I used this recent trip through Albania as an opportunity to slow down and approach portraiture in a more observational, honest way, focusing less on scenes and more on individual presence. Working with a vintage-inspired Fujifilm X-Pro1 and a compact TTArtisan 28mm f/2.0, I chose to shoot entirely in black and white to strip away the distraction of colour and emphasise expression, texture, and atmosphere. Albania offered a rich variety of character, from quiet café moments to weathered faces in busy streets. Monochrome felt like a natural language for its raw humanity and quiet resilience. This series brings together ten portraits, each suggesting a wider story beyond the frame.

Annie and I traveled to Stockholm in February 2025, eager to explore beyond the usual tourist trail. After wandering the city and visiting the ABBA Museum, we headed to Saltsjöbaden, a quiet coastal village in the Stockholm Archipelago. There, we experienced a true Nordic ritual: alternating between a hot sauna and plunging into near-freezing water, just above 1°C. The cold shocked the body, yet left us exhilarated, alive, and oddly peaceful. Standing on the pontoon, the still, glassy inlets of the archipelago stretched before us a serene, quiet world far from the city’s noise, unforgettable and utterly magical.

Lake Garda has a way of easing you in gently, then completely stealing your heart before you realise what’s happened. Our base was a small bed and breakfast high above the lake, where cool mornings and a bottle of Prosecco set the tone for an unforgettable trip. Days unfolded in spirals - winding roads, tiny cliffside cafés, and endless photo stops. We wandered through Lazise and Sirmione, soaking in lemon-scented streets and cliffside views, toasting with Aperol spritzes as the sun dipped low. The golden light over vineyards and the laughter shared beneath it made every moment feel timeless.