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Morais Gaëlle
@savagmountain
Landscape photographer based in France
Born in the heart of the Pyrenees, in a small village, I have always been an adventurer, a little bohemian, dreaming of living in a cabin in the middle of nature. As soon as I could take my first steps we went on hikes with the family and the little object that my dad carried in his hands to capture our memories quickly caught my attention. I found it simply magical that it could save our moments in a photograph where we would look at later again. At the age of 15 I got my own reflex, which accompanied me for many years. I was intrigued by macro photography in particular; the details of nature inspired me.
"Subsequently, I dived into the beauty of art and continued to explore photography."
"I have had many doubts, but being in nature and going back to the basics helped me to find myself."
Upon finishing my studies in a big city, I knew that life in a city didn’t interest me. It wasn’t like me, I simply didn’t feel it. So I decided to start roaming for a while, along the coast, close to the ocean. Fresh air, twinkling stars, surf vibes… I began focusing again on photography and the art of capturing the present moment. Nevertheless, some encounters made me realize that I still wasn’t at my place. The day I understood that being yourself enables you to advance had a huge impact on my life, personally and professionally. I listened to my inner voice and headed back inland, where I was born. The mountains heal our wounds and strengthen us to reconnect. Nature is linked to the approach I have toward photography. I got fond of what the Earth has to offer us, without doubts the most beautiful gift, making us dream with our eyes open!
"Everything is inspiring in my opinion; the secret for a photographer is to be curious about everything around us in order to get the unbelievable shots."
"The area where I live is a source of pure splendor and I am truly aware of that."
It’s a source of inspiration because no day is identical, no light crosses and covers the valleys the same way. I am fascinated by these details that can be unnoticeable or inutile for others, but to me reveal unlimited authenticity. I am in pursuit of the most beautiful lights at dawn. Photography is an integral part of my life, and mainly happens when the desire appears; spontaneously! If I see the weather is good I go outside to get some shots. Those short daily instants, some minutes, hours, are enough to capture beautiful images and enrich myself. Oreo & Nacho, my two wacky little dogs, filled with love and overflowing with energy accompany me on most of my adventures. They too are keen on hiking and these moments shared with them are unique. They can’t talk but they bring a lot more.
"Every excursion, small or big, becomes a wonderful adventure with them."
"I am not very fond of the term “travel”. Nowadays it evokes a fashion effect which is not part of my values."
The journey is not to go around the world, to cross land & ocean in search of something. The journey can be short physically but psychologically profound. This kind of journey is characterized more as an action that allows you to disconnect from your daily life in order to meet yourself. Our bodies function as a receptor receiving cosmic energy; it is thanks to the energy of nature that I recharge myself and recharge my batteries. As a source of inspiration but also of exhalation, nature allows one to exile for a moment; let go of all the events that shake up our daily lives.
“Don’t you work? You just travel, you go everywhere … ” I often hear this from my friends or people in my virtual community, and it makes me smile. My answer is relatively simple: “I take the time to live”. I explain that everything is at our fingertips, I do not go 1000km, but take advantage of the surroundings I have on a daily basis to make life a unique experience. It is often said that ‘travel’ increases your consciousness, it is true, in the sense that it allows you to create your own story. I believe that being conscious of the potential we have right in our hands is a source of happiness. The most beautiful and big key of life is to live it fully in the present moment. To tame every good or bad moment, to face our failures and savor our successes.
"Our path is mapped out and our duty is to open our eyes to what we have in our hands."
“The essence lies within nature” is an ethic that I love and live up to."
Understanding that what we have is not the material world, just living with what is offered to us. It is essential to nourish our inner strength through these small & big experiences. Take the time to cultivate our passion. Photography makes it possible to highlight what the Earth is rich in, and for me it is also the way to transcribe my emotions felt when experiencing this richness. Bright, colorful, vibrant shots echo all the joy I feel. I like to convey a positive vision. Photography allows me to leave a mark, to immortalize a moment to not forget how lucky we are to live.
"Through my photos I want to share and raise awareness about the richness of our territory."
Make places not far from us valued and argue that they are essential for our well-being and our human evolution. That it is important to conserve them. Our landscapes are treasures to be explored, it is through my photographs that I try to encourage people to come out and see what is happening behind their window. My intention is not to show the quality of a photo or to show the excellence of gear and tools, but rather to simply convey what I see with my eyes, to make others feel the rhythm of the earth, to immerse the observer in the heart of the moment. Inspire my loved ones to walk the trails in our surroundings to shake up their routine.
"The photo of Lac d’Ayous would be my favorite. This lake is located facing the famous peak in the Ossau valley, the ‘Pic du Midi d'Ossau’."
It’s one of my shots that I can look at continuously. I find it so pure, a monochrome of blue composes this photo and conveys the sound of the mountain. An energy emerges from this shot when I look at it because it tells the story of my very first excursion with Elisa, my invaluable companion (@elisargt). It is with her that I traveled the Pyrenees to fill my adventure book. It was our first hike in the mountains, eight hours of walking to admire the show at dawn. The alarm rang at 5:30am, opened our tent and our eyes met those magical lights, resting our gaze on the scenery in front of us for two, five or maybe ten minutes. This photo marked the start of a long friendship with Elisa….
"In a few years, with a smile on our lips, we will be able to tell our children about our adventurous excursions."
"The journey of our life depends on our actions. I choose to live by choice, not by chance."
To make changes, not excuses. To be motivated, not manipulated. To excel, not to compete. I choose self-esteem over self-pity. And I choose to listen to my inner voice instead of the random opinion of others. Willingness shows that we can both leave behind and attract whatever we desire. I don’t believe in coincidence; all doors that open for us lead us to a certain direction in our lives. People that you encounter, unique experiences…all elements that are there to create our history. Personally I met a soul with whom I share my daily life, with whom I escape every day. Two great enthusiasts, perfectly aligned, in pursuit of endless happiness.
Our destiny stimulates us every day a little more thanks to these meetings with human beings and situations. Sooner or later your soul meets its destiny, the moment when you are feeling the best in your life. I don’t believe in fairy tales but in the universe, in the law of attraction. We attract what we are; positive thoughts bring good into our life.
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