“I am a very creative person and have always enjoyed being out in nature. Already as a child I spent a lot of time in the Swiss mountains with my family, hiking near where we live, or further away when on holidays. That’s how I got to know and appreciate the beauty of nature and its facets early on. Exploring new things always gave me great pleasure and I was often taking photos of the beautiful spots I found. Soon though, just taking a photo, quickly and simply, wasn’t enough. I wanted to understand how a picture is created, what it takes to get a good picture, what conditions and parameters were influencing the photo and how to adjust these.
The joy I already had photographing doubled and by looking through the camera, I could see the things a lot different. My passion was growing every time I brought my camera on my hikes or holidays.
I started to read a lot about photography, searched information on the internet and obtained a good basic knowledge. I believe that making mistakes is the best way to learn, so you should not be afraid of them because you would limit yourself in your learning and performing capabilities. I am trying out many things I have heard or seen, and even if it doesn’t result as how I imagined, I always got to know what to do different for the next shot. I enjoy photography very much and this should be reflected in my photos.
When I go shooting, I often search for beautiful light that creates a certain mood. That’s why I like to take pictures early in the morning or in the evening; it provides a very special mood. I like to play with the depth of an image: A blurred foreground, for example, can give a photo a very special touch and makes it look more interesting. My goal is always to make the most of a picture when pressing the shutter. For this, the settings on the camera must be set optimally, and for special effects I use filters. But besides, I try to edit photos as little as possible. I try to keep the photo as natural as I can; in my opinion, a picture should not be too artificial.
Anyway, I didn’t just learn about photography since I got more into this. There are so many little things you learn about, that you might not even realize when you are in the middle of it. But when you take a step back and analyze how your vision of the world and beauty have evolved, you will note a huge difference.
Related to this; there are many photographers going far away: There are amazing places to photograph all over the world and it’s normal we feel the desire to go there. These photography hotspots are mostly shared, but we shouldn’t forget that you can already find nice photograph opportunities in the nearby forest or the mountains, where you find even more untouched nature and above all, no tourists.
Through photography I have already reached many wonderful places that I would probably never have discovered otherwise, even nearby, and I hope to discover many more in the next years, continuing with capturing impressive moments, and freezing emotions, feelings and moments forever.
In this article, Massimo shares seven practical strategies, from embracing atmospheric haze to mastering complementary contrast, that transformed the way I approach golden hour.
Raised on film photography and shaped by years of architectural study at the Bauhaus in Dessau, Christian Stark brings a structural eye and a traveler’s instinct to everything he shoots. Now based in Sweden, he photographs the world from camper van roads across Europe to cold mountain summits in Germany — always with an open mind and often with just one camera.
Mehdi Tadlaoui is a visual storyteller blending cinematic precision with a refined sense of composition and emotion. Shaped by art, film, and a background in 3D and VFX, he uses photography to explore atmosphere and narrative. This foundation guides his fieldwork, where fleeting moments become carefully composed visual stories.
Driven by a desire to witness the world in its rawest states, Sebastian Tan pursues remote landscapes with patience and precision. Blending meticulous planning with resilience, his work transforms fleeting light into immersive fine art. Recognized internationally, Sebastian bridges the wild and familiar, inviting others to see through his lens.
Known for capturing nature’s raw intensity, Filip Breda creates atmospheric landscapes shaped by storm, fire, and light. Winner of the 6th ColorPro Awards for Thunderstorm, his work reflects years of persistence, exploration, and a deep emotional connection to the elements.
Toruń, set along the Vistula River in north-central Poland, is a UNESCO-listed gem where Gothic brick façades glow in the last light of day. Small and unhurried, it’s a city made for slow wandering, and for watching golden hour turn terracotta rooftops into crimson and gold.
