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Welcome to I am Spellbound by Moments
 

Once, I told one of my favorite singers: "Please never stop expressing the world inside you." I wasn't born with a gift for singing, but I would also like to provide some inspiration - or at least just some fun. So, I have decided to show the world through my eyes as a passionate traveler who loves exploring remote and unique corners of the Earth and strives to experience and capture as many meaningful moments as possible.

Before we dive in, a little invitation: you can find the results of my ever-flowing pursuit of wonder regularly on my @iamspellboundbymoments page, while this website serves as a deeper insight into the pivotal decisions and experiences that shape my world.


What does it mean for me to be spellbound by a moment?

Many amazing things in life only last a short time, especially when you are out in nature or exploring the world. If you want to experience a specific moment again, you often find you can't - because that moment, where everything came together perfectly, is gone. While memories are beautiful, they can only offer fragments of the full intensity.

My goal is to relive these moments as vividly as possible. I don’t just chase extraordinary moments hoping they'll become memories; I strive to capture them. When I succeed and look at a photo later, that moment comes alive again: I feel like I'm reliving almost every detail. This is when I'm spellbound by a moment. Because I was lucky enough to experience that moment for the first time, and since then, I could almost fully relive it time and time again.

However, the real challenge is finding the balance between enjoying a moment and capturing it. If you only enjoy it, it fades into a memory. If you only focus on capturing it, the moment is never truly lived. To be spellbound by a moment, the balance must be found for the first time!


Now, let's take a quick tour together around the globe:

 

Look at this little guy! Isn't it cute? This is a baby porcupine - also known as a porcupette - captured in the wilds of Alaska.

Did you know that porcupines have around 30,000 quills? And contrary to popular belief, they can't actually shoot them.
Now, imagine this landscape spreading out before your very eyes. I wish I could wake up to this view every single week.
“There will never be a photograph of the Grand Canyon that can adequately describe its depth, breadth, and true beauty.” [1] Yet, if you’ve stood here even once and captured it, a single look at that photo instantly brings the moment back to life.
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to see penguins on the seventh continent? To be honest, it's a feeling that words simply can't capture.

This picture shows a special moment off the coast of Antarctica: I was sitting in a kayak, approaching a floating iceberg, when I suddenly made a new buddy - an Adélie penguin.
Nowadays, what's the main downside that comes to mind when you think of the floating city, Venice? Most likely, the crowds! That’s why I prefer visiting during the off-peak season.

This way, the city is truly enjoyable, and I can savor an unforgettable dinner by the water at sunset - though I always have to keep an eye on the seagulls (haha!). It’s the perfect moment to wait for the city lights to come alive and leave me captivated.
I was lucky enough to visit one of the most fragile and sensitive environments in the world. The Havasupai Reservation looks like magic, but it's very real.

I had been waiting for four years to get there, and now, I have a hundred moments from that journey that I'm spellbound by.
Imagine traveling to Nepal to see Mount Everest. What if you could take in the highest point on Earth with a panorama like this?

You can't actually see Everest in this specific frame, but if you hike to the top of Gokyo Ri (5,357 m / 17,575 ft) and soak in this vista, just a quick turn to the left reveals that legendary peak reaching 8,848 m / 29,032 ft into the sky.
Whenever I get the chance, I love taking animal portraits - from a safe distance, of course, using a long zoom. This marmot gave me such an amazing moment in Wyoming.

Thanks for the pose, little friend!

 

 

 

 

If you enjoyed the quick tour around the globe and would like to see more, feel free to immerse yourself in my adventures - either via the menu or the article selection - with moments that always leave me spellbound.

Are you also interested in some short stories of mine to see some difference between memories I can only partly recall and moments I'm spellbound by? - just click here!
  • Once, while hiking a trail in Hungary, I missed a sign and wandered off the path. It was daytime, but the dense forest made it feel dim. After a while, I noticed a few red deer in the distance - magnificent stags with huge antlers. There was some fog drifting between the trees, adding to the atmosphere. They noticed me, too. In that second, I knew I had two choices: I could keep watching to ensure at least a good memory, or I could reach into my bag for the camera to create a moment I could later be spellbound by. But by choosing the camera, I risked having neither a photo nor a clear memory. I chose to keep watching, and I'm glad I did. I only had five seconds before they disappeared. It was a moment of a lifetime, but since I couldn't capture it, I only have a vague memory of it now. It was a privilege to be there, but if I had a picture of those animals in that specific setting, it would truly bring me back to that moment again.
  • Do you remember the first picture? The porcupette? One rainy day, I was walking up a hill in Alaska with my camera hanging around my neck, as I had just been photographing marmots. Suddenly, I spotted a porcupine and began watching and capturing the moment (a lucky day indeed!). A minute or two later, I realized the porcupette was standing right next to me – until then, I had likely been focusing on its mother. We were both surprised and stood watching each other for a while (the little Porkie seemed a bit cautious, while I was purely joyful). Once again, it was a brief encounter – soon the porcupette turned around and hid in a bush – but I had an incredible wildlife experience and managed to capture some amazing shots. When I look at the picture I shared with you, I remember every single detail. It's not just a faint memory; it's as if I'm back at that scene again and again, so I'm spellbound by this moment.
  • Again in Alaska, while I was traveling on a bus one day, I spotted a black bear walking near the road with a large fish in its mouth. There was no way to stop the bus. I remember the moment, but I can't really see the details in my mind anymore. This could have been one of those majestic moments I'm spellbound by. (A memory like this is still an amazing experience - I loved seeing that bear, even for just a second - but I'm searching for more than just memories).
  • In the Galápagos Islands, I got lucky when one of my guides brought our dinghy closer to a penguin standing on a rock. I managed to capture a few really good shots of that moment, while also having enough time to just watch and enjoy the animal. When I look at those pictures, I clearly remember every detail of that moment. It's not just a faint memory; it's not a moment fully gone that can't be relived. It's still there with me, almost as if I'm experiencing it for the very first time.
 
 
 

Beyond the "End of the World"


Ushuaia - famously known as the "End of the World" [10] - is the southernmost city in Argentina and the primary gateway to the seventh continent. But why would anyone visit Antarctica unless they're conducting scientific research? People often ask: "Why did you go there? What did you do there? How did you even get there? Wasn't it dangerous? Wasn't it freezing?" These are all valid questions when it comes to such an extreme journey to the edge of the globe.

First, just imagine seeing penguins in their natural habitat, watching them waddle right in front of you. Then, think about what it's like to witness pure, untouched nature where no humans live. If you had the chance to camp on an Antarctic island for a night, or even listen to the sounds of that frozen wilderness while kayaking through its pristine waters, why wouldn't you want to experience that?

When I watched the movie Titanic (1997), I was deeply moved by the ending scene, where Rose's photos [11] reveal just how adventurous and meaningful her life had been. I also want a life full of adventures and unforgettable moments - preferably captured so that I can almost completely relive these experiences again and again, at any time.

So, this isn't about a series of questions or answers; it was a decision! One day, I simply woke up on a ship, went up to the top deck, and stretched out my arm toward the southernmost continent, surrounded by the seemingly endless ocean. Just being aware that we were cruising over the Drake Passage - in the middle of nowhere - was incredibly exciting. While many would have been afraid, in that moment, I felt nothing but happiness and pure excitement.

But let me answer some of those questions from my perspective!

  • Dangerous? Everything in life can be dangerous; you could even have a heart attack or a nervous breakdown in an office without ever discovering what's beyond your doorsteps or having the adventure of a lifetime. We must experience the world, though "the world" means something different to everyone.
  • Weather? Things aren't always as you imagine. Some parts of Antarctica, like the Antarctic Peninsula, are not necessarily below freezing.
  • How? There are specialized companies that make safe travel possible - protecting both the Antarctic flora and fauna and the traveler.

When I finally landed on the seventh continent, I entered the empire of penguins and simply watched them - witnessing their wonderful, yet cruel world. So, what is it like being beyond the "end of the world"? It's like a new beginning and not the end of anything.

And if you want a really majestic adventure, a few more stops can be added to the itinerary to make this journey even more extraordinary.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Credits & Inspirations

My journeys are shaped not only by the landscapes and the majestic wildlife I encounter but also by the music, literature, and cinema that accompany me. I would like to acknowledge the following sources that helped me see the world through a different lens:

Literature & Quotes

  • [1] Brendan Leonard: The reflection that "There will never be a photograph of the Grand Canyon that can adequately describe its depth, breadth, and true beauty" is a tribute to his perspective on the American West, as shared in his writings on why the Grand Canyon will always be better than any camera.
  • [6] [17] Alaskan Wisdom / John Muir:
    • The warning that "You should never go to Alaska as a young man because you'll never be satisfied with any other place as long as you live" is a timeless regional quote often attributed to the legacy of John Muir.
    • John Muir's famous call of the mountains also inspired the personal reflection: "And from that moment, when the path is calling... I must go."
  • [7] [9] Kristin Hannah: The quotes "Alaska isn't about who you were when you headed this way. It's about who you become" and "Despite everything, every piece of Alaska sang to me. I remembered every curve in the trails, every tree in the forest. It was familiar to me, comfortable. The more I thought about leaving it, the less I liked the idea. This was my home" are taken by her powerful novel, The Great Alone, representing the profound impact of the Alaskan lifestyle.
  • [15] The Road Always Leads West: A cultural reference to the spirit of exploration and the nomadic journey, also associated with the philosophy found in the movie Into the Wild (2007).

Music

  • [2] Bruce Springsteen: The lyrics "Meet me darlin' come Saturday night. All good souls from near and far will meet in the House of a Thousand Guitars ... We'll go where the music never ends" from the song House of a Thousand Guitars reflect the infinite power of music to lead us to a sanctuary that is our true comfort zone.
  • [3] Blink-182: The line "Don't waste your time on me, you're already the voice inside my head" from the song I Miss You embodies a deep, internal connection to the Alaskan wilderness.
  • [8] Eddie Vedder: The powerful sentiment that "this love has got no ceiling" from the song No Ceiling reflects a boundless and unconditional love for the Last Frontier.

Cinema & Culture

  • [4] Vanilla Sky (2001): The reminder that "every passing minute is another chance to turn it all around" is a reference to this cinematic story, evoking the ever-present possibility of change within us.
  • [5] Enemy (2013) / José Saramago: The profound opening thought, "Chaos is order yet undeciphered", is from this movie based on the novel by José Saramago, suggesting that every mystery holds an eventual solution.
  • [11] Titanic (1997): The inspiration drawn from the ending scene, where Rose’s photographs symbolize a life defined by adventures and meaning.
  • [12] The Great Gatsby (2013) / F. Scott Fitzgerald: The metaphor of the "green light" - originally created by F. Scott Fitzgerald in his classic novel - representing the longing for the inaccessible; a light that, for me, eventually led to the moment of finally standing on the shores of Antarctica.
  • [13] Baggio: The Divine Ponytail (2021): The wisdom that "the important thing is the path. The real goals...you discover them along the way" - as voiced in the English dubbing of the movie - is a tribute to the philosophy shared in this story of Roberto Baggio. It is a sentiment that truly speaks for itself.
  • [14] The Pursuit of Happyness (2006): The guiding principle to focus on the "pursuit of happiness" in the present and on the people who are truly worth it.
  • [18] 20th Century Girl (2022): The poignant references to the "station", the nostalgic metaphor of the "videotape", and the hopeful vision of the 21st century - as loosely subtitled in some English translations of the final message - are all tributes to this moving South Korean story, highlighting the importance of expressing our feelings and how those feelings remain with us forever.
  • [10] [16] [19] Regional Symbols:
    • "End of the World": The famous designation of Ushuaia, the gateway to the seventh continent. For me, being at the "End of the World" was never about reaching a conclusion, but rather finding a new beginning.
    • "We The North": The Toronto Raptors slogan, serving as a powerful symbol of shared community and Canadian identity during a defining journey across Canada.
    • "Larger Than Life": The Yukon’s iconic roadside greeting - explored during a memorable day trip from Skagway - symbolizing a life defined by growth, adaptation, and the courage to live responsibly.

Original Content

All photography and original narratives - from the wilderness of Alaska and the unique wildlife of the Galápagos Islands to the deep, silent forests of Hungary, the pure, raw power of Antarctica, and all other journeys featured on this site - are the creative work of the author.

 

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