Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2023 i Lens Magazine

SALT PANS The Messolonghi-Aitoliko lagoon complex is located in the north part of the Gulf of Patras on the central west coast of Greece. With its shallow area of 150 sq. km. extended between the Acheloos and Evinos rivers, it is one of the most important wetlands in the Mediterranean. The ecosystem comprises six lagoons that are part of the Natura 2000 network protected by the Ramsar Convention. The open and closed type lagoons communicate with the sea along channels and receive fresh water from the drainage pump system of the region, creating a unique aquaculture environment. Fishing is mainly done with traditional methods by local fishermen in fish-pools called 'divaria'. The area is also rich in black salt marsh and hosts one of the biggest salt factories. The mineral…

Our ten companions enter the clearing. Barefoot, the Korowai skillfully balanced over the felled tree trunks overgrown with plants. On the other hand, although well shod, I have to concentrate strongly on the path. Nevertheless, I notice that the usual welcoming yodel is missing this time, with which the visitor announces the peaceful intention of his coming. Usman, our guide, answers my question by saying that no one lives in this clearing. My searching look up into the tree houses seems to confirm this. Wait, didn't something move up there at a height of 15 meters behind the house wall? I share my observation. Now everybody looks up to the tree house, which I suspect is a human being. It doesn't take long until one of our porters also thinks…

IN 1983, WHEN I WAS 18 YEARS OLD, I FIRST WENT ABROAD. IT WAS A HIKING TRIP TO NORTHERN ITALY’S ALPS AND THE DOLOMITES. I TOOK WITH ME MY DAD’S OLD CAMERA AND STARTED TO PHOTOGRAPH. SINCE A VERY EARLY AGE, I WAS DRAWN TO NATURE, PARTICULARLY MOUNTAINS. MOUNTAINS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A SOURCE OF AWE AND INSPIRATION FOR ME. COMBINING MOUNTAINEERING WITH PHOTOGRAPHY CAME VERY NATURALLY. BEING UP THERE AMONG THE GIANTS OF OUR WORLD MAKES ME FEEL ALIVE AND PUSHES ME TO EXPLORE THESE HIGH REGIONS. IT WAS A GREAT JOY TO STAND AND BE AMONG THESE GORGEOUS MOUNTAINS THAT I COULD ONLY SEE IN PICTURES BEFORE. TEN YEARS LATER, I CLIMBED ALPINE PEAKS IN SWITZERLAND, ITALY, AND FRANCE.-RONEN GOLAN. My love for outdoor photography began at an…

WITH A DESIRE TO CONNECT AND TRANSFORM MY ENVIRONMENT, I EMBARKED ON A JOURNEY OF EXPLORATION, SEEKING TO CREATE SOMETHING NEW FROM THE ELEMENTS AT HAND. Photography can capture a piece of the present, freezing moments in time and preserving them for eternity. But at the same time, it possesses a unique ability to evoke emotions, resurrect forgotten memories, or even foreshadow a potential future. In "This place was a Shelter," I decided to focus on the latter. For that purpose, I explore the intricate relationship between the Self and the world surrounding us. I aimed to expose various fears, anxieties, and existential dilemmas accompanying our existence. With a desire to connect and transform my environment, I embarked on a journey of exploration, seeking to create something new from the…

Daniel Kordan is one of the most influential advanture and landscape photographers worldwide. Daniel is an International award-winning photographer with significant clients such as Apple, Gazprom Neft', S7 Airlines, and RedBull. Currently based in Tuscany, Italy. Kordan grew up in Moscow and started his photography journey in early childhood while focusing mainly on nature and wildlife photography. Through his university studies (Physics and Technology), he also gained experience in mountain climbing and hiking, guiding tourist groups in winter and in summer, and became a guide of photo-workshops and the chief editor of "Continent expedition" magazine. Today, Daniel is considered one of the most influential photographers globally by many social media followers (over 1 Million). His successful workshops continue to be the rising star in Nature and landscape fields. During the…

In this article, I exhibit one of the latest projects, where, as part of the trip to Romania, we visited rural areas and focused on the gypsy population and their way of life. Usually, when we arrive at one of the villages, we stay for several hours, and the first to greet us is the children playing in the street. Within minutes, through smiles (and some sweets) and without knowing the local language, immediate connections are made with the children, and a conversation is being developed with their parents, mainly in sign language and a little English. On this exciting trip to Transylvania, and thanks to this approach of talking and making connections without rushing and pressing the camera button while maintaining the dignity of the local population, we were…

It’s important to me to arrive early to meet people competing in the events I am shooting. I like to get an idea of who they are and see who is there supporting them. This allows me to see beyond just a photo and, in turn, gives the image more feeling. While scouting the area, I am also getting an idea of the best angles from the arena side, and there’s nothing I love more than getting low and getting dirty to get the shot. When I roll into a rodeo or any other horse event I have photographed, for that matter, there is such an overwhelming kindness and welcoming spirit from the organizers, competitors, and spectators. There is the hustle and bustle to get the events started, all hands…

"YEARS AGO, WHEN I WAS STILL WORKING AS A SOFTWARE ENGINEER, I WOULD READ ONLINE ABOUT THE GHOST TOWNS OF CALIFORNIA AND SAW THAT A FEW WERE WITHIN DRIVING DISTANCE. I WOULD GO OUT THERE AND WANDER AROUND AND TAKE IN THE SENSATION THAT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE USED TO LIVE IN THESE EXTREME LOCATIONS." I love abandoned places. These were prosperous and lively places in the past, but now they look desolate and crumbling. Some areas were built on the rewards of mining, like Randsburg, California (Peak population 3,500) or Rhyolite on the California/Nevada border (Peak population between 3500 and 5000), and others were created by accidents. The Salton Sea was formed when Colorado River floodwater breached an irrigation canal being constructed in the Imperial Valley in 1905 and flowed…

There are places on this planet that are off the beaten track, then there are others that are so removed that there are few, if any, tracks at all. The northwest coast of Australia, an area known as "The Kimberly," is one of them. I join an Abercrombie and Kent expedition cruise to explore this vast region from Broome in the state of Western Australia to Darwin in the continent’s Northern Territory. In terms of equipment, since I'll be working out of a floating luxury hotel, I can bring what I need for a particular expedition and leave other pieces in my cabin, for instance, my Nikkor Z 400mm f/2.8, when hiking to an aboriginal cave painting site. I decided on the Think Tank Airport TakeOff V2.0 bag to be…

In the winter, the days are short in Chukotka, and stormy winds sweep across the wide tundra in the far east of Siberia. The yaranga has provided the reindeer nomads with protection for centuries. It is kept open during the day and does not provide protection against the cold, but only against the wind. The structure’s concept is very old and stormproof. It consists of three thick wooden main posts, four shorter T-shaped poles, and a wooden ring attached at half height. About 50 reindeer skins, sewn together, are stretched over it. The tensioning ropes are additionally secured with weights against the strong storm winds. Overnight, the yaranga is locked, and a bucket is available for urgent needs. Once a day, a fire burns in the center of the yaranga…

THE SERIES HAZARDOUS SHORELINES TAKES ITS TITLE FROM A WARNING POSTED WITHIN LANDFILL RUBBLE ON THE EASTERN SHORE OF THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY. INTENDED TO SAFEGUARD DAY VISITORS, THE ADMONITION UNINTENTIONALLY SERVES AS A PREDICTION OF GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE SUBSUMPTION OF THE COASTLINE BY RISING SEAS. "I lived for many years in the southernmost county of New Jersey, a largely rural, flat coastal area that is almost 60% water and home to the City of Cape May, the oldest seaside resort in the United States. As such, the region is a nexus of tourism, fragile ecosystems, weekend trophy homes, and remnants of the county’s early roots as a maritime and farming colony. Today, as a recreational destination, the ocean has become the region’s economic lifeblood, its beaches replenished…

Jialu’s photos are a poetic meditation on the power and beauty of nature, capturing the essence of the southernmost regions of our planet. The ancient icebergs that stand like arks, temples, or churches, recording the history of water in Antarctica, remind us of the interconnectedness of all things and the deep mysteries that lie at the heart of our existence. The midnight sunrise on the wavy ocean is a reminder of the power of surrender, of the beauty and strength that comes from letting go of our need to control and dominate the world around us. In the shape of wind captured by a red silk scarf, we see the invisible forces that shape our world and the delicate interplay between the seen and the unseen. The massive land of…