Maël Balland's Photographs of Everyday Adventures

Welcome to Hero of the Week, an ongoing series sharing stories from some of the best photographers in the Pexels community.

Located in Toulouse, France, Maël Balland photographs with the goal of sharing his point of view. Currently a student, Maël has been shooting photos for eight years, at first getting started with the desire to record memories of fun experiences while hiking, surfing, and skateboarding.

He shoots with a Canon 700D, using a GoPro Hero 7 and Mavic Air for underwater and aerial shots.

"I have been fortunate to live in different cities and places around the world," says Maël, "especially on the island of Réunion. I have always been attracted to the idea of capturing a moment, a memory, an action, and being able to keep it and show it to others. In other words, being able to share what I have experienced and show my own point of view."

Spending time exploring the outdoors is a source of creativity for Maël. "My inspiration comes from many little adventures that I do. For example, a simple hike by the sea or in the mountains, a five-hour canoe fishing trip, a day in a new city on a market day. Simple things that make beautiful memories and such beautiful photos."

His favorite location to shoot is North Brittany, France. He describes the landscape there as ghostly, with very few tourists. "Everything is conducive to adventure and therefore to beautiful photos!"

Maël's focus with photography is on capturing moments that are important to him, taking the time to find memorable images in everyday life. "I love the photos that reflect a moment, a simple smile, people walking on a pretty street, a bird flying by the sea. I also love nature. Recently, I like to walk alone and look for wild animals to photograph."

Pexels Heroes is our invite-only community of the top photographers on Pexels. Find out more and apply to join here.