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Michael Laurent
@michael.laurent
Photographer based in Greece
Traveling back in time to July 2007, I can remember myself – 19 years old – packing my backpack for my first ever backpacking experience. We were about to travel around Europe by train; having nothing more than a 21-day interrail pass and an Olympus compact camera – a gift from my father specifically for this unique experience – we were ready to set sail and explore this new world that was about to unfold in front of our eyes!
It is so interesting how part of our memories fade over time, yet the feelings and emotions stay there within our minds. I can recall so many snapshots of my trip in Europe, dressed with the sweetest feelings, which as a result make them come alive once more.
"The idea of traveling has always fascinated me. After all, I always looked up to my grandmother, who had traveled all over the world with a Pentax SLR camera."
As I am thinking of it at this very moment though, that trip to Europe was ground zero for me. The space and time where the memories of the past and the wishes for the future all came together. Since then, I have always found myself looking for the next trip; and photography is definitely a part of it. Going places, holding the camera, and clicking the shutter button may seem like a simple task. For me, it is such an emotional and calm moment and by doing so, I get to take a tiny bit of the world with me. I feel so honored to be able to do something like that.
Of course, this journey, like most things in life, had its intervals. Intervals can be very useful, providing the important opportunity to step back in order to re-evaluate how oneself relates to anything really. It worked for me too, and I can say that I revisited the way I relate to traveling and photography; for over 3 years now, this relation is stronger than ever.
The growth of social media was of great importance, providing access to tons of creators, photographers, different styles, editing techniques, and of course endless knowledge opportunities. Furthermore, social media provided a stand for my work and an opportunity to put it out there, get feedback, and always get better. Having easy access to so many wonderful creators can indeed be frustrating and overwhelming, but I believe that one needs to get past those feelings. Once you manage to do that, you realize that you can learn so much. How did she get that shot? From what angle? What editing procedure did he follow?
The absolute essence of it all of course is the act of traveling itself, which begins to take shape the moment you start thinking about your potential location and planning your trip. The process of getting my gear ready for the trip and waking up early to catch the plane or to hit the road always fill me with excitement. Then you arrive at your location and the real adventure finally begins!
Almost three years ago, I visited Italy with my wife (we weren’t married back then). We drove through Tuscany and Florence which was a truly amazing experience and then followed the road up north to the magical Dolomites. No matter how many photos of this place you see, they cannot fully describe the feeling of actually being there. I will never forget those days, mainly because somewhere between the cloudy mountain tops and the turquoise lakes I asked my girlfriend to marry me (thank God she said yes!).
"The Dolomites however offered me something else, that I keep carrying around with me: all these places that we see and admire all over Instagram aren’t part of any fairytale."
They are real, they are out there and they are wrapped with feelings and emotions that one can only discover by actually being there, feeling the earth, the trees, and the water, and by breathing in the air that surrounds them. Then they become part of you and who you are and you get to humbly carry them around in your backpack forever. For me, Lago di Braies was one of those places. The calmness I felt the moment I approached this lake I cannot describe. It is something I can feel and even hear and is something I crave for, everywhere I go.
EXPLORING
THE DOLOMITES
I would love to call myself a citizen of the world, yet my home, Greece, has shaped me in all possible ways. I originate from Sifnos, a small island in the Cyclades where I spend every August, so the sound of the waves and the colors of Greek summer talk to my soul. Photographing my island during summertime helped me withstand the long winter until my next visit. Two years ago, I visited a chapel on a hill with an amazing sunset view. There, I managed to capture a shot that satisfied all my needs, I printed it and placed it in my living room. This particular capture offers me a vista to my beloved place and time. When I look at it, I can travel back at this very moment at will and relax. Fun fact: it is said that Sifnos island has 365 chapels, one for each day of the year!
Lately, I had the chance to visit the Epirus region in northwestern Greece. We were staying at Papingo, a small village at 950m altitude. The place was truly amazing and we had the time to travel around and see some wonderful places dressed in lovely autumn colors. However, what impressed me the most was the morning of our last day, when we woke up at dawn, only to realize that the clouds were low and all over us. The view was breathtaking and the weather conditions were perfect for some great photography!
Finally, in every place I visited, I had the opportunity to cross roads with so many interesting people. Their stories add so much and truly impact the whole traveling experience. All these different colors around me and the people I meet, highly influence the way I tend to photograph and edit. In addition to that, I try to respect the seasonal element of nature. Each season has its own colors and its own feelings. The happiness and easy living of summer turn into moody and darker feelings during winter. It all comes around over and over again. Finally, I always try to make my subject stand out.
My ultimate goal is to make my photos tell a story. It is true that I don’t always succeed, yet I find myself becoming better and better. I keep getting closer and closer to my true artistic self.
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