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A happy place, the outdoors to Basti Heckl

With: icebreaker
ITW: Basti Heckl

Allgäu is his home, his childhood and his greatest source of inspiration. He loves having fun, getting lost in his creativity and has a truly positive approach to life. We are talking about Basti Heckl, a German photographer specialized in the outdoor world including sports, animals and landscapes.

You are a photographer and filmmaker, what does this job mean to you?
This job is the combination of everything I really love: sports, nature and a creative life, I couldn’t ask for anything better.

 

Why did you decide to shoot nature and the outdoors in general?
This decision has been pretty easy to tell the truth because I was born here – in Allgäu – and grew up with nature, landscapes and sports, elements that have been in my life since ever. It’s my passion and I believe that the best thing you can do is live by cultivating your own passions.

 

What kind of photography does inspire you?
I think that everything is a source of inspiration for a photographer like me. What mostly inspires me is to see what other nature and landscape photographers do, how they work all around the world, because each landscape has its own beauty, style and special perspective. Creative fields are so widespread, everyone is doing something different because everyone has his own style.

What are your favorite outdoor sports and why?
I love the outdoor world and every sport that allows me to be in the mountains is my favorite sport. In the summer I do trail running, mountain biking and some road biking which, honestly, is still a mountain sport. In winter I like to practice ski mountaineering, skiing and freeriding. I just love to be out there, to feel the nature around me.


What does it mean and how does it feel to be in contact with nature?

Nature is a place that inspires me, it’s where I’m able to calm down and relax my mind. This always brings me new ideas and helps me to make decisions, to develop my work. It’s the place where I am always happy and where I can be myself.


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We had many opportunities to travel and discover new places because of the pandemic. What has it taught you?
The pandemic has been a special moment for me because, thanks to the place where I live, I was able to do things that other people have not been able to do. I am grateful for the region I live in, I can walk out the door wearing skis or directly get on my bike. The pandemic has shown me how you always have to keep in mind how blessed you are for the opportunities you have.

 

What’s the most incredible place you’ve shot so far?
Canada has definitely been the best place so far. I’ve been to British Columbia four years ago, every place I visited was breathtaking. Also, the possibility to see animals that you usually only see on TV is something super satisfying, something that I will hardly forget.

 

What does the word outdoor mean to you?
I would say it’s a caption for everything I like in my life. To me the word outdoor means creating a playground to practice sports in every way, it’s my working space, where I can be creative. It’s also a place where I spend time with my family, my friends and where I can also be alone to create new ideas and to relax. I think the outdoor world is a kind of happy space.

What’s your biggest dream?
That’s a pretty tough question! I think that my biggest dream is to keep living the life I’m currently living, to be flexible, to be able to inspire people and make a job out of what I love.

 

Tell us about your most incredible trip.
As mentioned before, definitely my trip to Canada. I rented a campervan in late September and explored every part of British Columbia, the snow on the mountains created such an amazing atmosphere. I would like to visit it again, it has been an extraordinary experience.

 

What will you be doing tomorrow, meaning in the coming months and years?
I have several projects planned, I’m working on them. But I also planned a trip to Canada in June. I’m looking forward to what’s up next and actually I don’t feel like  planning my life the whole time since I like to live day by day.