Elements of our Earth
Filip Hrebenda
The nature on our planet is composed of several basic elements - Fire, Water, Air, Earth, and Space. Each of these elements is important for our Earth and contains a lot of beauty that we can admire. However, these elements can also be destructive. But that doesn't justify us, humans, destroying them. During my travels, I focused on capturing the most beautiful and wildest aspects that nature can offer us. The series "Elements of our Earth" is a selection of the most interesting moments that I had the opportunity to experience over the years. Each of these moments convinces me that even though nature can sometimes be harsh and even though in such moments we may feel small and insignificant compared to it, each of its elements is worth admiration and preservation.
Fire
Fire is one of the important elements that make up the nature around us. Although its power is often destructive, it can be also creative. And it's not just a thing of the past. From time to time, the earth opens up to release what lies within. New volcanic craters are formed, spewing lava. It can transform the landscape beyond recognition. Valleys become hills and hills become canyons. The initial destruction turns into the birth of something new, which is ultimately beautiful.
Water
Water is an important element that we all need to live. In some places there is an abundance, in others a shortage. Regardless, it is something that makes it possible to call our Earth a 'blue planet' - a planet full of life and diversity. Although our planet offers ideal conditions for life and for its development, more and more we see the opposite of development. We see water-dependent species facing extinction, and this is only because we often fail to appreciate what we have been given - an Earth that is ideal for life for us humans. But it was not only given to us, but also to the animals around us. We, however, have been given something extra. The ability to influence what nature around us will look like.
Earth
The earth is another element of our nature that shows the diversity of our planet. From flowering meadows, to moss-covered volcanic rocks, to golden deserts, it's all part of one beautiful whole. What the earth looks like in a given area depends largely on the other elements of nature. The lack of one element is often balanced by the excess of another. Although some areas look inhospitable at first glance, they are full of life that is adapted to living in them. That is why every area of our earth is worth protecting.
Air
Air is another element that can be quite destructive. Yet it is essential for us to live. Although air is invisible (and most of the time we forget it is even there), it does take up space, it has volume, and it exerts pressure. It can affect its surroundings to a great extent. Moving clouds, rolling fog, and wind moving various objects are evidence that it is all around us. Even though the air is invisible, it is not untouchable. More and more people are living in areas where the air is so polluted that it is becoming a poison that is slowly taking our lives away, in addition to be the life-giving element. Protecting it is therefore not just a matter of saving some kind of life on earth. It is a matter of saving ourselves.
Space
Space - an element that is not often talked about. We can perceive the four familiar elements of fire, water, earth and air very easily. However, we can only perceive the fifth element when we think about where we are in the universe. We are just a small dot on top of another small blue dot in the vast expanse of the universe. Realizing this fact always makes me feel that there is always something that is bigger than me. Today's times are marked by many people thinking that they are the center of the universe. Therefore, other, more important, bigger things go outside of them. One of those important things, for example, is the realization that what the space around us looks like depends on us. Therefore, if you are ever again overwhelmed by your daily responsibilities, stop for a moment and think about being part of something bigger. That may be your driving force in trying to protect any of the other natural elements.
Filip Hrebenda is a professional landscape photographer based in Slovakia. Since childhood, he has been fascinated by mountains and wilderness. Growing up in a small town in the heart of Slovakia, he was close to the high mountains - the High Tatras. And it was precisely here that his passion for hiking and photography began. From a young age, he sought out landscapes that were not common. Therefore, he often ventured into the mountains in extreme conditions. It was his passion for mountains and nature that eventually led him to photography. The message of his work is to convey the atmosphere of the photographed place and the feelings he had while photographing in challenging conditions to the viewers, thus allowing them to perceive the beauty of the wildest places in the world, which are becoming increasingly rare on Earth. Filip has received many important awards for his art. In 2021, he was awarded as Nature Photographer of the year in prestigious competitions such as the Tokyo Foto Awards, Budapest Foto Awards, and Moscow Photo Awards for his project titled "Born of Fire". In the same year, he received an award for the same project in the Sony World Photo Awards. A year later, he was awarded the title "Astronomy Photographer of the Year - Aurora" in London. In 2023, was Filip titled the best European Landscape photographer of the year by the prestigious Federation of European Photographers. His work has been published in the most important media in the world such as CNN, BBC, National Geographic, Forbes, The Guardian and others. His photographs have also been exhibited worldwide. Since 2018, Filip has been organizing photo expeditions and workshops, where he pass on his knowledge to other photographers.