Anna Aiko is a traveling photographer, who meets people, discovers cultures and landscapes. She choses not to be burdened with a camera and to bring only his iPhone to immortalize the strong moments of his journeys.
She recently won the iPhone Photography Awards in the “Travel” category with a sublime picture captured in Mongolia. We were able to ask a few questions to learn more about the universe of this artist with a look full of curiosity.

© Anna Aiko – IPPA 1st Place – Travel – Mongolia, 2016

Could you introduce yourself in few words?

I would define myself as an explorer who travels the world to satisfy his interests for art, culture, tradition and especially my curiosity for the Silk Road.
I practice three professions, world explorer, art director, and psycho-energetic therapist.

How would you define your photographic universe?

I want to transcribe the beauty of life and my passions for history, art and humans that I want to put in the center.
To be able to immortalize the beauty that exists through the magical landscapes, the colors of nature.
I would say that it is a whole, that there is never chance, it is the law of attraction, we attract people who guide us, the meetings that we do that will then be decisive for the rest of the trip.
It is the journey and discovery that are master of my world of photography, I travel without asking myself questions, with the rhythm of meetings. People are very important, it is with them that I will talk about our history, our experience and our knowledge.

Why did you choose to shoot only with the iPhone?

The first iPhone I had was the iPhone 3G, I evolved with the new models that have arrived on the market today to have more than 100,000 photos on my iPhone. It is a super convenient way to immortalize memories, moments of everyday life.
I started shooting a lot 4-5 years ago, since I’ve been traveling a lot. Yet people around me ask me “why do not you take real devices?” I tried, for 2 years, I make attempts to test real devices but the hardware is heavy, the time to release it, to make the settings, the moment has passed, while the iPhone I have it with me, in the hands I am ready to react at any time.
The iPhone is more discreet and allows to capture the natural, at a specific time, with the traditional device we are spotted very quickly and people feel less comfortable.

Can you tell us more about your award-winning photography?

This photo was taken two years ago during a trip to Mongolia. At first I went to China, Mongolia was not planned, but as I said, the meetings guide your trip. So I met a traveler and I went to Mongolia, alone and not really confident. Finally I was in touch with a family friend in Ulaanbaatar who came to pick me up and made me meet his family. Needless to say, I met two 25-year-old Mongol boys with whom we went to discover the Gobi Desert, the Silk Road, etc.
From the first day, we found ourselves lost, in the evening in great Mongol deserts where there is nothing. We were there where the first tracks of the dinosaurs were found, with a storm on one side, a gray sky and on the other, a beautiful sunset with colors ranging from yellow to purple. It was a magical moment, like a feeling of going back to the past and ending up with the dinosaurs. This gradient of colors was so beautiful, so I strafed the sky, it was beautiful.

What does this first place in the Travel category of the IPPA contest represent for you??

Each creation is like a baby, I thanked the life, myself, the people I met while traveling is thanks to this energy and this love that I could have this gift.

What are your future projects?

As I told you, I am interested in our history, our origins, the traditions, these are topics that I wish to explore in the future through different projects. For the moment, I would like to co-create during future trips, with local craftsmen, work with them and communicate, exchange through our know-how. Have the opportunity to share new moments of joy and happiness.

Can you summarize your work in one sentence?

It is a very easy exercise, but I would say that I try to do what is proper to my heart, it is to become his own dream while sharing with people what I see and what I find beautiful.