrayed the way he and his boyfriend are in Emanuele’s pics. Please, if you’ve gotten this far you HAVE to check out his images down below!

Why do you adventure?

I've always had a beautiful relationship with nature since I was a child. I started camping when I was very young as a boy-scout and I never stopped exploring because I really love the forest and the wildlife.

Why do you explore?

I explore because I'm curious. When I was young I always wanted to see the landscape behind the hill, and now I still want to go beyond the surface of things, to see the hidden beauty behind.

Why take risks in life?

I think that everyone needs to take some risks and get out of their comfort zone sometimes to feel alive, without always being worried about the consequences.

Where are you from?

I'm from Rome, Italy, a city that I love and where I was born and raised.

What is your 9-5?

I do many things during my day, I don’t have a routine. When I’m in Rome I try to work-out in the morning with my boyfriend, the rest of the day is always a surprise. I work as a photographer and I develop personal photography projects. During the weekend I always try to explore new places.

When you were growing up what or who did you want to be?

I grew up nurturing many dreams. One of my favorite dreams was to be a wizard like Harry Potter, to have the power to change things and to live in a magic world (which happens also without having superpowers XD)

Favorite place you've visited?

I have many favorite places. One of the latest that I have added to the list of favorites is definitely Lake Braies, which is a lake in the middle of the Dolomites. I've been there because my boyfriend gifted me a weekend there for my birthday and it was amazing. The atmosphere was perfect, and that place looks amazing every time of the year, so you never get bored. Another beautiful place I’ve been recently is Trentino Alto-Adige, in the north of Italy, in particular, Resia and Carezza lakes. I also loved Japan, in which I lived for a month.

Place you most desperately want to visit?

Iceland for sure, but also Canada (I’d love to spend some time in a cabin house in the middle of the forest), Cuba, Thailand. The entire world :P

What is the single greatest moment of human humanity you've experienced while traveling? There are many. The ones I liked most are the stories of the old men and women I met throughout my trips. We should learn from those stories, they could be very precious.

What has changed about you because of your travels?

I have become more curious. I think the more you travel and get to know other cultures the more you want to know and discover in the world.

Who is the most dynamic and thought provoking person you've ever met?

My boyfriend for sure. It's thanks to him that I grew my passion for traveling, discovering new places, and sharing experiences with him. He's a really curious person, even more than me, so it's always cool to arrange new trips together. We travel a lot and we never want to stop.

If you could travel with one person in history or in the present who would it be and why?

my grandmother in history, because I loved the way she lived and the passion she had living her life. My boyfriend in the present because of all of the things I said before.

Must-haves for travel?

For sure a camera. I can't imagine traveling without that. For the other things, I don't think I'm the best person to ask this kind of question because It's always hard for me to pack -every time I'd like to carry half of the house with me. The essentials... camera, a good book and someone you love by your side.

What would you say to someone who has never traveled before?

You're definitely wasting your time. Open your eyes with the beauty of our world.

What is the single greatest lesson you've learned from someone that is different than you?

It is very important to understand that everyone is different, and everyone deserves respect. So, respect, learn and listen to who is in front of you. Don't be selfish and accept the world and its differences.

When did you feel you were most out of your comfort zone. What did you learn from that lesson?

I always feel out of my comfort zone when I do something I don't know. Doing things we don't know can be scary, but it helps us to improve, to prove our limits and be aware of them

What would you say to your former self?

feel free to be who you are because you deserve it. Don't be afraid to do what you like and fight for your dreams.

What gives you hope?

love. Human love is the thing I most need to be hopeful.

Where to next?

I’d like to go to Bali at the beginning of the next year. I’d love to come back again to the mountains of north Italy before it gets too cold.

Is flannel always in season?

I think so. Flannel means forest to me. So it's always the season to go to the forest wearing a flannel shirt.

Travel tips? Live with locals, as a local: taste the local food, explore the historical sites, dive into the daily life and get in touch with people living in the place you are visiting, try to understand their habits

Give us a story from one of your trips that will be impactful to the reader?

I had many little ones but I don't think any of them would be very impactful. I think many interesting stories have to come on my trips.

Based on your travels what is the single most needed improvement for humanity to be stronger?

Be more helpful to each other. Because only together can we be stronger.

You can follow more of Mica’s adventures on his Instagram and Facebook

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I feel like the more I travel the more I grow as a person... -Marijus Kuokstis

“I feel like the more I travel the more I grow as a person” is my biggest take away after learning a bit more about Marijus and his travels. He’s a down to earth photographer who just so happens to have one of my favorite pictures ever, one that I have titled ‘the 0’ -hope he’s okay with that haha. scroll through some of his pictures and read about some of his travels below!

Why do you adventure? Adventures give me the feeling of living. We all want to do many things, be in many places, meet so many people, going through on an adventure helps me do these things which makes me happy.

Why take risks in life? You can't get anywhere in life without taking risks, you only do good when you are taking risks and pushing your boundaries.

Where are you from? Siauliai, Lithuania.

When you were growing up what or who did you want to be? Full-time filmmaker/photographer.

Favorite place you've visited? The Austrian Alps.

Place you most desperately want to visit? Machu Picchu, Peru.

What is the single greatest moment of human humanity you've experienced while traveling? Visiting Phuket Elephant Sanctuary in Thailand, it was a pleasure to meet such good people who are taking care of elephants who have suffered from working long hours in the logging and tourism industry.

What has changed about you because of your travels? I feel like the more I travel the more I grow as a person, being in a new environment lets me appreciate the little things that make life so exciting and memories so unforgettable.

If you could travel with one person in history or in present who would it be and why? Probably, Christopher McCandless - his story was told in an amazing movie 'into the Wild' he probably was a cool guy.

Must-haves for travel? Comfortable shoes and a camera of course to capture these moments.

Give us some travel tips: First off, rise early. Going out before sunrise will let you see and experience a place in a completely different and unique way. Don't be afraid to travel alone, you'll learn a lot about yourself.

Based on your travels what is the single most needed improvement for humanity to be stronger? Always be kind and helpful.

What would you say to someone who has never traveled before? Start with exploring places around you, sometimes you'll be surprised how many beautiful locations are just around the corner.

What would you say to someone who has never traveled before? Don't think, just do it, you'll see the world in all different colors.

What is the single greatest lesson you've learned from someone that is different than you?

The more you learn to adapt the more you will feel your similarity with them.

When did you feel you were most out of your comfort zone. What did you learn from that lesson?I remember my first trip to USA, I went there as a student with work and travel program and being from a small country like Lithuania and barely speaking English was a challenge for me, but at the end of the day I spent there 4 months, met amazing people, improved my English and had one of the best summers in my life.

What would you say to your former self? Be patient and never stop wandering. 

What gives you hope? Sunrise and sunset 

Where to next? Austria

Is flannel always in season? Flannel is always a good choice.

You can follow more of Mica’s adventures on his Instagram and Youtube

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We have destroyed, with the purpose of creating -Mica Veras dos Santos

What stands out to me most about Mica Veras dos Santos is his unique travels. I am used to hearing about the most photog-famous places (which, makes sense, we are photographers after all) but Mica has been to places I’ve mostly never heard of. After seeing his breath taking pictures of these fairytale like castles or mountain ranges that look like something i’ve only ever seen in movies and hearing some crazy stories (spoiler: one includes a 7 hour journey for a charger) I have quite a few new locations on my bucket list I need to add.

Why do you adventure? Adventure is the driving force that pushes me out of my comfort zone and my routine. We, as humans, usually live a life very based on daily or weekly schedules, and sometimes we have not a lot of flexibility or will to break those. I believe that this is where adventures play a massive role in breaking that chain and motivating me to go beyond my area of convenience.

Why do you explore? Because we have (unfortunately) a deadline. Life is short and we should make the most out of it. See as much as we can, share and live the biggest amount of experiences that we can imagine. Exploring puts all this together. It allows me to get in touch with other realities, other personalities, other cultures, other ways of looking into life, world, environment. And at the end of the line the outcome we take out of it it's translated into a rich juice with a lot of good and balanced values inside.

Why take risks in life? What is life without taking some risks right? I mean look at what we have achieved as humanity. If you really think about it, those who brought big positive changes to our world were mainly people that took severe risks in their lives. I believe that this should be reason enough to challenge ourselves to take the risks we believe that we should take.

Where are you from? I was born and raised in the south of Portugal (Algarve), really on the coast side. I used to live 5 min walking from the beach. I might say I kinda miss home 

What is your 9-5? I work as a financial analyst in the heart of Europe (Brussels)

When you were growing up what or who did you want to be? The funny part is that for almost my entire childhood I always wanted to be an army official, mostly because of my father's influence. In the end, things didn't really go in that direction. However, I believe I always wanted to be someone with a story, an experience to tell, and someone that could bring something positive to the world as a whole.

Favorite place you've visited? The group of islands in Komodo National Park, Indonesia

Place you most desperately want to visit? Iceland

What has changed about you because of your travels? My travels helped me to reconnect myself to nature and to live a more simple life. Being born in the south of Portugal helped me to have my first years of life a strong connection with nature. I spent most of my childhood years at the beach. Growing up, I was going further and further from this environment moving to more big and dynamic cities, which kind of broke a little bit this connection, at least in a certain part. Starting to travel more helped me to rebuild this link and to reconnect me to what really matters.

If you could travel with one person in history or present who would it be and why? Chris Burkard without any question. Chris is one of my biggest references in photography and mindset. He left his "comfort" zone, where he was very successful, to pursue something more. He went from shooting surfers on exotic and beautiful beaches to wandering and chasing the most remote surf locations with super harsh conditions. Just because he felt that it was what he was supposed to do. I believe he might have a lot of good stories to tell.

Must haves for travel? If you have a sensitive stomach like me, Iberogast will be your best friend while traveling (no commissions here ahahaa)

Travel tips? Always try to follow the good advice from the locals, especially in places were people are kind and have good hospitality towards you. Usually, such recommendations provided me the best experiences of my life.

Give us a story, any kind of story, from one of your trips that will be impactful to the reader? On my trip to Sri Lanka earlier this year, I forgot the charger of my camera at one of my accommodations. I only noticed it some days later when I was already super far from that city. I met a tuk-tuk driver that drove 7 hours under a thunderstorm and rain just to pick my charger and to give it back to me. He didn't want to accept my money and in the end, invited me to have dinner at his house and to meet his entire family. It was one of the most special moments I have lived in my life.  

Based on your travels what is the single most needed improvement for humanity to be stronger? I strongly believe that humanity should take a step back to where we were before in order to reconnect to nature and the environment. We should review a lot of our actions -what we eat, what we wear, what we consider life goals and what we believe being "happy" means. We have reached a breaking point and we must take severe and radical actions to try to save and rescue the values that can allow us to thrive. We have disconnected ourselves from people, trying to connect ourselves with social media. We have killed and damaged thousands of species, trying to seek proximity to something that it's not meant to be close to us. We have destroyed, with the purpose of creating. The question at the end of the day is really what matters? What is really important in our world? We should be less selfish, think less about us, and more about future generations. For this reason, I believe that we have reached a sad point where we are not capable of loving in the long run. We are able to love our sons and our grandsons, but the harsh truth is that we are not able to love our grand grand children. If we could, we would not be hurting our world as much as we are. Fortunately, humanity has recovered from a lot of crises of values in the past and I strongly believe that we should stick together to overcome this one. 

What would you say to someone who has never traveled before? You will never be too old to start, that's point number one. The second important point is that traveling is the best investment you can do in your life. It's something that will bring you countless and priceless experiences that will follow you during your entire life. At the end of the day, who does not want to have some cool stories to tell? eheheh

What is the single greatest lesson you've learned from someone different than you? Relativity. What is important for me, might not be that important for someone else and vice-versa. We should always try to put ourselves in the shoes of the other person. 

What would you say to your former self? Don't worry. Everything is going to work out ;)

What gives you hope? People. At the end of the day, it will be always about people.

Where to next? Vietnam (so excited)

Is flannel always in season? Are there even shirts made of something else? eheheh

You can follow more of Mica’s adventures on his Instagram and Facebook

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I feel most grateful throughout my life because of traveling -Ivan Diaz

Ivan Diaz has lived a life as colorful as the images he captures. I always love seeing creatives be able to personify themselves through their work and from learning more about Ivan I can’t help but feel that he has turned his intensity for life into such an eye catching unique style of capturing the life he lives.

Why do you adventure? I adventure because I love to explore life’s many unforgettable moments and all the wonderful cultures that surround us. It’s truly amazing being able to see things differently in someone else’s perspective.

Why do you explore? I explore to discover something new, something beyond my own adventure. Life has so many great adventures to discover, so I feel exploring isn’t just about traveling but finding yourself during that moment.

Why take risks in life? If you don’t take risks in life your missing out on what could be an incredible journey. There’s a saying “ You miss half the shots you don’t take in life” so my view is if you don’t take risks you’ll never know the outcome. Good or bad life’s about growth and we definitely learn from every aspect of that.

Where are you from? I’m from Miami, Florida but my ethnicity is Dominican and French.

What is your 9-5? Currently, my daily schedule includes working with clients on banking issues and financial planning, but when I’m not doing that I’m learning and working with brands on photography projects and my own growth as a photographer.

When you were growing up what or who did you want to be? Like any kid growing up I wanted to be a firefighter or a storm chaser because I love the aspect of that feeling of rush, it’s exciting. As a photographer, I feel that same rush when shooting.

Favorite place you've visited? My favorite place I’ve visited so far during my adventures would definitely be Portland, Oregon. It was my first trip and my first time flying on a plane without ( snakes lol ). It was the trip I’d be asking my girlfriend to marry me, so I asked her at silver falls and it was beyond magical during December.

Place you most desperately want to visit? Without a doubt, it’ll have to be Tokyo, Japan!!!! Please, anyone, sponsor my trip hehe.

What is the single greatest moment of human humanity you’ve experienced while traveling? The greatest experience I’ve ever witnessed or encountered of humanity would have to be a moment I saw someone literally take their shirt off to give to someone who needed it more. That person then proceeded to buy that person food this great moment is something that made my traveling experience even greater. This showed me that humanity can truly come together and show so much compassion.

What has changed about you because of your travels? I feel I’ve always been incredibly true to myself as a person and husband, but I feel most grateful throughout my life because of traveling. It’s helped me understand more cultures and the way people in different places communicate better and show gratitude.

Who is the most dynamic and thought provoking person you've ever met? I would say my wife has to be the person that truly provokes my heart and pushes me to continue reaching my limits in life. She’s always telling me to think and process everything I want to accomplish and that alone is a great gift in life. Having someone provoke your ambitions and starve yourself to climb higher.

If you could travel with one person in history or present who would it be and why? I would without a doubt travel with Post Malone because I seriously love his work and just his overall incredible sense of being alive and insane lol. If we would travel together we would smash a lot of beer, food, and great laughs along the way. While capturing great photos and listening to great music.

Must haves for travel? Must have for traveling without even getting crazy is beyond important to carry water, snacks for energy, extra clothes just in case of weather changes during hiking. For camera essentials, it would be great for extra batteries, straps, covers, lenses, the camera of course and any other important equipment needed like drones, and lastly yourself haha.

Travel tips? Traveling can get crazy, but I always make sure to get to the airport about three hours or even four hours earlier. Traveling is hectic and even stressful if your flight gets delayed. Always be ready for a quick change and have food ready to eat while waiting.

Give us a story from one of your trips that will be impactful to the readers? In the smoky mountains in Tennessee, my wife and I took one last hike our last day there. The forecast was to snow but we still wanted to go out and adventure. Halfway through our hike, it started to snow. It was my first time seeing snow falling, which was breathtaking to experience. As we kept hiking up the mountain the harder it became because the snow was getting heavier and more slippery. I almost fell to my death but thankfully I did not and was able to continue the hike. When we finally started to hike down it seemed to last for hours. The second we got to the car we realized we left it on the entire time. It was a rental and I never had a car where there was a button to turn on and off. Good thing there was still gas left because the rangers were closing down the national park. It may not be the craziest story but it was definitely one to remember.

Based on your travels what is the single most needed improvement for humanity to be stronger? To me, during my travels, I’ve seen a lot and I’ve discovered myself more exploring and finding these wonderful moments. The most improvement I believe humanity can have is to continue growing together. I see it all the time people helping others and we need more love spreading around and impacting our hearts and lives.

What would you say to someone who has never traveled before? Traveling is an experience that let alone is beyond unforgettable. I remember when I got on a plane for the first time it was traveling to Portland, Oregon. I was scared flying for the first time, but my wife told me everything would be great I think it was that fear of the unknown. Discovering new places, creating unforgettable memories with loved ones. It’s the greatest feeling you’ll never regret especially chasing those early morning sunrises. If you don’t believe and take the unexpected jump you’ll never ever know what’s waiting for you out there.

What is the single greatest lesson you’ve learned from someone that is different than you? I personally feel we learn some valuable lessons every single day in life and even more important lessons from those we’d least expect. Someone I work with that I highly look up too once told me that “ our greatest fear in life is not being able to jump and take that great risk. I know that may seem odd, but to me, this made complete sense. We wait sometimes so long to do what we love most and then without truly realizing it tome passes us by quicker and faster, so take that unpredictable leap and discover your great adventure.

What would you say to your former self? I feel I’ve always been able to adapt to even being under pressure. I think our greatest help comes from believing in yourself and in that single second you’ll feel those discomforts fade away. I’m not saying I’ve never been comfortable because there have been a few moments in my life that I’ve been out of my comfort zone, but I learned to be more confident.

What gives you hope? I’d say make those mistakes and learn what you're worth. Continue taking risks, because you’ll fail sometimes, but you’ll also grow stronger. Push the limits that you don’t think you’ll overcome. It’s alright to not have everything in life, but everything will fall into place at the perfect moment in life.

When did you feel you were most out of your comfort zone. What did you learn from that lesson? Honestly believing gives me hope... Why? Because if we didn’t believe in something we wouldn’t have that fire in our hearts to succeed. I believe in our ability to impact, the impact we can all achieve in life. We can seriously come together if we truly focused on changes. This universe has so many great gifts the beauty of life is powerful and I believe that we can make more impacts just believing and overcoming obstacles together.

Where to next? Heading to Tennessee for thanksgiving just upgraded to the Sony A7iii been working hard on making this possible. I’m beyond excited to chase the journey and create more unforgettable moments with my wife because this life is full of beautiful moments and they’re waiting to be discovered.

Is flannel always in season? Haha honestly I live in Miami, so if anyone’s wearing flannel I’d think they work inside a cooler lol. I personally like flannel, but for somewhere colder

Learn more about Ivan’s travels and a glimpse at their life on their website and Instagram account!

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What is life if not experiences? - Edgar Querol

From Bali to the barren cold of the Colorado Rocky Mountains, Edgar Querol has had his fair share of experiencing all the facets this Earth has to offer to photographers like us. Throughout his life, he always gravitated to art, from graffiti to paintings, then to discovering his ability to express himself through photography which has helped shape who he is today. As soon as I saw these images I was like, woah, I need to book a plane ticket STAT.

Why do you adventure? When you visit a place that you don’t know or have never been, even when you’ve been before, there’s a new world waiting there for you. You just know that you’ll live new experiences, some of them bad experiences (like getting scammed in a bus in Indonesia), but most of them will be great experiences that you know for sure you will bring back home with you and your luggage. What is life if not experiences?

Why do you explore? You can’t just go somewhere and expect something to happen, you must go out, get there inside the mess, and experience everything about it. For me, that’s one of the most important things about photography: you must get inside the mess.

Why take risks in life? Life without risks would be very easy, but also very boring. Only if you risk something can you win something you desire.

Where are you from? Barcelona!

What is your 9-5? At the moment, I’m studying for a national medical examination for graduate school in Spain. I just graduated in June!

When you were growing up what or who did you want to be? I’ve always loved science and was curious about how the human body works. At first, I wanted to be the one who would discover the AIDS vaccine, and as I grew up I knew I wanted to be a doctor. However, when I was 15, after a trip to Scotland where I took as many photos as I could with an old compact camera, my parents gave me a camera as a present and I’ve loved photography since then. 

Favorite place you've visited? I always think there’s no place better than the other one, I tend to think the best is yet to come. For example, I’ve been to Bali 2 times and I lived it very differently both times, so it is more about how you live it than the place itself. Oh, but I fell in love with the West Coast in the USA and Indonesia, to be fair.

Place you most desperately want to visit? I’ve always wanted to visit the arctic and a lot of places in Africa, such as Kenya and Namibia.

 What is the single greatest moment of human humanity you’ve experienced while traveling? There was this woman in Indonesia who ran a small hotel. She didn’t have a penny in her pocket when she was young and tried her hardest to get to university. She worked very hard to be what she wanted to be. Now that she doesn’t have any financial problems, she has built a business in which she not only gives the best local experience to her guests but also hires local young women and men and pays them 3 times the usual salary in the area to help them be able to be what they want to be. One of the workers was very happy to work there and was building a new house for him and his family. Most of the business managers just want to make money, I was amazed by how this woman helped her employees.

What has changed about you because of your travels? I’ve been in almost deserted beaches where you couldn’t count all the plastic objects in the sand. I’ve seen people throwing rubbish from the car in the middle of the road and the monkeys waiting on the edge to get something because they know almost everyone does it. That’s so sad and got me thinking about how beautiful the world is, how we are destroying it, and we’re not realizing the damage we do. We must change our lifestyle if we want it to survive.

Who is the most dynamic and thought provoking person you've ever met? My best friend left Spain when we started uni. She studied in London and she’s become an epidemiologist. She’s been in Kenya literally saving people’s lives with just a drinking tap water, and now she’s working in Mozambique and I can assure you she’s making a change in the world. 

If you could travel with one person in history or present who would it be and why? I would like to travel with some local that’s been trying to change the place for best, sometimes the unknown people are the most important ones.

Must haves for travel? A passport and a camera!

Travel tips? Buy the flights 4-5 months before the trip if you can. That’s my best option when traveling, it allows me to spend the money in the best places rather than on the flight itself because it’s cheaper! I also try to meet the locals, they’re going to help you and maybe you’ll discover something “instagrammers” just don’t know yet.

Give us a story from one of your trips that will be impactful to the readers? When you live in the first world, you don’t really know how poor people are in some places. I’ve seen a man in Morocco biting a rat in the streets. That’s something you would never do or think anyone could ever do. But some people, in some places, have a life you can’t imagine and maybe it is not as far as you would think it is.

Based on your travels what is the single most needed improvement for humanity to be stronger? We are not alone. People who really care are not alone. We can make a change, we just have to take a step forward.

What would you say to someone who has never traveled before? Your life isn’t forever, what are you waiting for?

What is the single greatest lesson you’ve learned from someone that is different than you? That being different than me is not a bad thing. That’s something a lot of people should learn: there’s no need to (and you just can’t) hate people just because they’re different from you.

What would you say to your former self? Do everything you want to do, don’t ever be afraid!

What gives you hope? Humanity is better than we think.

When did you feel you were most out of your comfort zone. What did you learn from that lesson? We were on a bus in Indonesia and we were the only western people for miles around. We knew that the public bus ride was just 2 dollars each, and a random guy asked us for 20 each. We looked at the driver looking for help and he didn’t stop the scam, instead of that, he asked for those 20 dollars with more hostility than the first one. You just have to breathe and try to make yourself understandable. If you can’t win, you’ll laugh about it when you get home!

Where to next? London! In our study break in October

Is flannel always in season? For sure, at any season for moody photography 

Learn more about Edgar’s travels and a glimpse at their life on their Instagram account!

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Where do I Want to Adventure to Next? — Mayank Thammalla

Why do you adventure / Why do you explore? I grew up in a small coastal town in New Zealand, exposed to nature and this has influenced me to always explore more of the natural world.  I had started to appreciate the outdoors more once I began to take photos about 7 years ago, so photography and adventure go hand in hand for me. Photography to me is a very therapeutic process. To be able to take away a framed memory of a certain place or moment comes with a certain privilege.

Why take risks in life? I think big strides forward can never be taken in the comfort zones of life.

Where are you from? Born: Hyderabad, India. Home: Mount Maunganui, New Zealand. Currently: London, UK.

What is your 9-5? Currently a Junior Architect working in London.

When you were growing up what or who did you want to be? I wanted to be astronomer. My grandmother bought me a telescope when I was 11 years old and I remember spending countless nights staring at the stars.

Favorite place you've visited? Very hard to answer because there are a few places that come to mind. Tongariro National Park in New Zealand is mind blowing. Iceland and the Faroe Islands were on the top of my bucket list and I finally visited a few months ago!

Place you most desperately want to visit? Northern Norway, Greenland and more of Iceland!

What is the single greatest moment of human humanity you've experienced while traveling? Traveling through India with my parents in 2014, my dad wanted us to experience some authentic modes of getting around Jaipur; one being the man powered rickshaw. I was very uncomfortable with the idea, even more so when the cyclist of our rickshaw changed in the last minute to an elderly gentleman who would have easily been around 65-70 years old. I shared the rickshaw with my mom who was also felling very uncomfortable. Throughout the 15-minute journey I was trying jump off and help him to push us along or to make him stop but I didn’t.  It still makes me teary thinking about it. My mom and I decided that this was wrong, but it was his only source of an income; she grabbed his hand and closed them with a few notes in it. He gave us the warmest and whole-hearted smile and hugged my mother.

What has changed about you because of your adventures/ travels? Slow down and be in the present – that moment will never come back! I used to tend to always let my mind wonder and think about yesterday or plan for tomorrow when not realizing that the best moment you have is right now (sounds cliché I know but it’s true). It wasn’t until I heard the whispers of the mountains or the deafening silence of the woods that really got my attention and created moments where I lost track of time…  Made me realize how beautiful and rare our time is on this planet. I feel, the more you pause and awake to the present, you will realize how great your life is.

Who is the most dynamic and thought-provoking person you've ever met? For me, not one person has been most dynamic or thought provoking. My family and my very small knit of friends are all dynamic in their own way who have all impacted and shaped my life.

If you could travel with one person in history or in present who would it be and why? My grandfathers. I never got to spend too much time with them and it would be amazing to hear all their stories and adventures while going on an epic hike!

Must haves for travel: Sketch book, camera, open mind.

Based on your travels what is the single most needed improvement for humanity to be stronger? Be patriotic towards Earth as a whole. Not just what is good towards your country.

What would you say to someone who has never travelled before? Give it a go, you won’t regret it!

What is the single greatest lesson you've learned from someone that is different than you? No one is you, and that is your greatest power.

When did you feel you were most out of your comfort zone? What did you learn from that lesson? Doing a TED Talk in 2017! I had absolutely no prior experience or confidence speaking in front of people, let along a large crowd. But with months of work and practice, anything can be achieved if you are well prepared!

What would you say to your former self? Be you… The world will adjust…

What gives you hope? I have always believed in the ‘good’ in people. There is ‘good’ in everyone, if they like it or not.

Where to next? Eastern Europe and Tromsø, Norway!

Is flannel always in season? Always (wearing one now)!

Learn more about Mayank’s travels and a glimpse at their life at her website and their Instagram account!

A Conversation with Jörn Henn

German based photographer Jorn Henn has quickly become one of our favorite photographers. His moody vibes and greens and blues have us captivated. The landscapes he shares have us dreaming of escaping the cities and heading deep into nature! We sat down with him to learn more.

Why do you adventure? Why do you explore?

My biggest motivation is keeping moments. I love to be outside in nature feeling the elements. I am a very curious person as well. That’s why I love to visit and explore new countries or places.

Why take risks in life?

It’s more fun. Without risks, life would be boring and you would not be able to surpass oneself.

Where are you from?

Cologne, Germany.

What is your 9-5?

I am an art historian.

When you were growing up what or who did you want to be?

A famous architect.

Favorite place you've visited.

Rio de Janeiro and the Dolomites.

Place you most desperately want to visit.

New Zealand and South Africa. 

What is the single greatest moment of humanity you've experienced while traveling?

Meeting poor people. Like, really poor people. And the fact that when you realize that their struggle is connected to the global economy. 

What has changed about you because of your travels?

I became more attentive about my needs and about climate and environment.

Who is the most dynamic and thought provoking person you've ever met?

I met Edda Moser, a German opera singer, during a lecture at the Cologne Opera House. Her voice was recorded singing Mozart’s Magic Flute aria “Queen Of The Night”, which is part of the Voyager Golden Record. 

If you could travel with one person in history or in present, who would it be and why?

Otto the Great. He was a Roman German emperor in the 10th century. The kingdom of Germany was a travel kingdom, meaning because of its huge size, the German kings and emperors had no static residence. Several spread over the whole country, and he had to live a nomad’s life, like a lot of explorers do now. Well, and I’ve loved knights since my childhood.

Must haves for travel / travel tips?

Good shoes and a good jacket.

Give us a story any kind of story from one of your trips that will be impactful to the reader.

The feeling of slowing down when you are in the mountains. No rush and no stress. And the fact that you have to choose your equipment since you cannot carry everything with you.

Based on your travels, what is the single most needed improvement for humanity to be stronger?

A change in economy. I think big multinational companies and their urge of growth is one of the causes of the climate change and crimes against humanity.

What would you say to someone who has never travelled before?

Travel and collect moments and take off your blinders. That you don’t need to travel fast. That there are nice spots just around the corner.

What is the single greatest lesson you've learned from someone that is different than you?

My grandfather. He thought me to ask questions, not following the mass and trust one’s own heart (he was a soldier in WWII).

When did you feel you were most out of your comfort zone? What did you learn from that lesson?

During exams or just when I have to give proof about my skills. E.g. when you ask me for this. But I learned to fight against these fears and keep them small. Hiking helped me as well. The first glimpse of a mountains I wanna climb is always frightening. But on top, you feel like a king! 

What would you say to your former self?

Trust yourself and your skills!

What gives you hope?

That love always wins.

Where to next?

Italy and Rome in October.

Is flannel always in season?

Flannel is always classy. Love it.

Take Better Portraits: Tips from Emil Cohen

Sometimes you meet people in random places. Sometimes you meet characters that need to be photographed. This Christmas season as people are gathering together we wanted to propose the idea of taking portraits of friends and family. To learn more about taking the perfect portrait we asked five of our photographer friends about their portraits and for tips on how to make yours better. 

Our first photographer is New York based Emil Cohen. I ran into Emil at American Field in Brooklyn earlier this month and knew right away I wanted to go to him for advice. I quickly introduced him to Brandon and they did a dual portrait session. Tomorrow we will see Brandon's portraits of Emil, but today it is all about Emil and his advice to you...

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Who are you. Where are you. Give us your links. I'm Emil Cohen, I'm a New York based photographer specializing in portraits and people. You can see my work at www.emildcohen.com / www.instagram.com/emilcohen and www.instagram.com/portraitsinprovincetown 

How long have you been a photographer? Is it your main job? I've been an amateur photographer my whole life. Photography has been a family interest dating back to the 19th century.  In 2011, I began the graduate program at Tufts University's School of the Museum of Fine Art and received my MFA in 2014. I mark my first day of grad school as when I became a professional photographer.

When did you take your first portrait? I can't tell you when I took my first portrait, but I do remember the first time one of my portraits was recognized outside of my immediate world. It was August of 2009, and I had one more semester of college left. I had taken a photo with an alpaca earlier that summer and decided to enter the photo into a contest run by The Student Travel Agency, an internationally renowned company for students and young adults who want to travel the world. When they announced my name on Facebook, I "whooped!" so loudly, that I got yelled at by my superior at my internship at National Geographic. But it didn't matter because part of the winning prize was a free trip to Europe! By December, I was off on a plane and would be back for eight weeks. Photo below: 

How have you progressed over time? What do you feel has been your most improved quality? Over time, I feel that my aesthetic has become stronger. I continue to study other photographers and artists whom I admire, but rather than mimic them, I try to incorporate what I love about their work and apply it to my own vision. My most improved quality has definitely been the working dynamic that I create with my subject. As a photographer who specializes in portraits, it's crucial to have the person who's in front of the camera trust you, the photographer. In doing so, they let their guard down which will therefore, allow me to capture a true version of themselves. Sometimes you're given days or hours, and sometimes just a few minutes, but each experience has to be unique and met with the same amount of tenacity and determination.  

What makes for a good portrait? To me, a good portrait is an image of person or place that shows the true version of who or what they really are.. There is a fine line between a headshot and a portrait, and the difference is honesty. With a headshot, you're trying to sell yourself to a casting agent which, while it's an attractive photos of a person, might not showcase who they really are. Photographers like Peter Hujar, Irving Penn and William Klein are portrait photographers who stripped away the background and forced a viewer to gaze at the subject head on. Then you have photographers like Alec Soth, Larry Clark and Nan Goldin who create portraits of places and communities and are just as strong and evocative as the studio photographers. In the end, what all these photographers have in common is that the camera disappears in their work, leaving the viewer gazing into a window of a raw and real moment caught in time. 

Do you prefer natural light or artificial? Why? Both! Natural light and artificial light both have their advantages. A photographer who knows their way around strobes will be able to recreate sunlight using flashes and use the strobes to create intentional dramatic lighting. The key is asking yourself how you want to light the photo before you shoot and then plan accordingly. For my studio portraits, I rely on a defused light which creates a soft and even light on my model, but when I shoot outdoors, I have to decide what time of day and what weather conditions I want to be shooting in. Will it be around dawn or sunset for the Golden Hour lighting? Or do I want a cloudy day that will act as a natural soft box? And look at other people's work that you love and figure out how they did it! Always a useful idea when trying to plan a photo. 

How important is composition and what makes for good composition? This is a tough question because it's so subjective. For me, composition is crucial to achieving the best version of the photo that you envision. A composition will include a few key thoughts such as framing, depth, leading lines, and symmetry. If you need a refresher, here's a great list published on Photography Mad. 

Color or black and white? Both! Before I take a photo, I try to think whether or not the image will be black and white or color. Both palates have their own benefits. Photographers like Penn, Richard Avedon, Horst P Horst, Bruce Davidson, Vivian Maier and Diane Arbus, utilized black and white film to their advantage. These photographers started only having black and white film and therefore thought accordingly: creating photographs that are high in contrast, rich in detail and having the color removed, forced the viewer to gaze specifically at the subject that was being photographed. It's like the Wizard of Oz. The beginning of the film in Kansas features some truly breathtaking cinematography because they knew they were shooting in black and white and therefore, had to think in black and white while they shot it. 

Then Dorthy lands in Oz and all of a sudden, you catch your breath at all the incredible color. 

Color photography is amazing because you get to think differently. With color, you start thinking of complimentary colors, temperature, color balance etc.  I love artists like Cathy Opie, Todd Hido, Joel Sternfeld, Greg Crewdson, Jim Dow and David LeChaplle because of their eye for color and their ability to use the color as tool for composition. 

What camera do you shoot with? Canon 5D Mark iii, Iphone 8 and a Pentax K3000 35mm

Any final advice: Two things: 

1. SLOW DOWN. Taking a 4x5 Large Format class was revolutionary for me because I was forced to slam the breaks on my shooting. Due to the high cost and many steps that it takes to take one image, you as a photographer can't just point and shoot. Large format photography takes time and precision which is often forgotten in a day of digital photography. I challenge any photographer to limit themselves when their out shooting a project or portrait. See how much stronger your work becomes when you allow yourself the time to breathe and think before you shoot. 

2. DO YOUR HOMEWORK. I am of the belief that no idea is truly original anymore. However, that doesn't mean that you can't create original work, it just means understanding the conversation that already exists and how you as an artist can join in on the discussion. Do research online or the library. Whether it's Google, or Tumblr or going to a museum of photo gallery in your city, go and learn about who else is out there. Support your fellow photographers and be inspired at the work their creating. 

The Adventure with Darrin Stevens

 

DARRIN STEVENS

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WHY WE EXPLORE

We've been following Darrin on Instagram for some time now. His landscapes whisk us away to foreign lands and ideal places. We wanted to take a moment to learn more about him, his adventures, and why he explores. 

Why do you Adventure/Explore: Exploring, whether that be camping, hiking or travelling and photographing; I think it pushes me to release a lot of stress and creative thinking that I tend to gather throughout the week. I'm always heavily inspired by other photographers and adventurers/travelers. I often day dream at work and wonder where I'm going to go next. Sometimes, It feels like all the bad is washing away and your mind is fixed on whats ahead. It's a very satisfying feeling living like this and I think it gives purpose and meaning to my own life.

Why take risks in life: I think its super important to be able to get out of your comfort zone every now and then. Taking risks means you'll have new experiences, life changing events that can drastically change your future, if that makes sense. For example, I was sitting at work, miserable. My friend texted me out of the blue and asked if I wanted to travel for 14 days across Canada in the next few weeks. At first, I thought to myself I couldn't make it happen, but I was wrong. I made the choice to make the trip happen no matter what even with whatever my financial situation was at the time. I put my happiness first above everything and pushed myself to go and do it. The trip was one of the best experiences I've had and the people and friends I met along the way has changed me forever.

Where are you from? I'm from a little town called Sutton in Ontario, Canada. It's a small town mostly surrounded by a large lake, farm fields and trees. It's quiet here and I really like that. The countryside is a peaceful place to be. Living here can make you appreciate the smaller things in life and it's played an important part in my photography as well. Capturing genuine moments, whether that be a small moment, or something bigger..

What is your 9-5? I work a full-time job, 40+ hours from Monday to Friday at a job not even worth describing. It will make you fall asleep. I do photography part time, on the weekends, weeknights and whenever I can and make extra cash from this sometimes. I honestly just enjoying taking photos so much. I am currently in the process of changing the lifestyle that I live and getting out of my desk job. This wont happen overnight, but making the small steps in my own future will create happiness further down the line.

When you were growing up, what or who did you want to be? This is a tough question for me to answer, not because it's hard, but because it can be a little emotional for me. I was one of those people constantly all over the place in school, not knowing what or who I wanted to be. I had felt a bit lost. My motivation and interests were in things I knew deep down I didn't even enjoy and it affected me greatly in school. For many years in my youth, I had felt like something was missing and that I was to be apart of a bigger picture - like I was supposed to make a difference in this world. I knew in my heart I had a strong love for the arts, but I was constantly told from everyone that you can't pursue a career in this field and be successful at the same time. After a few years in College, a couple breakups, I realized that maybe who I was at the time was not the right person to be. As time went on, I discovered just exactly who I wanted to be. A strong hard working, independent, genuine man who doesn't need an extravagant life full of luxury and debt-burdening materials. A man who could tell stories and share experiences to others through art. Just to live life the way I had always dreamed of, seeing the world and meeting people with the same mindsets.

Place you most desperately want to visit? I absolutely need to see Alaska/Yukon, Faroe Islands, Patagonia, Colorado/Wyoming/Idaho......The list goes on endlessly. I'm a sucker for mountains and trees though.

What is the single greatest moment of human humanity you've experienced while traveling? On my way home once, I saw an elderly man. He must of been 70+ years old. He was parked off the highway and picking up trash in the nearby meadows all by himself. It was raining and cold. It seemed like he was struggling a bit, and I wish I could of assisted him when I look back on that day. It still brings me to tears thinking about it.

Where to next? I will be planning a trip to Montana first and foremost. There is something so wild about Montana. The small towns surrounded by mountains in the North. The glacier fed lakes and peaks...a land that just feels genuine. So much wild life and culture to be seen.

If you could travel with one person in history or in present who would it be and why? I think if I could travel with anyone, it would be Forrest Mankins. His travels seem real, and more genuine than any other person I know. I don't really know him, but I feel like I do. He doesn't focus on creating photos that blow people away, it seems there's more to them and they tell a story and have so much emotion. He seems like the nicest and coolest guy to hang with. I don't often idolize a lot of people, but I think I would idolize him.

What would you say to someone who has never traveled before? I personally think that the majority of humans are trapped in this very small bubble, working aimlessly and achieving goals that will help them get more luxuries in life. It doesn't have to be that way and I think a lot of people are unhappy and still choose to live this way. I don't see the happiness in that lifestyle anymore. I am completely guilty of this although, but I understand now and I'm making more of an effort to change that. Travelling will give you a better understanding of yourself. It will open you to new ideas, creativity and happiness. If you ever have the opportunity to travel, don't put it past you and try and make it happen. Make valuable memories, don't just wait around and waste your precious life given to you.

What gives you hope? The people I've met who share the same mindsets give me hope each and every day. Many photographers especially share a love for what they're taking photos of. To hear some people talk about wildlife, nature and our earth in a loving way always gives me hope. The people who stand up and fight for what they believe in especially, I really admire.

Is flannel always in season? This is an amazing question, haha. Yes, flannel is always in season, unless you live in Arizona.. Fall especially is my favourite season to wear one!

Must haves for travel? Wherever you're going, bring as much comfort as you can that reminds you of home. I personally bring Christmas lights EVERYWHERE I go. Whether I'm in my tent, or sleeping in my car. The more comfortable you feel, the better you'll feel when you're away.

Thats What Traveling is All About — John Thatcher

We've known photographer John Thatcher for years. We've been constantly inspired by his images of California and the life out west. We felt it was time to finally sit down and learn about the man behind the camera. 

A PREVIEW FROM FOLK SUMMER 2019. ORDER HERE

Why do you adventure? I adventure and explore so that I can prove to myself that more is out there than what I can see on a screen or magazine. I need to find out how finding these new places or trying new things feels. I already know what it looks like.

Why take risks in life? Life is about takings risks. Whats the point of living if you only live one way for your whole life?

Where are you from? I'm from the San Francisco Bay Area.

What is your 9-5? I'm a fashion and lifestyle photographer for a day job and a songwriter for my non day job.

When you were growing up what or who did you want to be? Growing up I wanted to be a professional skateboarder. I was pretty close to almost kind of sorta doing it.

What is the favorite place you've visited? My favorite place I've visited was the Saguaro Cactus Reserve. I love me some cacti.

FOR THE FULL STORY GRAB A COPY OF FOLK’S SUMMER 2019 ISSUE HERE

Photographer of the Day: Nick Cagol

Thirty year old, Nick Cagol is a part time photographer who lives in Northern Italy. His goal is to capture more than just the beauty of a landscape, he aims to capture a story. More of his photography can be seen on Instagram @alchenick

America The Great: A Roadtrip with Alexander Miles

These last few days have been incredible stressful and emotional for many Americans, so to hear what Alexander Miles, an Australian, had to say about this country was balm to my soul. To see the beauty of the land that this nation was built on and to hear the affirming insights from a foreign traveler was a refresher for the love and hope I hold for America. 

Enjoy a glimpse of Alexander and Lana's Great American Roadtrip where these two  traveled, explored, and photographed the grand natural landscapes of the West.

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Where are you from:

I was born in Sydney, Australia.

I've spent just as much time in Melbourne, Australia.

Age:

Depressing

Where do you live:

I live in East London.

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From someone on the outside what is the appeal of visiting America? 

 As a kid, I always thought the USA was like the wild-west. Fame, fortune, wild people and wild nature. Most of the media we consumed in Australia - especially growing up - has been centred on America. We are spoon-fed doses of Americana all our lives. As an adult, and having spent a lot of time in the USA, I realise that its part true and part fallacy. America is stunningly beautiful, complex and surprising. Anyone i've ever spoken to that've taken a trip in the states comes out of it enlightened and humbled by the people and the beauty of the nature. 

What are the most iconic ideas/places/landmarks/narratives of "America" to the foreigner?

The great American Road Trip is something that almost every person I ever speak to states as the thing that they want to do. A rolling landscape of the road, dotted with weird and wonderful Americana. A lashing of the kitsch and miles of tired, weather-beaten signs advertising cheap gas or rooms. 

I keep going back to the desert. There is a bleakness, a tiredness which I find really compelling. You can drive for days and at the end of your journey you can end up somewhere like Zion and you feel like you've landed on another planet. Incredibly rewarding as a foreigner to have the interplay of bleakness and the grand scale of the natural sights.

Also, not to be discounted are the people and places - those roadside truck stops with funny 'attractions' and museums. Diners always about the diners.

@lanadelporto

Where did you go on this trip?

We flew from NYC straight to Vegas. Picked up a convertible Mustang and hit the road - it is totally cliched, but we're from Australia, so we figured we had to do it. From there we drove through the deserts to Grand Canyon, Monument Valley and Moab, finishing in the refreshingly green Colorado Rockies for a week.  

Where all have you visited in the past?

Lots of California, highlights being Yosemite, Death Valley. Nevada, Utah, Colorado. A little bit of the east coast, NYC and Boston, basically. For me it seems like the bigger attractions are always more in the west. 

@lanadelporto

What are some tips for navigating America if you aren't American?

Hire a car. There is no other way to see the USA other than by using a car. We were intimidated by the idea of driving on the 'wrong side' of the road, but it's a cinch and having the mobility meant we saw so much more.
Get out of the cities. For me the charm of the USA is in the nature, the small towns and the people who live out there.
Plan your trip and give yourself more time than you think you need. The place is damn big, and most great landmarks, national parks etc would need more than a single night to do it justice. We didn't do that last time. Lesson learned.
Try pretty much everything you can get your hands on - the variety of food you've got is staggering. S'mores! What a thing!

@lanadelporto

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Biggest pet peeve about America: 

Honestly? There isn't much. I'm trying to think of something? 

Oh! Ah! I've got it! Outside of NYC more often than not you'll find the worst coffee in the universe. It's totally butchered. For the record, to be fair, any coffee is better than no coffee, but for an Australian it's always a bit of an adjustment to get used to the heavily filtered coffee. Or, worse yet, Starbucks! 

Let's just chalk that down to cultural differences. 

Biggest thrill of America:

The feeling of anticipation when arriving somewhere extremely grand like Yosemite, Death Valley or Monument Valley knowing that it's going to be good and then it's so much better (and bigger) than you expected. When you sit there, looking at these amazing sights, jaw hanging, quietly just taking it in. It's probably not the thrill you'd expect, but it is the one that sticks with you.

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What makes America, America? 

America has had a bad wrap for a long time and a lot of people still judge it harshly and unfairly today. It's a beautiful country, full of great people who are just finding their place in the world. It's far from perfect, but nowhere is. 

I always think about a very sarcastic quote from a good friend of mine in LA who said when I mocked him and the USA prior to ever having visited: "You only hate us because we're number one!" I never really had much of a comeback for that and after having travelled through much of the USA, it was really apparent to me what he meant. 

It's a damn good country. 

To me, America being a country of 'more'. You want something? Well you can have more of whatever that thing is. You want a canyon? Well here's the biggest damn canyon in the world. You like steak? Well how about a huge, table sized t-bone? You want to buy absolutely everything organic shop in a vegan-friendly packaging with a soy latte and a kale salad? Welcome to WholeFoods! 

You guys live large in pretty much every way, and it's pretty hard to fault the pleasure and charm of that way of life.

I'm inclined to agree with Alexander. America is a damn good country. Let's continue to uphold, appreciate, and fight for the beauty & values of America the Great.

You can catch more of Alexander and Lana's travels on Instagram.

Alexander: @bethebravest                 Lana: @lanadelporto

Sit in awe as you watch their breathtaking timelapse of their journey through the desert.

A couple of wayward travellers hit the road and enjoy some of the greatest sights the US Wild West have to offer. Shot on a Panasonic GH4, and using a Rhino Slider to caption motion time lapses. We hired the Mustang from Alamo car hire in Las Vegas - absolutely the right car for the job!

Beautiful Masculinity: An Interview with Ricardo Rico

Ricardo Rico is a 28 year old Brazilian living in São Paulo. His passion and career is photographing people. The photos he takes are very intimate and they portray a beautiful side to man's masculinity and beauty.

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Christophe: When did you first become interested in photography?

Ricardo: I remember the first picture that I saw and I thought, "Wow how beautiful is it!" I wondered how that picture was created. I was a child and the picture was of Naomi Campell, from Playboy Magazine by David LaChapelle.
Ever since then, everytime that I saw a beautiful picture, I wondered how and why it was made. When I was a teenager I met a photographer and he invited me to help him during a photoshoot of a new upcoming model. That moment was my first real contact with photography and I fell in love.

C: Were you self-taught or did you learn in school/from a mentor?

R: Self-taught.  My first exposure with photography was through a professional, however I did not have them as a mentor.
I researched and read about photography back then, and nowadays I continue do to do the same. I never stopped seeking more information.
Knowledge is an endless cycle, never stop seeking.
 

C: How did you develop your style?

R: So difficult, I have many doubts if I developed a style.
Hehehe "I love making new experiences"
Nowadays, my experience with 'The Lonely Project' has made me happy

C: What themes do you explore through your work?

R: Masculine beauty in physical and emotional forms is my current theme. I try to portray another man by mixing and molding a little of my subjects and a little of myself together. 

C: How do you find and choose you subjects or locations?

R: The intimate/nude theme is a set for 'The Lonely'.
Normally the first contact with the candidate is online, and I explain my job and they tell me the reason that motivated them to seek being photographed by me. I get to personally know them,  and we  start a building a strong connection based on confidence. After all nudity is still a taboo and it is not easy to get naked in front of someone.
Usually, I photograph in their house. I see this place only on the day of the photoshoot.

 Sometimes the place is amazing with a lot of light and I can explore the place many ways, while other times it is a patient game where I fight against the darkness to explore the maximum that I am able to do. However, the place is not very important, the focus is the human.  The pictures I take and conversations we have are the most important objective.
 

C: What inspires your work?

R: The people are my inspiration. I loving walk on the street and observing the people near me. It’s fascinating to observe someone that have no idea they are being observed. Mainly lonely people, seated in the park, in the square, public transport, waiting for someone or something. 
And movies, TV series, songs, and some photographers that I like so much are João Guedes, Wong Sim and Haris Nukem.

 
C: How do you compose an image? Do you go into the shoot with a specific shot in mind, or does the inspiration strike when you place your model in the setting?

R: All is an experiment. First, I need to get a harmonious atmosphere to feel free and confident. After that the experimenting starts. I continue to study and search what will be visually pleasing for the photoshoot throughout this entire process. 
 

C: What has been your biggest lesson learned through creating your art?

R: I have learned to listen. 
I have gained the opportunity to meet a lot of different people with culture and histories totally different and this has enriched me a lot as a human.
 

C: What do you hope your art says to people?

R: The interpretation is free and totally personal. In my opinion, the body is art and can be interpreted to many ways; it depends on the way that you see. 

C: Why did you choose your craft? How hard was it to become profitable at it?  

R: It is necessary for me and I cannot see myself doing anything different than photography in my future. Just like any other self-employment, this is a battle with ups and downs.
 

C: Any suggestions to newcomers to the field?

R: Make experiences, observe, make mistakes & correct them, do not give up, remake and try it again!

C: If you couldn’t be doing your craft, what would you do instead?

R: I cannot see myself doing something different than photography, however Graphic Designer is another option.

C: Any favorite moments of your career so far?

R: The gaze, of who I captured with my camera, this make me feels happy.

 
C: What would you do differently if you could start from scratch?

R: If I changed one thing that I did, I probably could lose good things that I won during this time.

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Rico is currently working on a project that we can all support by clicking here on the Catarse website. (Brazilian Crowdfunding)

The second edition of Lonely Magazine is in the works and he needs our help to publish his fantastic work of art.  

ricardorico.com instagram.com/the.lonely.project catarse.me/thelonelymagazine2

You can also share some love and check out his website & Instagram:

Website: RicardoRico  Instagram: @the.lonely.project
 

Risks Lead to Lessons | Adventure with Yoni Gill

 

YONI GILL

RISKS LEAD TO LESSONS

Paige first introduced me to Yoni a couple of years ago as we were driving across the US. Yoni, a recent college graduate was still in school in Nebraska. He met up with out group and took us to what I think was a bison range. I'm not super sure, nor am I sure we even saw any wildlife. It was cold, dark, and we were less than halfway across the US. For years I had assumed, like most Americas that Nebraska was simply a fly-over state. In that short chilly afternoon Yoni introduced us to the wide open beauty of the plaines. As a photographer Yoni travels the globe shooting portraits and weddings, for me, I was eager to learn more about how Yoni made it from Israel to Nebraska and how that altered his world view.....

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Why do you adventure? It's in my blood, my father is a man of great adventure, I grew up listening to his stories of places he's been. When he met my mom (She met my dad while traveling the Sinai desert, while backpacking through Europe.), those adventures just doubled. They have boxes and boxes of photos they took from all of their travels, beautiful old school film. They can tell me the story of each photograph. That's probably the single most intense drive I have for adventuring and traveling.

Why do you explore? It’s the only time I ever truly feel like myself. I get restless easily, if I don't go on a trip often I start to lose my mind.

Why take risks in life? In the words of Ash Ketchum, “nothing in life is a waste of time.” Plus risks lead to lessons.

Where are you from? I was born in Israel, I moved to Papillion, Nebraska when I was 10. My mom's side of the family is from western Nebraska, so they all lived there. That's why I went from the desert to the icy winters of the Midwest.

What is your 9-5? Is that slang for job? I photograph humans, my dog, and landscapes on occasion. I just finished my degree in advertising at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

When on a trip it's more like a 5-midnight, because you almost always want that sunrise shot?

When you were growing up what or who did you want to be? I actually really wanted to be a mechanical engineer. I wanted to design car engines. My Dad is a private car dealer (that's a title hard to explain) I grew up around cars my whole life. Then I realized in college how terrible I was at Chemistry, that's how I ended up picking up photography.

Favorite place you've visited? There was this lake, outside Mammoth, California. Convict Lake, it's kinda famous. I went there with my friends Greg Balkin, and Taylor Burk. We stayed with another friend Josh Wray, who runs some advertising for mammoth. Anyway we woke up super early one morning and went out to this lake, in November of 2015. It was cold, like 6o, and Greg & Taylor needed to shoot for Oru Kayak. Being the only one not working for them, it was my job to be the guy in the kayak. I got in and almost fell in the lake, but I caught myself by plunging my right arm into the lake. Then I had to kayak for 25ish minutes with a freezing arm. I almost passed out getting back to the car. Not sure why but it's one of my most fond memories, maybe it's because I felt really courageous after that, or maybe it's because we went to a diner and I got chocolate chip pancakes.

Place you most desperately want to visit? I NEED TO GO AFRICA. I went as a kid but I don't remember any of it. I have a huge passion for animals. The bigger the better, and my heart aches daily for the ivory poaching that happens on that continent. I want to photograph some rhinos and elephants before I can't.

What is the single greatest moment of human humanity you've experienced while traveling? In high school I was on a trip to Poland with 150 other Jewish teens from around the country, we had a holocaust survivor with us. Just the cutest tiniest lady named Trudy, we were walking through Majdanek (the most "put together" death camp still in existence). Anyway I hadn't gotten more than a hundred yards through this place, with Trudy by side when she grabs my hand. At first I thought she might need my support, then I realized I was the one crying my eyes out. The human heart is an exceptional piece of understanding.

What has changed about you because of your travels? I feel that I grow a bit each time I get on a plane, I've learned most from meeting other people, and the farther away they are the more I seem to learn.

Who is the most dynamic and thought provoking person you've ever met? Dallas Clayton, he writes children's books.

If you could travel with one person in history or in present who would it be and why? This question really stumped me until I saw "or in present" I would love to go on a trip with Obama, which I know sounds like a super lame cop-out answer, but it's not for political reasons, I just think he would love to hangout with some elephants as much as I do.

Must haves for travel? Stuff you should always pack?
Underwear. Everything else you can just buy, unless you don't have any money, then you should make sure you packed it. I always make a packing list, even if it's common sense stuff, you don't want to be at the airport and realize you forgot all of your t-shirts on the bed.

Photo by @david.sadofsky

Give us some travel tips: You will learn to hate sitting in the back of the plane, not because of the comfort, but because of how long it takes to get off when you get somewhere you really want to go. Buy a car you can set up to sleep in comfortably. I suggest a Subaru Forester, mine's named Humphrey, he's really rad.

Buy a camera, even if you're not a photographer, you don't need to be, just take photos of everything you see, the market, the hotel, the car you're in, the views you see, the people you meet. We don't have perfect memories, we do forget, and those things you don't want to forget,

...trust me. Print the photos, keep them in a shoe box.

One day you might show these pictures to your kids.

Also be stupidly kind to the people who work in travel, you never know when you'll get an upgrade or a perk for being nice even when everything has gone wrong.

Give us a story any kind of story from one of your trips that was impactful: It's okay to travel alone, even for a day, the world is not out to get you. Sometimes I get the most out of a trip when I take a day to explore alone. Recently I walked 13 miles through Seattle in one day and when I got to the space needle, I just sat there and soaked it all in. Then I got some tacos. - always get tacos. It doesn’t always have to be a whole day alone, if you're not like that. I got to Granby Colorado for a wedding weekend in August, I got there an hour before the sunset, and I knew I had to get some photos before I met up with everyone. I went on a trail run and ran out of light before I got to the meadow I was trying to get to, I thought it was going to be a total flop. On the drive back, I found a group of elk that just came off the mountain, they were so graceful, I stood out of the sunroof of my car and observed. I remembered to snag a picture before I left, it’s kinda blurry but I love it.

Based on your travels what is the single most needed improvement for humanity to be stronger Make flights cheaper, make borders more transparent. We need to meet each other. More accessible tacos.

What would you say to someone who has never travelled before? Adventure isn't on top of a mountain, it's not the beautiful waterfalls or cliffs. It's everywhere, you've travelled before, I can almost guarantee it. You just didn't know you were.

What is the single greatest lesson you've learned from someone that is different than you? How different they're not.

When did you feel you were most out of your comfort zone? What did you learn from that lesson? I can't sleep in tents, I was backpacking with my brother once in the mountains of Colorado, and we had a little incident with a moose, it's a fairly long story but it got me good, and now I can't sleep in tents. Put me in a tent and you'll have a very uncomfortable Yoni.

This might lead you to the question:
"How do you sleep when you camp then?" I don't, or I just sleep in my car.

The greatest lesson I've learned from this: you CAN overcome challenges, no matter how impossible they might seem, you just have to think out of the box, and accept some situations but you have to try first.

What would you say to your former self? "Hey thanks for everything you tried to do, don't worry we figured it out, also one day you'll become lactose intolerant so please binge on ice cream, you can lose weight later"

What gives you hope? I'm a lame hopeless romantic, I've yet to meet a person that has made me completely lose hope in humanity. Then again, I haven’t met Trump in person yet.

Where to next? California to Yeah Field Trip! After that some more domestic trips, then hopefully somewhere new.

Is flannel always in season? If it's not, you can always get flannel boxers and just not tell anyone you're wearing them.

— @YoniLiveOnce || YoniGill.com

A Certain Curiosity — Adventure with Cole Kiburz

AN INTERVIEW WITH COLE KIBURZ

PHOTOGRAPHY BY RYAN NEAL CORDWELL

I've known LA based photographer and videographer Cole Kiburz for years now. I continually find myself longing to be on all of his adventures. I decided it was long past time to introduce him to you...

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Why do you adventure? Adventuring is a great way to disrupt the status quo of your routine and creates conditions where possibilities for growth, self-discovery and evolution are abundant. 

Why do you explore? I’ve always had a certain curiosity that I’ve carried with me since childhood. I always have to know what’s just around the bend. 

Why take risks in life? No one has ever done anything of great significance or value without taking risks. I’ve learned as much (if not more) from failure than I have from success so I’m not really afraid any more of the ramifications of taking calculated risks. “Shoot for the stars, land on the moon”, etc.

Where are you from? I’m from Arizona but spent some of my formative years living on a farm in Iowa. I wasn’t much of a fan at the time, but I do appreciate the lessons of the land and the work ethic that time instilled in me. Currently, I reside in Los Angeles, CA. 

What is your 9-5? For the last 6 years, I have worked as a freelance photographer, filmmaker and writer. 

When you were growing up what or who did you want to be? I told my mom when I was 5 that I wanted to be an environmentalist haha. I also always wanted to be an actor and I pursued music pretty aggressively for a while. 

Favorite place you've visited? That’s hard because different places can bring out different sides of ones personality. I’d say that Alaska was awe-inspiring with all its untamed beauty and adventure at every turn. India was the most visceral and culturally foreign place I’ve ever traveled to and I would certainly love the opportunity to go back.

Place you most desperately want to visit? I am really hoping to plan a safari to Africa to document some of the tragically endangered species there. I’d also love to visit the Maldives before climate change and rising sea levels overcome them. 

What is the single greatest moment of humanity you've experienced while traveling? I think one of the best parts of traveling is the random people that you encounter along the way. The people in Costa Rica are incredibly kind, helpful and laid back (“Pura Vida” for those in the know). The best example of humanity I’ve probably witnessed is a tuk tuk driver in India named Torry who I now consider to be a brother. Torry was known in Agra as “Torry of the dogs” because he’d spend a good portion of all the money he made driving a tuk tuk to buy food for all the stray dogs. He’d find sick puppies in the street and nurture them back to health. We’d wake up at sunrise some mornings and go to temple and then go feed all sorts of animals from monkeys to chipmunks to birds. Torry is an angel on this earth I simply adore him.

What has changed about you because of your travels? I grew up in a very conservative household and I think that traveling broadens your horizons and shows you that, in the end, most people want the same things—to love and be loved and just to enjoy their lives and their families. I’ve also learned to be a better listener and more present in the moment.

Who is the most dynamic and thought provoking person you've ever met?  I’ve been fortunate to work with some of my favorite musicians, artists and entertainers over the years. I don’t think I could choose one person, but I am very grateful that my work has put me in to some rooms I never could’ve imagined being in.

If you could travel with one person in history or in present who would it be and why? The first person that came to mind was John Muir but I think I’d have to go with Bob Dylan—there’d still be the poetic-ness to everything, but the campfire jam sessions would be out of control and he’d be able to teach me how to train hop which would be pretty cool!

What are your must haves for travel: @atlassupplyco backpack, @moment lenses, @ezraaurthur journal, @nisoloshoes boots, @brixton wide brim hat, @swellbottle, micron pens, pocket knife, headphones, Canon DSLR, and a guitar if possible otherwise a harmonica. 

Give us a few travel tips: The road can be romantic and magical, but it can also be exhausting and unforgiving. Take care of your body the best you can. Pack zinc, a good multivitamin melatonin, and plenty of socks. A high-quality neck-pillow can be a worthwhile investment. Also, a good translator app and a Mophie battery pack can come in very handy. More abstractly, I’d strongly suggest writing in your journal as often as possible and, more specifically, write about the experiences as sensorially as possible (what did the village smell like? What sounds did you hear that were new or foreign? What flavor profiles did you experience for the first time?) These details can often be fleeting as if in a dream, but if captured, can help to ground you and recall more specific s of how a place made you feel. 

Give us a story from one of your trips: Most of my experiences on the road have been incredible and a large part of that is the people I have traveled with whom I have shared in both triumph and tragedy and a million laughs in between. That said, it’s important to really know who you’re traveling with and make sure that they are someone who will be able to go with the flow and not cause unneeded drama or stress. As the survivor of at least one trip where I did not account for this, trust me, it can change everything and profoundly affect your journey and spirit. 

Based on your travels what is the single most needed improvement for humanity to be stronger? We need to talk to each other more; more specifically, we need to listen to each other more. Many people are predisposition to fear what they don’t know and it’s rather unfortunate because I believe the majority of people are good. We need to remember that borders are artificial creations of man and that most often wars are fought to the benefit of the ruling class. We are all brothers and sisters sharing this planet; and it’s a planet that we should cherish and care for.

What would you say to someone who has never travelled before? A lot of times people say to me “you’re so lucky to get to travel all the time” or “I wish I could travel like you do”. I want people to know that I don’t come from money and that, on my journey, I’ve encountered at least as much bad luck as good luck, but I made a conscious decision that traveling was of high priority to me and I worked hard to manifest a reality where it was possible. The hardest part of any journey is the first step, so if you’ve never traveled, pick a date and a place and just MAKE IT HAPPEN. Once you get going, you will be called to do it again and again. Traveling really isn’t that expensive if you are willing to sacrifice a little comfort for life-changing opportunities. Sleep in a hostel or in a tent. Buy food at grocery stores. A lot of countries are cheaper than America, focus on visiting places like that at first. If nothing else, hop in your car and drive a few hours on a day off and just explore somewhere you’ve never been!

What is the single greatest lesson you've learned from someone that is different than you? I had the incredible opportunity this year to spend a couple weeks with Tibetan Monks as they created a Sand Mandala. I learned from them the joy and peace that can be achieved through staying present and not having attachments. Life is transcendental and the only constant is change—embrace that as the truth. 

When did you feel you were most out of your comfort zone? What did you learn from that lesson? Be it hot air-ballooning through the final-frontier or repelling down a 200ft water-fall in the rainforest, I have chosen to face my fears head-on in an attempt to conquer them. Anytime you do something you didn’t think you could, you become a fuller, more confident version of yourself. 

What would you say to your former self? I’d tell myself to not speak or think in self-defeating terms. Our brains are funny machines that often create “shortcuts” in the way we think in order to arrive at the quickest answer. Because of this, if a parent or teacher told you that you weren’t good at something or that something isn’t possible, you may be repeating that same Iie to yourself without even realizing it. If you daydream about being something, it’s already in you to be that. If a secret passion sings in your soul, you have to listen and follow it. Time is precious, put in the work and get going—this is your one life, make it count!

What gives you hope? I think that the internet and the gift of its infinite access to knowledge and to each other is helping to wake a lot of people up to the ways of the world and is creating a more educated and active youth that is rejecting the blind materialism of the past; one that is anxious to live in a more compassionate, conscious world that is more of accepting of one another and more protective of the natural world we inhabit. 

Where to next? Hopefully Cuba with @ryannealcordwell.

Is flannel always in season? Being yourself is always in season.

— @COLEPLAY

American Field Portraits

Last month Paige and I popped into American Field Brooklyn to do a natural light portrait series. The concept was inspired by a series GQ created at American Field a few years ago...but we decided to change it up a bit by incorporating natural light and natural elements we had sourced from various thrift and antique stores in Brooklyn.  

AMERICAN FIELD PORTRAITS

BY PAIGE DENKIN

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AMERICAN FIELD PORTRAITS

BY BEN ASHBY

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Authentic Lives | Alex McDonell

We’ve been friends with Alex for forever. We recently discovered some of his early work in our archives. Check it out.