Interview:

Tell us a little bit about yourself?

I’m a multimedia journalist from Lithuania. But I’ve been traveling, living and working in different parts of the world for the past 5 years.

Where do you live at the moment?

To be honest, it’s hard to tell. I would say I live in the motion for the last few years. My home will always be Lithuania, though. But I make myself comfortable in other places too. At the moment I’m in Argentina, preparing for the trip through Latin America.

If you could live anywhere on this beautiful planet where would you build your dream home?

Somewhere definitely close to the ocean, where I could practice free diving and close to the airport, so I could travel anytime I wanted.

What gear do you use?

I used to shoot with Canon 5d II. But now I have Nikon d750. I also won Sony a7 camera in the Sony World Photography Awards, so will be using this in the future too. I have a GoPro camera too, Zoom audio recorder, a couple of microphones for filming and that’s about it.

If you had to choose one lens which one would it be and why?

24-120mm that I have now for my Nikon. Because I can get a variety of photographs and video shots with it, which is very important for films.

What gear do you usually take into the field?

I try to keep it as light and simple as possible. So I don’t have a lot of gear in general. I take pretty much everything I mentioned before naming the gear I use, leaving or adding something specific for one or other project.

How would you describe your style?

I don’t think it’s already solid – I’m still searching, experimenting and constantly changing. Maybe it’s going to be that way all the time, as I don’t like to get stuck and do the same thing the same way.

Did you go to school to study photography?

I studied journalism in Lithuania, did an introduction to photojournalism course in the Danish School of Media and Journalism and got my MA in International Multimedia Journalism that I studied in China. So I’m more journalist than photographer.

Is there anybody or anything you would love to photograph?

Someone who has never been photographed before. Remote tribes, indigenous communities. Also all kinds of whales and dolphins. I’m interested in human and nature relationship, which can be photographed in many different ways.

Is there anything you would have done differently during your photographic career?

Oh yes! I would waste less time, be more confident, push harder while working and then pitching and selling stories. Look for tutors and guidance, risk more, procrastinate less. I still need to do all that actually.

What would you like to be doing in 5 years from now?

The same, but hundred times better. And there are going to be more different and new activities – I have some exciting plans.

If not a photographer, what would you have become?

If I didn’t have my terrible seasickness, I would be sailing around the world and living on the boat.

What is your marketing advice?

To produce good work is the most important. But it’s not enough of course, you need to look for contacts, write and call people to sell what you have.

What was the last workshop or seminar you attended and why?

Actually, at the moment I’m doing an online course called Minorities in the News, to learn more about minority and indigenous people related issues. This will help me while working in the future.

Who is your favorite Photographer and why?

There is no one favorite photographer. There are many that I follow, study, learn from. I like different genres of photography; I enjoy exploring different approaches and styles.

A photographer who inspires you?

Martin Parr, Paul Nicklen, Graciela Iturbide, Tomas Van Houtryve, Evgenia Arbugaeva, Stephanie Sinclair, Mishka Henner…just to name a few.

A website and/or blog you visit often?

www.nytimes.com, www.theguardian.com, http://mediastorm.com, because there I can find the best multimedia stories.

Where would be your dream destination?

French Polynesia, Antarctica, North Pole, New Zealand, Galapagos, Blue holes in different parts of the world (ocean) and many others.

How do you educate yourself to take better photos?

I follow many different kinds of photographers and photography-related media. Read about photography, photojournalism, different approaches to stories, difficulties and challenges that photojournalists face. Also watch a lot of movies. And photograph without camera – just using my eyes and brain. Thinking a lot about future projects, developing ideas, looking for new solutions.

What gives you ideas and inspires you to create such awesome imagery?

Everything that is around and gets into those pictures.

Do you plan on buying any new equipment and if so what do you have your eyes on?

I’ve just got an underwater housing for my new Sony a7 camera, as I really want to do more underwater photography. The housing I’ve got is a cheap version, as usually good professional housings cost a lot of money. I would love to have that kind of housing one day, but for now I will practice with what I have.

Thank you very much for taking the time to read and answer our questions. We really appreciate that.

Thanks for the questions!