My name is Valentin Patsov and I am a Bulgarian photographer based in Germany. Funnily enough, I thought photography was something unreachable for me – something I was not supposed to be good at. Maybe I was being too critic with myself, or perhaps I didn’t think that I had any artistic talent. Years went by and I kept shooting with my phone, simply capturing moments with my friends and family.
Eventually I found myself traveling around the Dolomites. This was an important tipping point in my life! On this trip I learned a lot about building friendships while my interest for photography grew enormously. The Dolomites amazed me, I could not believe such a beautiful place actually existed! As a result, I began to connect more with photographers in order to explore the most special regions in Europe.
But please don’t get me wrong, travel and landscape photography are not just about having fun. I remember my last night in the Dolomites when I was forced to face my fears. I miscalculated the weather conditions and I ended up running for my life in the middle of a thunderstorm! This was a valuable lesson. Nowadays that moment reminds me of one of my favorite quotes: “Everybody has two lives. The second life begins when you realize that you only have one.” This unfortunate event helped me overcome my fears, remain humble when I am outdoors, and challenge myself to step out of my confort zone more often.
As I began to step out of my confort zone I found myself hiking huge peaks at night to contemplate the sunrise. It may sound easy, but if you try it I can guarantee you that you will face some challenging moments and thoughts! Yet, if you overcome those negative feelings and you make it in time to see the sunrise at a glorious peak you will be rewarded with an amazing moment and wonderful photos. Hard work quite often beats talented people, and with landscape photography that also happens!
Andy Rider is a passionate wildlife photographer and filmmaker based in South Africa, dedicated to capturing the raw beauty of nature while raising awareness about conservation. Inspired by legends like Steve Irwin, his journey began as a field guide, where he honed his skills and developed a deep respect for ethical wildlife photography.
In this article, photographer Philipp shares how time, clarity, and consistency have shaped his evolving relationship with nature photography. Drawn ever further north, he writes about embracing uncertainty, working with restraint, and finding beauty even when plans fall apart — including the unlikely story behind his Best of the Week–winning image.
Tom shares the journey behind his winning photography, from a passion for exploration and remote places to field lessons, composition choices, and color grading.
Join us in the Faroe Islands for a unique photo tour, where you’ll elevate your creative skills with expert guidance from Ronald Soethje and Nomadict.
Join us in the Azores for a unique photo tour, where you’ll elevate your creative skills with expert guidance from Ronald Soethje, Bruno Ázera, and Nomadict.
In this article, Forest shares how years of chasing scale, silence, and raw landscapes shaped his approach to photography, from the deserts of Kazakhstan to the volcanic ridges of Iceland. He talks about how he uses light, texture, and vast negative space to create images that feel both intimate and overwhelming.
