Ali Akinci

@ali_akinci

Nature photographer based in France

I left home exactly 10 years ago without having any idea on what to expect and where I would end up. My curiosity for the unknown has led to me to live in 7 countries already and honestly, I am looking forward to see what my next adventure will look like. I have a rule whereby I never come back from one journey before the next one is booked. Traveling has given me so much. It has allowed me to get out of my comfort zone and fill my backpack with invaluable experiences, knowledge and a conscious mind. So, as long as my legs can take it, I would love to keep discovering new and exciting landscapes. 

There is a massive world out there to explore!

Traveling has also given me a new passion that I truly enjoy – photography. One year ago I was exploring the amazingly diverse and captivating landscapes of Iceland. Many times I wanted to capture those spine tingling moments knowing that they would not last forever. Shortly after my return I purchased a camera (@sonyalpha) which is optimal for landscape photography. Ever since I have learned so much about photography and discovered a whole world of complex techniques, art, experience and the existence of some very inspirational storytellers.

My travel experiences are even better today as I combine this with the joy one gets in the anticipation of planning a trip, during the trip itself (during which you take photos) and the aftermath of a trip (during which you can edit and print your photos).

"This makes the travel experience even more complete and worthwhile."

While I keep exploring the world and myself, I am also busy figuring out what I like and what works for me in photography. I’ve read quite a lot, printed my photos (which really helps understand how you edit your photos!) and spent a lot of time editing to get to develop the current style you can see on my feed. If you scroll through it, you probably notice that the pictures are getting crisper, colder and darker. However, minimalism is also a key element in my photography where I like to keep things simple and avoid clutter in photos.

"Cold and dark tones are my go-to tones since they are - I guess in a way - resonating with the North and mountains in general, both of which I am very passionate about."

In order to keep learning and improving as a visual creator, I find social media to be helpful. To me, social media is one of the many channels for people to look at a picture and get their emotions evoked. I usually look for images that bring comfort, desire to travel or simply a dreamy image to stare at. Instagram for instance provides a great platform to share those emotions, take inspiration, give feedback and appreciate the work of creative storytellers. Some examples of people from whom I draw inspiration are Vincent Munier, Ragnar Axelsson, Paul Nicklen, Chris Burkard, Benjamin Hardman and Nigel Danson.

"I guess what they all have in common, which I appreciate is, is that they are going to the most remote, bizarre and difficult places to capture amazing stories!"

Ali Akinci

Nature photographer based in France
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