The distant destinations and rare landscapes they often present seem to be the strong point of the Farawayfarers.
In addition to the inspiration provided by the creators of the @farawayfarers account, they aim to convey through their photography the emotions they experience at each moment. This is why the places they visit are unique, with natural beauty beyond the ordinary.
What do Holidays Mean to You?
For us, holidays are the ultimate peace. When the body and mind find their tranquility. This happens when we are in nature. Away from the routine of everyday life, away from crowds and the sounds of the city. There, where we are in harmony with the natural landscape and are generously offered its priceless beauty.
The energy of the mountains, the awe of a canyon, the calmness of the lake, the freshness of the sea, the magic of the forest, the force of the rivers awaken the most beautiful feelings that only nature can offer us. Feelings that, for us, are synonymous with our holidays.
What is the first trip you took together?
Our first trip together was in 2016 to Vietnam, when we didn’t really know each other well. In fact, we weren’t even sure if we’d be a good match as travel companions. However, we both had a strong desire to travel to more distant and untouched places, away from civilization.
It was in Vietnam that our passion for photography was born. We realized that something deeper connected us, something that, as it turned out, would stay with us for a long time.
Thus, the focus of our travels shifted. Our goal was no longer just to visit places around the world and check off boxes on a map. We realized that the reason we want to travel is solely for photography. To capture the most beautiful and authentic side of each destination, filling our journey with images.
For us, travel now means photography, and photography means travel.
After so many years as companions, have you assigned specific “roles” and duties during your travels?
The truth is that from the beginning of a project to its completion, we are together at every stage. From the conception of the idea to production (directing – filmmaking) and editing. We’ll divide responsibilities more rarely, and only when a project has many demands and tasks that need to be done at the same time. But we always both have an overview. Unfortunately or fortunately, we are both perfectionists and very focused, so we don’t leave anything unchecked or unseen multiple times.
This is also why we often disagree within a creative project, but the final result always rewards us, as it’s a blend of both of our contributions.
What criteria do you use to choose your next destination?
Our criteria before choosing a destination are purely photographic. We really enjoy discovering pristine and remote places that are not well-known or touristy, as well as more “authentic” places that the Western world has not yet had much influence on.
In these places, we are given the opportunity to witness untouched landscapes, many times undisturbed by humans. On our first trip to Vietnam, we walked through a jungle where there were still landmines from the war. We’ve spent countless hours on Google Earth, dropping pins to find places we didn’t even know existed on the map.
And yes, we have discovered treasures this way. However, we believe that one doesn’t need to take expensive or long-distance trips to have a beautiful experience and connect with nature. That’s why we also try to highlight places in our own country that many might not even imagine exist.
How long before a trip does preparation usually start? What are the steps involved in organizing it?
In reality, a trip for us begins with the planning. There are many destinations that stay on our bucket list for years until they mature in our minds, until the idea forms into a complete image, and we say, “We’re ready to go there.” These destinations slowly take shape by researching, reading blogs and guides, and exploring maps.
A photographic trip has different requirements and specific challenges. However, three to four months before the trip is a reasonable time frame when we make the decision and enter the final stages of preparation. We book flights, accommodations, and transportation, organize our photography equipment, check the weather conditions and lighting (sunrise-sunset) for each location, conduct further research on every area we will visit, download the necessary apps, and secure travel insurance.
What has been your top travel destination? Have you visited it?
One of the first destinations we discussed for a photographic trip was Namibia. It was a dream journey that we managed to make a reality in 2019.
There, we encountered the most surreal and simultaneously authentic images we had ever seen. We drove 7-9 hours a day on endless dirt roads, got a flat tire in the middle of nowhere, saw blond locals deep in the heart of Africa, discovered buried Bavarian cities in the desert, and witnessed indigenous tribes living harmoniously with the modern world. Every night, we slept in the middle of nowhere, on the roof of our car, under the clearest sky we have ever seen.
Namibia is a country where we found the most bizarre yet authentic images. It’s an epic country, and one in Africa that often doesn’t feel like Africa. It’s a land of contrasts, and one of the most powerful experiences we’ve had so far. In Namibia, we had our final “click” – we knew that landscape photography was the way we wanted to express ourselves. Perhaps that’s one of the many reasons Namibia holds such a special place in our hearts even today.
What emotions do you want to “convey” through your images/videos?
When we’re on the computer screen, on Google Earth, dropping pins to discover new places, and suddenly we see otherworldly landscapes, it gives us a shiver, a sense of awe. We say, “We want to photograph this place.”
From that point, we do everything we can to find a way to get there. It might be a place that seems unreachable – in the crater of a volcano or at the top of a canyon. But when the moment comes and we finally manage to get there, stepping onto what once seemed impossible, the emotion that surrounds us is indescribable. It surpasses the awe and shivers we felt when we saw it on the screen.
Many times, we’ve been deeply moved when we encounter these places that seemed unreachable, as if we’ve conquered the summit of Mount Everest.
Each time, we try to convey, even if just 1/10th of it, the extraordinary feeling we experience when we’re in these places through our images and films. We want to inspire people to travel more and get closer to nature. Nothing is impossible. Anyone can travel and fulfill their dreams. The world is out there, waiting to be explored.
You have mentioned that you wouldn’t change Athens as your place of residence. However, if you could change something about the city, what would it be?
There have been many times, especially when we were younger, that we thought about leaving Athens and living somewhere else, maybe in another European city.
As the years go by and we travel more, the longing to return grows stronger. We appreciate more and more the place where we grew up and what it has to offer, and we believe it would be hard to live anywhere else.
There are definitely moments when we want to escape the city, which is why we choose to take frequent trips and stay in more isolated natural spots. We don’t rule out moving somewhere more rural in the future, but for now, we’ve found a balance that allows us to combine city life and the countryside.
When we often ride our bikes around Athens, we pass by the bike path next to the “hidden” Ilissos river. Many times, we’ve wondered what Athens would be like if its rivers, like the Ilissos and Kifissos, hadn’t been “buried.” This is something that can’t change now, but we always think about it when passing the concrete river. However, we are seeing the city gradually improve with parks and initiatives that are more eco-friendly, which is something that makes us very happy.
