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Milan Pieteraerents
@visualsofmilan
Landscape photographer based in Belgium
I was born in the most beautiful city in Belgium, Ghent. It is big and small at the same time and there are lots of different activities to do – a city full of creativity, innovative ideas and open minded people. I think this inspired me – creativity is not something that is flowing within my family and I only understood it was exactly that I was missing at the age of 14.
I started studying graphic design and I loved it. Slowly photography was added to that as I enjoyed designing using my own photos better; it gave me more satisfaction. Once I finished at the age of 18 I continued with Design at university – an Art school that taught me to have a unique outlook to the world.
"Here I began to find myself, to create a stronger personality, grow rapidly professionally and personally, and form ideas about what I actually wanted."
I had always enjoyed everything related to travel, searching for destinations and reading about them, planning trips, even despite the fact that I hardly traveled when I was little. Never had I the chance to delve into tourism as I was focused on design, but now I had started with photography too my interest in travel and newness presented itself in the form of the desire to capture the world. To photograph landscapes, cities, people and to show another perspective on these matters through my photography. Meanwhile I had traveled to Bali, New York City and Spain which also awoke something within me. This made me doubt whether I really wanted to dedicate my life to graphic design, switch to the tourism industry, or do more with photography.
"This made me doubt whether I really wanted to dedicate my life to graphic design, switch to the tourism industry, or do more with photography."
Then the opportunity to do a three months internship came across and I headed to Bangkok, Thailand. I got to know amazing people who gave me the opportunity to shine both in graphic design and photography. Having always had a low self-esteem, these chances and encouraging colleagues made me feel stronger and I started believing in myself. This had a huge impact on my life, not only professionally. Never was I able to express my deep enthusiasm for adventure, be myself and accept my performances as how they were even if I gave my best. I always felt I wasn’t good enough and my low self-esteem hindered me.
"A certain pressure was holding me back and dramatically influencing my life."
A liberation came when I finally expressed that I was homosexual. It was a difficult decision and a hectic period but it was a great relief. It was the start to walk my own way and be myself. My parents first thought that it would affect my life negatively and of course I was afraid too, but continuing hiding it and living with a limitation for being myself would definitely be worse. That wasn’t an option if I wanted to experience freedom in self-expression. Luckily, my friends and family accepted it and could show them that I was still the same person with the same life goals and passions.
I am very optimistic and wanted to bring more color into my life. I found I could share this with the world through photography and that is where my style derives from; I love color and my work represents that. Now I feel that I can be myself, I want to capture and share how I experience my environment and how much I cherish each moment. Always searching for beauty wherever I am only reinforces my positivity and gratitude and it is very special to capture that as with each photo I feel I transcribe these emotions as well. Still, there is a lot left to learn in terms of photography techniques to keep improving and evolving my photography and style.
"Nowadays I work as a graphic designer for Connections, a Belgium travel agency that endeavors original travel experiences."
So I managed to find a job that perfectly combines all my interests (design, photography and travel). In addition, as a freelancer I have my own gigs. When I shoot for myself, I plan my trips according to the photos and videos I want to create. In general I like to shoot ‘local life’ in the very broad sense of the word – landscapes, city scapes, portraits… It all belongs to a place. I have always been a big fan of metropolises with fantastic architecture and lively vibes – New York, Bangkok, Mexico City and Hong Kong are just a few examples I loved photographing. Nevertheless, I feel totally different but equally in awe and motivated when shooting beautiful beaches or impressive mountains, especially during sunrise or sunset.
I believe Instagram is a good tool to not only share photography, but also positive energy and inspiration. First of all, self inspiration is indispensable in order to create, just like self love is key for expressing love to others sustainably. It is the kind of inspiration independent from anyone or anything else that you need to keep going, that you generate within yourself. Another big source of inspiration for me are other creators like me belonging to the Russian, Ukrainian and Belarusian photographers community. We’re inspiring and stimulating each other. And last but not at least, life is the main inspiration for all my works.
I think that is fundamental in life, recognizing the value of each place, person and experience on its own. Appreciating each uniqueness. Photography allows me to emphasize these unique views and details of life that are so often ignored. And photography helped me to be my unique self.
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