Welcome to another captivating photo essay, this time by Zsanett Fodor. We'd love to hear your thoughts. Feel free to comment below and, if you're interested, share your photo essay with us. Your perspectives add valuable dimensions to our collective exploration.
Zsanett Fodor combines separate moments into one island portrait.
In Moments of Crete, the Hungarian amateur photographer brings together views from her trip to the Greek island. She photographs whatever catches her attention, without deciding which images will later share a collage. Different angles and changes in light often come from returning to a location during the same day. The arrangements take shape back home, when she looks through what she has photographed.
The calm in her pictures sometimes takes patience.
Fodor waits for people or cars to leave, or returns later when the view is clear. Her favourite collage features a chapel with nobody visible, although people were nearby when she photographed it. When selecting images, she looks for sharpness and leaves out frames with details she finds distracting. These choices help her preserve the quiet atmosphere she wants to show.
Fodor explains how she decides which frames belong together and why she moved from strict grids to layouts that let her position images freely. Her answers offer a starting point for photographers interested in bringing their travel pictures together on a single page.
Series Statement
Moments of Crete
This project was born out of a desire to capture the authentic spirit of Crete. I fell in love with the island's warm light and unique Mediterranean atmosphere. I love creating photo collages because they allow me to weave different moments, details, and emotions into one cohesive visual story, rather than just showing a single picture.
For me, photography is a wonderful way to unwind and express myself. My collages are my personal travel diaries, and I love transferring the real mood of my journeys to share these atmospheric moments with others.
Home Base: Where in Hungary are you from, and where do you live now?
I was born and raised in Eger, a beautiful and historic wine region in Northeast Hungary. My life currently flows between two different worlds. During the summers, I work in tourism, which allows me to spend the season in various beautiful parts of Greece. In the winter months, I return to Hungary to work my regular corporate job.
Getting Started: How did you get into photography, and how long have you been doing it?
This journey started about 10 to 13 years ago when I first began taking photos. Today, I feel much more experienced and comfortable catching the right moment, even though I still consider myself an amateur. I do not consider myself a professional photographer, and I know I still have a lot to learn. I truly want to grow and improve, which only comes through practice. I am already planning to invest in a new camera soon to help take my photography to the next level.
Why Photography: What does photography give you, on a normal day when you are not traveling?
On a normal day when I am not traveling, my absolute favorite way to unwind and clear my mind is going hiking. Spending time in nature helps me completely disconnect from the daily routine and recharge my creative energies. Photography is my escape from that everyday routine. It is my inner world, where I can truly unwind, leave the stress behind, and step away from the grayness of daily life. I mostly love capturing my excursions and hiking trips.
Crete's Light: How would you describe Crete's light and atmosphere in your own words, the way it actually felt?
The atmosphere on Crete is defined by a unique, captivating light that feels incredibly raw and peaceful at the same time. It is a place where the brightness and warmth create an instant sense of tranquility that stays with you long after you leave.
How a Collage Comes Together: Do you plan a collage in advance, or do you find it later?
I don't plan the collages in advance. I just photograph what catches my eye during my trips. Back home, I discover the connections while sorting through the images and decide which frames belong together.
The different lights and angles in a single collage usually all happen within one day. I often shoot a location from a new perspective on my way back. If a spot is crowded with people or cars, I wait or return a bit later when the view is clear. Returning to the same spot for the perfect shot is a long-standing habit of mine, not something new. Since I always plan to share my work on Facebook, I want to make sure that whatever I post represents the highest possible quality, which naturally requires a lot of time and patience.
When selecting images for a collage, I look for absolute sharpness. I filter out photos with distracting elements, like unwanted people or cars, to keep the mood pure. The number of photos varies. The more, the better.
The Chapel: Is there one collage from "Moments of Crete" that stands out to you?
If I had to highlight a specific piece, I would choose the collage featuring the chapel. It radiates a deep sense of calm and tranquility, and I am particularly proud of how the colors and lighting turned out. What makes it special to me is that the final image shows absolutely no people around, creating a beautifully serene, untouched atmosphere, even though, in reality, there were quite a few people nearby at the time.
Why a Collage: Why do you prefer collages over single images?
I have always preferred creating collages instead of relying on a single photo, because they are dynamic and never boring. Arranging multiple images on a single page allows me to provide a much richer, more comprehensive representation of a location's true essence than a single photograph ever could.
Tools and Technique: What do you actually shoot and edit with?
Right now, before the camera upgrade I mentioned, I split my time between shooting with my phone and my Sony Alpha 6400. When it comes to building my collages, my favorite tools are the Collage Maker and InShot apps. When I first started out, I used to confine my photos into strict grids. Lately, I have fallen in love with the "freestyle" mode. I prefer it because it removes all boundaries and frames, giving me the creative freedom to arrange the pictures freely and experiment with different backgrounds.
Beyond Crete: Is Crete the only place you've made a travel diary like this?
"Moments of Crete" is certainly not my first travel diary. As a Hungarian, whether I go hiking locally, travel around Hungary, or visit another country, I always love capturing the journey. Creating collages and montages out of my travels has become a long-standing passion of mine, wherever I go.
Zsanett Fodor combines separate moments into one island portrait. In Moments of Crete, the Hungarian amateur photographer brings together views from her trip to the Greek island. Picture Story