After first traveling to Kyrgyzstan in 2018, panorama-photographer Albert Dros determined himself enamored with the landlocked u. S. In Central Asia. Its mountainous terrain presents unending dramatic landscapes and is filled with sufficient peaks and valleys to make any photographer’s coronary heart soften. Now on his 0.33 go to the country, Dros took the opportunity to discover an area he’d formerly neglected. During his explorations of southern Kyrgyzstan, Dros no longer handiest photographed the extraordinary landscapes and the humans he encountered along with the manner.
As a result, his new paintings offer an imaginative and prescient of his growing love affair with the usa. Largely untouched using tourism, Kyrgyzstan offers Dros an easy slate from which to work. By stepping into this uncharted territory, he’s unfastened to discover his artistry without fear of replicating what’s been performed before.
Thankfully, Dros is generous in his preference to percentage the rich subculture of Kyrgyzstan with the sector. From the high reaches of Lenin Peak to the deep valleys full of yurts, the u. S. A .’s herbal beauty is not a mystery to the world at big. By providing this roadmap, the Dutch photographer hopes to encourage others to undertake out into new regions and discover what has but to be located.
We had the danger of talking with Dros about why Kyrgyzstan is so significant to him and what he discovered during his contemporary experience. Read on for My Modern Met’s exceptional interview.
What is it about Kyrgyzstan that maintains drawing you again as a photographer?
I first visited Kyrgyzstan final yr. My girlfriend is from Kyrgyzstan, so this changed into the primary motive for my go-to. Last year I visited her family for the first time and because then I already visited the u. S. A. Two greater times. But it’s obviously no longer only my female friend’s roots and her family that continues me coming again. I love nature, and I love mountains. And that’s exactly what Kyrgyzstan has to provide.
The landscapes are truly untouched, and tourism is really just upcoming right now, however nevertheless at a totally early section. There are such a lot of stunning landscapes there simply ready to be explored. And this is exactly why I preserve coming lower back—discover new mountains, new valleys, new canyons, and basically new the whole lot.
Why did you decide on the south of Kyrgyzstan this time round, and how long have you been there?
My remaining visit changed into my third go to in total. I had explored the east of the country, especially around Issyk Kul Lake and the Karakol region. But I didn’t visit the south but. One of the excessive peaks, named Lenin Peak, which measures over 7000 meters, can be observed inside the south. I surely wanted to explore this region, and this is what I desired to explore this experience.
I determined to fly south to the second biggest city within the u. S. A . (Osh) and from there traveled to Lenin Peak. The south could be very scenic and distinctive from the relaxation of the united states with different landscapes. That’s why I determined to power returned to Bishkek using a vehicle and go to some locations while I became within the area anyway. My remaining go to Kyrgyzstan turned into approximately three weeks. Still, I also spent quite a little time with my girlfriend’s circle of relatives and friends because her sister was getting married, and I changed into attending a marriage. A high-quality experience!
Did the vicinity meet your expectancies?
Most really. When I met my lady friend, I had in no way even heard of us of a Kyrgyzstan. I started to do studies and determined some pics, but now not ‘actual’ pix from expert photographers. But from the matters I determined—especially on Instagram—I saw that this united states had quite a few abilities. My expectancies have been met and substantially exceeded. I hold coming lower back, and I am already planning a new experience.
