Happy New Year! As we step into a new chapter, I can’t help but reflect on the past decade—the adventures, the challenges, the laughter, and the lessons. Even the difficult moments, in hindsight, have shaped the journey, and for that, I’m grateful.
Ten years of filmmaking, storytelling, adventures and exploration have taken me across continents, from capturing documentaries and TV commercials to immersive virtual reality projects and photography assignments. Along the way, I’ve found myself face to face with cheetahs, leopards, elephants, and wolves, often with a camera in hand, navigating environments that were as breathtaking as they were unpredictable. Sandstorms, snowstorms, a near plane crash, and moments of complete disorientation in the wilderness became part of a life I both loved and hated.
Some of the most profound experiences came from working with children in the slums of Africa and documenting the lives of nomadic tribes in southeastern Turkey. Walking along the riverbeds of the Euphrates and Tigris and deep into Syria, Iraq, and Iran, offered a raw perspective on history, a feeling of insignificance in the presence of something far greater. Even with the giant spiders, snakes, and bouts of food poisoning, those moments remain unforgettable.
I’ve also seen the impact of climate change firsthand. Entire islands swallowed by rising seas, once-thriving coral reefs reduced to skeletal remains, and landscapes struggling under extreme drought. And in China we met the first climate refugees. These changes are impossible to ignore, and witnessing them up close has been as troubling as it has been eye-opening.
For personal reasons, I had to step away from this path, but now, I’m slowly finding my way back. The cameras are ready, the road ahead is calling, and I’m eager to dive into the unknown once again.
Here’s to the future. Let’s make it a good one.
