Marcel Vibes, 104 Deanmore Street, Scarborough (2026)

04/12/2025

“A wise woman does not wish to be anyone’s enemy; a wise woman refuses to be anyone’s victim.” — Maya Angelou

I hadn’t touched a camera in at least six months. I don’t even know why anymore — or maybe I do… I just didn’t feel like it. No desire to photograph stone walls, or those beautiful dishes lovingly prepared by one person or another… no desire either to steal portraits in the flow of the street. For what purpose? To post them on social media? To keep them in my personal archive that already holds more than 100,000 images?

Photography had been my therapy for so many years, forcing me into interactions with human beings… human beings who can be stunning on the inside, but also brutally cruel.

And then, along the way, I met the association Arts & Mouvements, through a friend dear to my heart. All those personal stories, those lives marked by accidents, spoke to me instantly — they woke memories, stirred emotions I had buried.

So I spontaneously picked up my camera again to capture moments, emotions, to mark them in time. I don’t feel the same way I used to, I’m no longer as fragile, but I’m genuinely happy to once again make these beautiful souls witnesses of our era.

Too many women are victims of domestic violence; children grow up inside that pattern, almost as if it were normal daily life. Too many people know and choose silence in the face of violence.

Your sister, your mother, your daughter, your cousin, your friend, your partner… domestic violence affects everyone, with no distinction of social class or education.

Some women manage to escape; others die. Some rebuild themselves; others never get that chance. For all these women, we must break the silence and become actors in their lives rather than passive spectators.

I think of Laurence, Alice, Ségolène, Megan… victims of physical or psychological domestic abuse. They were lucky enough to survive and rebuild thanks to us, the people close to them. We are not superheroes — just humans.

Arts & Mouvements supports these women in their daily battles through sport and art. Their commitment and their positivity hit me straight in the heart.

So, as often, instead of long speeches, I’m sharing a few images — my modest contribution.

Thank you Vero, thank you Laetitia, for being so extraordinary every single day.

15/11/2024

“Choose your life’s mate carefully. From this one decision will come 90 percent of all your happiness or misery. ” — H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Couldn't agree more! And yet, here we are, always going for that same decision that’s led us to chaos—days, months, or, let’s be real, years of it before. Why’s it so hard to learn from life? Probably because life doesn’t always line up with what we want, doesn’t magically shape itself to the dreams we’ ve imagined for ourselves. No matter how much we beat it into our heads, there’s no future as we picture it. Aspirations, sure. A path to follow, absolutely. But ticking off each step as planned? Not likely. Having a goal is the real goal. Just start the journey, and the rest will take shape along the way.

Hear that? That past you’re still carrying—the one you think has built you? It’s scaring you more in the present than it ever helped you. You’re left holding onto fears and excuses, keeping you from making different choices. So you just keep making the same ones, knowing all too well they’re not going to lead to any new future. Same causes, same results. Maybe that’s too black-and-white for you, but wishful thinking won’t magically erase or heal the
past, unfortunately—or maybe, fortunately.

The other person? They’re not the enemy; they’re your teammate. The one reaching out so you can both grow, promise, and build together. But that’s scary too, because they bring the past with them, in all its raw, imperfect truth.

*** If you enjoy reading my stories, like my photos, and feel like supporting me on my journey, you can buy them - just shoot me a DM! ***

02/10/2024

“There is hope, even when your brain tells you there isn’t." - John Green.

A lot has changed in just five years, but my mindset seems to have stayed the same.

Well, let me explain myself properly... leaving your country, your roots, your family, and friends isn't easy. Sure, no one forced me to do it! But it was, and still is, my choice. At first, it was a way to escape my daily life, and then it became more—a desire for something greater. By 'greater,' I mean a different way of building up a life, with the deep-rooted belief that anything is always possible. But the grip of the past remains strong, and you can only break free if you accept it and turn the page for good. We’re not all equal when it comes to dealing with these situations, facing these choices.

After returning from France, after three months of being surrounded by the love of my family, solitude weighed on me—no, it literally overwhelmed me. Alone in the world. Even when I was in the middle of nowhere, far from everything in Australia, I hadn’t felt this way.

In the city, surrounded by crowds, by my friends... I feel lost, alone, abandoned in the vastness. Suddenly, I start to cry. Anxiety and panic resurface within me. I’m overwhelmed by emotions. It’s a tearing feeling I can’t explain.

So... what to do? Unfortunately—or maybe fortunately—I have no choice but to move forward. I grab my old companion, which I had neglected for so long, and head out to roam the city, gathering a few snapshots.

My vision, my photos, my solitude…

06/07/2024

"Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.” - J.K. Rowling

Five years later, here I am, back on the soil of the motherland. Five years, you might say it’s a long time, and yes, it is... but also, not really. Time flew by! There was so much to explore on this long, internal journey!

Leaving everything behind for somewhere new isn’t easy, even with social media. The closeness you feel through a screen is just an illusion because over there, everything feels different, everything is an adventure, everything is a challenge. The first challenge, of course, is loneliness. You’re alone with your thoughts, alone with your choices. It's so much easier to give up than to persevere and keep moving forward towards your choices, your happiness, your fulfillment...

As time goes by, you learn and understand this culture that’s completely different from yours. You start to make it your own, slowly but surely. You rebuild everything you know to create something new—new habits, new social connections—until you can’t imagine not living there. Your daily life changes bit by bit. Everything you wanted to leave behind gets rebuilt differently. This time, the foundations of this new life resonate with your core values, so yeah, you can finally say you’ve found your place in the sun!

But still, you can’t forget or deny the country and culture that raised you and gave you the education and values that make you who you are. Even if you reject some of them, even if you no longer recognize yourself in many aspects of that civilization, you feel an inexplicable need to make a pilgrimage back. Is it to validate your choices or simply out of love for your culture...?

Five years later, I’m soaking up French culture with a few days in Paris, just weeks before the Olympics, happy to see another side of the capital, and feeling lucky too!

Everything has changed, yet somehow, everything is still the same at its core!

06/03/2024

Livin' the Dream

If I haven't heard it a thousand times, I haven't heard it once – this expression tossed around casually by Australians. It's more than just a punctuation mark amid a conversation; it's a true way of life! From a European perspective, it might seem trivial. We all form an idea of Australia, make grand plans, look at pictures, and dream, dream, and dream some more. However, what the pictures don't reveal is everything else – this way of life, this communion with the outdoors! If I were to draw a parallel, we would say that gastronomy is a way of life in France. It's indescribable; words aren't strong enough to grasp it – you have to live it.

Australia is a land where kindness, goodness, and mutual support are more than words; it's a state of mind, an essence rather than an appearance. It took me many months to understand the culture, months of exploration, meeting locals, and even years!

Sharing our spots, life experiences, and tips over a weekend with these fresh arrivals from France is as enriching as it is invigorating! They're young, full of zeal, the same zeal we had years ago and thankfully never lost! They dared to leave everything behind to experience the adventure of a lifetime 15,000 kilometres away from their strongholds, families, and friends. Some, like us, will never return home; others will return forever transformed!

Far from our own, weave bonds recreate our little familiar universe... thanks for all of this, guys! Thanks for the moment. Take care, and we'll be there for ya anytime!

12/01/2024

« Whatever the present moment contains, accept it as if you had chosen it. » - Eckhart Tollé

This year, once again, has proven itself to be a challenging journey. Just when you believe everything is firmly in your grasp and the elusive peace of mind is within reach, life imparts its lesson – nothing is a perpetual triumph.

While articulating this might carry a hint of sadness, the truth is far from it. Life, the eternal dancer, orchestrates a symphony of highs and lows, sculpting us into refined human beings.

Here, beside the ocean, is my sanctuary. The vast blue canvas never fails to amaze, a relentless force persisting second after second, oscillating between serene calmness and relentless vigor without ever surrendering.

I'm not one to make wishes, but what about 2024? Simply persist in being yourself, stay conscious, and embrace the understanding that perpetual happiness is not a mandatory state.

09/01/2024

Salty & sandy start to the year! Wild Wild West…
Wishing myself more of it this year, again.

18/10/2023

Sorry 🖤💛❤️‍🩹...

20/07/2023

From my earliest days, I've been surrounded by dogs, or rather, I should say, I've been accompanied by the most faithful of companions, whom, as my dad calls them, "creatures of sorrow." Yes, we love them so much that sorrow and suffering will touch our hearts sooner or later.

Slowly, in Australia, the absence of best friends was keenly felt... and then, as if by magic, these couple of fur entered my life. They adopted me as quickly as I did them, except they had to put up with a human who might have been a bit too clingy! Can too much love kill love? Absolutely not! If I don't scratch them, they ask for it; if I kick the ball, they wag their tails; if I chill on the couch, they come snuggle; if I cook, they become my sous-chefs... in short, they've become like my shadows, walking in my footsteps without asking for anything in return! Well, maybe, except for peanut butter cookies, which they adore much more than me!

Whisky and Mac rocking their so much loved Outback Tails bed!

13/07/2023

I stopped in Japan nearly four years ago on my way to Australia. Beyond the captivating culture that stirred my soul, the encounters I had left indelible memories. Words still elude me when I describe the unparalleled warmth and friendliness of the people I met. Ah, warm... in that uniquely Japanese way! The codes and customs differ so significantly from the Western world, yet if one dares to venture beyond them, the true essence of the Japanese people reveals itself.

It was on that fateful day in Osaka when it happened. Overwhelmed with sadness, I took hold of my camera and aimlessly wandered through the city. That's when the enchanting sight of a window shop caught my eye—a haven of tranquillity adorned with a few skilled craftsmen gracefully performing their art with precise movements.

Shyness consumed me, but something compelled me to approach the shop's entrance and observe these remarkable individuals. To this day, I still cannot fully explain the magical connection that transpired.

Those Japanese artisans' eyes met mine as they peered back at the foreigner—a pale figure silently gazing upon them, offering neither noise nor words.

"Come, have a look!" I beckoned, proudly displaying my formidable camera. Their response was warm and welcoming, inviting me to capture some photographs. And then, mere seconds later, the eldest among them began to play the violin, filling the air with celestial melodies. In those minutes and hours that followed, I found myself floating amidst sheer bliss.

Here are a few pics I captured on that unforgettable day. My deepest gratitude goes out to Liuteria-BATO for this extraordinary experience.

ありがとうございます

Marcel Vibes

04/12/2025

15/11/2024

02/10/2024

06/07/2024

06/03/2024

12/01/2024

09/01/2024

18/10/2023

20/07/2023

13/07/2023

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