There are times I have my camera with me and I can see moments happening where the light is just right and a beautiful moment is happening in front of me. I fall in love, in joy, in peace, in wonder with these moments among strangers.

When a person is looking away and I know they won’t be identified I don’t ask their permission for photos as it will disturb a quiet moment. However, if they are going to be showing their face I ask their permission, most often before I take a photo but sometimes only after, if I feel my presence will disturb the moment. I have a strong set of ethics and it’s a tug of war between what I see and wish to share of the kindness I see in the world .. vs. the risk of upsetting a person by intruding on their privacy, hence why I most often ask before I capture a portrait.

I loved this moment watching Tzeli doing what she loves, capturing scenes for the new movie she is making. While I don’t know ‘Jelly’ that well, she is a well known and respected resident of Skala Erresou in Lesvos, Greece. I hope in time to make friends with her, beyond being a face she smiles and says hello to when we cross paths.

I like shooting people, but I don’t want to upset them or intrude on their right to privacy. I fiercely value my own privacy and that of my family, so I treat the world the way I want to be treated. With kindness and respect.

Still, I try to be brave and ask for portraits where I can see a beautiful moment. I do my utmost to capture it well. I felt that courage during my holiday when I met Cezanne and her baby before a sunset gig was doing their soundcheck. I was so filled with joy that she allowed me to take her portrait and to share them with her afterward. I loved this ‘time-traveling baby’ as she became known that evening. A friend noticed my joy oozing from me .. I get such a buzz of happiness from someone allowing me to take their portrait, their trust in me to allow me to do that.

I love the photo [above] where baby is having a mid change of expression derpy moment .. I love it because of that little derpy second of randomness. Humans are not perfect and toddler babies are just themselves, we love them because of these human moments.

I love seeing a friend and singer having a moment with a sunset, with ocean soaked feet caked in gritty sand.

I love meeting a complete stranger with a wonderfully kind face. Meet Heidi, a woman from Switzerland having a holiday in Greece, knitting something for her grandchildren. I felt a deep appreciation for allowing me to capture her portrait in this quiet moment of perfection she was experiencing.

I love seeing a stranger looking out over the sea while dusk is falling.

To finish I was brave to ask my partner to take a photo of me, allowing me to direct a moment and a ‘scene’ that I wanted myself to be captured in. I love movies and films, I often see moments like a still in a movie .. so here I am against the blue hour of sunset before dusk completely sets into night.