17/09/2025
Holy Ground, Obonjan 2025
A small island, hidden from civilization. Seven hundred souls, drawn together by music - isolated in nature. It felt like a homecoming.
It has been four years since I last set foot on the island, seven since the first time. Back then, it all began with an invitation from . A man I barely knew at the time. And yet, this moment impacted the entire course of my life.
I often wonder what it is that I am searching for. As a photographer, but also as a human being. Perhaps it is the feeling of freedom, of love, of unconditional acceptance where nothing needs to be proven. The sensation of simply being, fully present in the moment. What exactly it is, I don’t know. I don’t even know, if i’ll ever be able to name it.
But the moment I stepped onto this island for the first time was the moment I came closest to an answer in my search.
What followed, my 18 year old self would never have believed. Sascha Braemer became a friend. Tours through India, Lebanon, Colombia, France, and so many other places followed. Journeys and moments that shaped me deeply.
And not only that: I received the gift of working alongside many of my idols, up until today.
Being back on this island now has shown me how far I have truly come. Despite setbacks, despite the hard and directionless times: what I have experienced, no one can ever take from me. And I should be more thankful for that, more often.
It is always worth it to keep going. Always. Always. Always.
Thank you to the wonderful people I’ve crossed paths with, who made all of this possible. Above all: thank you, Lara / .dance
