In search of those whom no one knows
"Up to the top of the mountains, far from asphalt and running water, or anchored in an arctic fjord only accessible by boat ". There are the "hermits" that Strohl has gone to look for, traveling for it some of the most impassable roads in Europe.
"In the beginning, the goal was to answer me why: What do these people gain by making what we perceive as sacrifices? However, as the journey continued, the question seemed to turn around: " Why do I live the way I do? "Spending just a little time with these people, one thing becomes clear: the simpler your way of life, the more obvious are your reasons for answering you ".
Thus begin the reflections on the book Alternative Living, whose snapshots -majestic, silent, human- They will see the light very soon. They reflect the humility that Strohl feels before nature, and the deep path that he travels within himself during the trip , full of admiration before the lives that he is discovering.
" alpine farmers , regardless of the country, they amazed me very much. It is a fascinating life, especially because of the environment. We met one in particular, Jórgel. The first thing that crossed my mind was how simple I lived. With no running water or electricity, he only got power from a wood stove . After spending a good part of the afternoon with him, it became clear to me that he was one of the happiest men he had ever met . His basic needs were infinitely smaller than those of the average person, and therefore he required very little to meet them. That allowed her to focus most of his energy on his work. It was precisely the simplicity of it that seemed to me that he was so satisfied, "says Alex, moved.
In fact, despite having traveled the most remote areas of Europe from end to end , the photographer acknowledges that all the hermits he met during these last two years had something in common: " There is a pride in life alone, in self-sufficiency and connection with nature . They may have different goals or worldviews, but somehow that's the bond between all of them."
United States, Canada and much of South America These are other areas that Alex has explored with Andrea since 2011. His first "real" trip was to Iceland, although before, during his university period, they had already visited much of Canada, where they make their home . "We made those trips even before we came back to France together," he tells us.
How to France? "Well, I'll explain, we met on an iPhone . Mine was locked and the first thing she said to me was, "Do you want me to unlock it for you?" We started talking and realized that we were from the same French city, which is weird considering we were at a school in Quebec at that time. On top of that, we had both had very particular upbringings, we spoke several languages and had experienced various cultures while we were children" (among them, the Spanish, since Strohl lived in Madrid for a time). "All that brought us closer, and has kept us together: the attachment we both have to experiences rather than places has defined our relationship ".
So much is his love for experiences that, in recent times, they have decided to put aside road trips a little -they move in 4x4- to get lost in nature and find places off the beaten track . Thus, they have the opportunity to camping in virtually wild environments , and in this regard, we get two pieces of advice. On the one hand: the best thing is to sleep on an island! (in fact, Strohl is finishing a book on them). "Take a canoe and find a quiet place surrounded by water: the ultimate solitude".
For another: pay special attention to the mat you are going to sleep on . "Make sure you have one that's meant for the conditions you're going to find yourself in. Even if you have the best sleeping bag money can buy, you will be cold and even in danger without a proper mat," she notes.
NOMADIC LIFE IN THE 21ST CENTURY, A TREND
while she talks, we also imagine ourselves in that life without schedules, without routines , in days and days discovering "places where the ocean meets the mountains" , which are the couple's favourites. (Patagonia, Alaska and the Lofoten Islands score very high on this list, in his opinion). However, not everything is easy when you live with the house in your backpack. "The feeling of freedom, the constant pattern of movement without being tied to something keeps your mind fresh and out of all repetition. Secondly, it is difficult to establish positive routines and habits . That makes things stressful at times; constant changes make it difficult to plan long term Strohl explains.
Despite the difficulties of nomadic life, it seems to be attractive to a whole generation of young people who are starring in a kind of "back to the wild", and photographing it on social networks such as Instagram. There we have the girls behind Born Wild, they raise their children outdoors ; to the couple of photographers Theo Gosseling and Maud Chalard , which collect in beautiful snapshots their love and their travels through the most folky landscapes ; a Sarah and Josh, another talented handsome tandem to find the most boho and natural of North America; to Corina Alulquoy, which delves into her journeys about the native culture from the United States. Or even the sisters Isabella and Elizabeth Abegg, who they live in communion with creation 365 days a year .
"I believe that it's great that this tool is pushing people to go out more , to be present in nature. My generation has grown up with technology, and it seems to me that we are now seeing how much it can consume you. a good part of us we are more and more aware of it , and we look for ways to escape. Going outside is a natural form of separation. interesting to see the positive impact that social networks are having despite everything : in many ways they are a catalyst for the over-consumption of technology", says the artist.
When I ask him if, in addition, all this has something to do with the fact that there is a whole "tribe" sharing more or less the same photographic and personal style he laughs. "It probably comes from a desire to belong of an attempt to identify with oneself. Wherever you are in society, you see similar styles and forms of expression within groups. Life on the outside has become a limitless version of this ", he reflects.
Precisely for this reason, places like Mountain , the site that he always recommends to his friends, has brought together a group of young people with similar concerns : "Montana has an incredible identity, with incredible people, and a culture very separate from most of America. It is very communal, life is slower, it has a calm, peaceful environment. Of all my travels, it is the place where I feel most at home," says the Canadian.
Perhaps also to blame for this preference is the fact that his father, a forest ranger, will visit him in the 50s and tell you wonderful stories about the area, giving it an almost magical aura of fascination for a child. Basically the same thing Alex does with the photos of him a few years later: endow the places and realities that it travels with a supernatural seduction.
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