Hi, my name is Thomas Lusth and I was born 57 years ago in Östersund, Sweden.

Ever since a little boy I’ve had a very strong urge to travel. I remember sitting in my room with one of those earth globes in my hand just reading exotic names and associating them with imaginary adventures.

I’ve been lucky, a lot of these adventures have come true.

In 1986 just before a trip to China, I met up with a friend of mine, a sports-photographer for the L.A. Times. I remember he said: “Can’t wait for you to get back and show me photos.” “Photos?” I responded. “I don’t have a camera…It’s not necessary, I keep it all in my head.” My friend looked at me incredulous: “Yeah, but I’m not in your head…” My friend, not willing to permit such a “sacrilegious” crime, gave me one of his Nikons + a box of film: “Well, now you don’t have an excuse,” he said.

Something strange happened during this trip. I started looking at things in a completely different way. Where I had once just walked through, I paused. Where I used to stare aimlessly, I looked around. I started to pay attention to details, I began to compose. I discovered shapes, figures and the subtle magic of light.

Needless to say, what I had seen and what actually came out of those first rolls of film is a different story…

Ever since then, I have tried to learn the process of imagining, capturing and finally presenting an image. I still have the same urge to travel, to be on the move. With a camera in my hand, I’m completely free. Gone is the notion of time, gone is the noise. Everything blends in and I’m just part of the journey.