Photography has the unique power to preserve moments, tell stories, and inspire action. Through their lenses, photographers can reveal the beauty of our landscapes while also reminding us of the challenges they face and the importance of protecting them. The winning photographs of our regional traveling exhibition “captured” the attention of the jury through their creativity, emotional value, and the meaningful messages they convey.
Through this interview series, discover the stories behind the award-winning photographs, the inspiration, the landscapes, and the people behind the lens.
In our first interview, we were talking with Goran Kuzmanovski, the photographer behind the first prize-winning photograph.
Goran Kuzmanovski is a photographer whose life has always been shaped by nature and adventure. A former member of the Macedonian national ski team, he later discovered rock climbing, which became his lifelong passion. Today, he is the founder and instructor of the climbing club Vertical- Bitola, where he promotes responsible outdoor ethics through sport.
Photography has been part of his life for more than twenty years, spanning both digital and analogue formats. While he enjoys exploring different genres, his passion for nature and adventure has naturally led him to focus on landscapes and the outdoors. His work is defined by quiet yet powerful compositions that capture balance, simplicity, and emotion. He believes that the strongest photographs are often those that say the most with the least.
A father of two, Goran continues to draw inspiration from the natural world, believing that preserving it is a responsibility we all share with future generations.
- Every photograph tells a story. What is the story behind your photograph, and what inspired you to capture this moment?
This photograph tells the story of a silent tragedy. At its center lies a burned tortoise that lost its life while trying to escape a landscape fire, with two charred trees standing behind it as silent witnesses to the destruction. When I came across this scene, I felt it needed to be documented. Beyond the burned vegetation, fires leave behind countless invisible loss animals that never manage to escape, and ecosystems that take years to recover. I wanted this photograph to be a reminder of what we stand to lose if we fail to protect our landscapes and to give a voice to those silent victims that are so often forgotten.
- What cannot be seen in the photograph, but is something you personally carry with you from that moment?
The silence and the emotions I felt while standing there. Seeing the burned tortoise lying among the remains of the fire made me realize that the true impact of a landscape fire cannot be measured only by the area that has burned. Behind every fire are countless lives that are lost unnoticed. That realization has stayed with me ever since.
- What is your personal connection with nature and landscapes?
Nature has always been a central part of my life. Over the years, I have experienced it in many ways—as a photographer, climber, skier and paraglider pilot. While climbing remains a regular part of my life today, I spent years rock climbing, skiing and flying, experiences that gave me a unique perspective on the landscapes around me. Mountains, forests, and open landscapes are not only subjects for my photography but places where I find peace, inspiration, and perspective. My connection with nature goes far beyond taking photographs—it is part of who I am.
- Your photograph portrays a part of the Western Balkan landscapes. How do you see the relationship between people and nature today, and how do you reflect on the changes our landscapes have experienced in recent years, including pollution, landscape fires, and other challenges?
I believe that one of the biggest challenges is that many people still see nature only through the boundaries of private ownership. We often forget that rivers, forests, mountains, and wildlife belong to all of us, and that protecting them is a shared responsibility. Ultimately, I believe people often forget that we are not separate from nature, we are part of it. Protecting landscapes is ultimately about protecting our own future.
In countries like ours, environmental laws must be enforced consistently, with strict penalties for those who intentionally pollute nature or start fires. Investing in effective monitoring and detection systems, together with education and public awareness campaigns, would be an important first step toward protecting our landscapes.
- Landscape fires can leave lasting scars on nature and communities. In your opinion, how can photography help raise awareness and inspire people to better protect our landscapes?
Photography has the power to make people stop and look. A single image can communicate emotions and realities that words sometimes cannot. It can celebrate beauty, but it can also document destruction and remind us of what is at stake. When people feel emotionally connected to a place, they are far more likely to care about protecting it.
- Protecting landscapes is shaped by the choices and actions of individuals and communities. What is your personal contribution to preserving nature and the environment?
I try to contribute through both my actions and my photography. I respect the places I visit, follow responsible outdoor practices, and encourage others to do the same. Through my images, I hope to inspire appreciation for nature, because people are much more likely to protect what they truly value.
Beyond photography, I believe strongly in the role of education. Through outdoor activities and sports connected with nature, such as climbing and other mountain activities, I try to promote respect for the environment and the ethical principles that come with using natural spaces.
- If your photograph could leave one message for future generations, what would you want that message to be?
I would want it to say: “Nature is not something we inherit from previous generations—it is something we borrow from those who come after us.” My hope is that people will understand that protecting nature is not only about preserving beautiful places, but also about preserving the conditions for life itself.
- As someone who experiences landscapes both from the ground and from the sky, how has flying changed the way you understand the beauty and vulnerability of nature?
Flying has completely changed my perspective. From the air, landscapes become connected in ways that are impossible to see from the ground. You begin to understand the scale of nature, the relationship between different ecosystems, and how fragile that balance really is. Although I rarely fly today, paragliding was an important part of my life and it gave me a completely different way of experiencing the world around me. From above, you can see how quickly a fire can spread, how human activity leaves its marks on the landscape, and how vulnerable these places truly are.
Questions like this always remind me of those moments in the air and make me feel a strong desire to return to flying. It was not only a sport for me—it was a way of connecting with nature and seeing landscapes from a perspective that few people experience.
More photos of Goran
