A Journey Around Europe
Like so many half-baked ideas, it all started with a glance at a map. I sat there, tracing Europe’s coastline with my eyes, and thought: What if I just set off and followed the shore? Always staying by the water, moving from bay to bay, from cliff to cliff, from one fish shack to the next. Watching the world change – not in sudden leaps, like stepping out of an airport into an unfamiliar city, but gradually, wave by wave, in a seamless transition.
The color of the houses would slowly shift from bright white to deep brick red. The air would first smell of salt and thyme, then of pine resin and smoked fish. And yet, perhaps, a thread of familiarity would run through them all. Maybe it’s something in the rhythm of the waves, the way the light catches on the water, or the quiet pull of the horizon. Whether in a Portuguese fishing tavern, by a Norwegian fjord, or along a Greek harbor, could it be that each place carries echoes of the others – shaped by the wind, the water, and the lives lived along the shore?
So I set off. Not to check off famous landmarks, but to capture the essence of these places. I simply want to photograph what’s there: coastal roads bathed in morning light, abandoned fishing boats, rugged cliffs and gentle shores, sleepy villages and bustling promenades. This is not about writing a travel guide or giving tips for the perfect vacation. I want to preserve in images how a place feels when you wander through it – how the light falls into a narrow alley in the morning, how seagulls circle over an empty harbor, how waves relentlessly crash against a rocky shore.
Of course, things don’t always go as planned. Sometimes the weather refuses to play along. Sometimes there just isn’t enough time. And sometimes, the feeling simply isn’t there. There are places I struggle to connect with – and maybe there are places that don’t quite welcome me either. I’ve learned to make peace with that.
By now, I’ve traveled nearly the entire Mediterranean coastline, explored Croatia’s historic port cities, admired the cliffs of the Amalfi Coast, and wandered the beaches of Spain. I’ve also ventured far north, through the archipelagos of Sweden and Finland. And the journey is far from over. The wild cliffs of Norway, the windswept shores of Scotland, the rugged coastlines of Brittany, and the quiet coves of the Baltic still lie ahead.
Bit by bit, a collection of images is taking shape, revealing the many faces of Europe’s shores. Some are vibrant and full of life, others feel almost forgotten. Some stand at the world’s fringes, others at its crossroads. Many are rich with history – some are just drenched in salt and sea spray.
And yes, no matter how different these places may seem, they are all shaped by the same relentless rhythm – the ebb and flow of the sea. And as long as the waves keep moving, so will I.
