See the World: Behind the Frame

Whether they're hiking through northern Japan, searching for stillness in wild weather, or crossing borders without a common language, the photographers in this edition share one thing: a camera that transforms not just how they see the world, but how they move through it.

“As a Croatian growing up in Austria, I always felt at home in both countries and, at the same time, belonged to none. After graduating, I found myself lost in what to do next. Then I picked up a camera and started travelling. For the first time, I didn’t feel the need to explain myself, belong somewhere, or prove why I do what I do. It was like a huge weight disappearing.

Photography showed me that connection doesn’t always need words. I’ve travelled through countries where I don’t speak the language, yet still connect with people through the joy of a moment captured.

Photography gives everyone their own unique voice and story to tell. And in those brief moments when someone shares the same joy in an image, we understand each other. That’s what I’m trying to do with my photography: share my perspective and the feeling of creating a moment that will never exist again.”

Location: Norway, Austria

“I feel most myself in nature, where beauty exists not just in perfect conditions but in storms, shadows, and ordinary places.

Photography allows me to pause, to appreciate see what’s there, and to bring me back to those moments of stillness in what’s normally a fast, and unpredictable world.”

Location: Scotland

“These images were caught along a road trip through northern Japan, guided by nature and long days of hiking.

I discovered photography at the same time as I discovered the joys of the outdoors. At first, it was a way to preserve the memory of those moments spent outside. Then, little by little, the desire to create images became an invitation to go out and explore the world.

Photography has given me a new way of looking at the world. It has taught me to slow down, to feel wonder again, and to rediscover the beauty of the world with an almost childlike curiosity.

It pushes me to go out, to search, to walk, to wait. It anchors me in the present moment and connects me to what surrounds me.

There is almost always something to photograph, as long as you find the right angle, the right subject, the right light, or simply wait for the right moment.”

Location: Northern Japan

"Photography has changed the way I see and feel. It's a form of self-expression and a sense of accomplishment. A camera. That's all I need to document my experiences and see the world through my lens in a particular time and place.

As an introvert person, I find photography and solo travelling interconnected. It allows me to step out of my comfort zone, to recharge and to connect with creative open-minded strangers."

Location: Chamonix

Explore this edition's photographers on Instagram: @beanieontheroad, @coldwaterkristen, @hugo_hezyl, @_johnjase.

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