Marijus Kuokstis
@marijussk
Landscape photographer based in the UK
Travelling came quite late for me I would say, simply because as a kid I didn’t experience it a lot. I was born in a small city of Lithuania called Siauliai and traveling somewhere overseas was hardly an affordable thing for my family and to be honest, when I was younger I didn’t even like to go outdoors even though my mom is a true nature lover; she loves to go camping or take long walks in the forest. I used to hate all that. All I wanted to do was play video games and be with friends – walking somewhere in nature didn’t interest me.
"It's funny to think how everything twisted upside down for me."
"As I grew older I started to love being outdoors, I became obsessed with exploring new places and capturing moments."
Only then I realized how exciting nature in Lithuania actually is. The country is mostly flat with morainic hills in the west. These hills are ridges made by deposits left after the Ice Age. Just over one quarter of Lithuania is forested, but elk, deer, wild boar, wolf and lynx inhabit the forests. However, you’ll probably need some guidance to bump into any. Besides, there are five national parks in Lithuania and a number of nature reserves, the highlight being the Kursiu Nerija National Park, a truly diverse environment characterized by high dunes, pine forests, beaches, a lagoon and sea coasts. So if you love photographing wildlife or catching amazing sunsets by the stunningly beautiful lakes, it is a country that you would love to visit as a photographer.
"Meanwhile, going outdoors has become my favourite hobby and I am always thinking about possible trips or destinations."
My enthusiasm for photography arose during my first trip abroad, to the US where I went as a student with a Work and Travel program. I will never forget the moment my gaze found the incredible beauty of Niagara Falls. That day I probably took thousands of photos and it triggered a screaming desire to depart on discovery, to see more natural wonders anywhere on our planet and share it with everyone.
"After graduating from college in Lithuania I decided to move to the UK for new life experiences."
Here I met a lot of new friends and found a job, which meant that I could afford to travel and finally buy my first camera, a Sony A7III. As many photography enthusiasts I learned a lot from other photographers and Youtube videos, my favourite being Peter Mckinnon’s; his content is understandable and interesting. By slowly improving and learning new things in photography I was getting more and more motivated to shoot and explore. As I was living in the UK, I often ventured out in search of all its hidden treasures.
"I fell totally in love with its landscapes."
There are so many unique, picturesque places I wouldn’t have given attention to before I began developing a sense for photography. This makes photography so magical; it opens your eyes to things you, or others, would have never noticed before otherwise and in addition it enables you to freeze in time that moment of awe and look back at it later. Even though the weather in the UK in general is not particularly pleasant, it doesn’t really bother me much because I love taking photos in moody conditions. This makes it all more mysterious and interesting which is reflected in the photo at the end. After all, just grab a raincoat and you’ll be fine!
My favourite time of shooting is definitely morning; I always like to get up early and get to my destination before sunrise. I think only then you can see and experience the place as how it is, how it is supposed to be. It is a unique experience to be in nature when there’s no people around, only you, your camera and your own thoughts. So no snoozing, if you want to not only see the true beauty of a place but also feel it, hear it, smell it – get the full experience. It really makes a difference. It can make a day trip to the nearest mountain or coast much greater than a week-long holiday to the other side of the world where you hardly take the time to connect with what you see and feel how the environment affects you.
Sometimes I think that I found this passion for travelling and photography a little bit late in my life, but then I remind myself of all these unforgettable moments I had because this beautiful art taught me to be more patient in life and enjoy every single moment of it. Whether you find your passion in your teenage years or adulthood, the only thing that matters is to have found it and provide fulfillment, learning and purpose in your life.
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