beyond the lens

Welcome

to the soothing world of sea and light. My aim is to pass on the tranquility of the sea and the endless power of the ocean – to bring their calm and wonder into your life, just like they bring it into mine.

I’ve always felt deeply connected to the sea. As a kid, I would stay in the water forever and my parents still laugh about how stubborn I was, refusing to get out even when my whole body was trembling and my lips were blue, all while insisting »I’m not cold!!!«.
 
Not much have changed since, except that my parents don’t try to get me out of the water anymore, and the Adriatic sea in the summer got so warm that I get too tired swimming and diving before I get cold.
 
I’m currently based on the beautiful Slovenian coast and it’s around here that most images are created. My passion for travelling also takes me to other coastal destinations, always giving me fresh and untapped inspiration.
 
A few random things about me:

• I worked and sailed on different sailing boats for several months at a time and it was some of the best times of my life. It also annoys me because it set my life goals much higher and harder to attain.
• I once experienced what I call nirvana – pure bliss and endless unconditional love with dissolving of the ego. It was by far the most powerful and shocking experience of my life in the best possible way, but just like sailing (though I’m not quite comparing the two), it also annoys me because it set my life goals much higher and harder to attain.
• I love exploring different aspects of life, psychology and spirituality, which is what led me to the previously mentioned experience. Consequently, I also love deep conversations and philosophy. 
• I started photography somewhat coincidently when I was 14 and had to decide which secondary school to attend. I had never done photography before but it was the love at first thought and hasn’t left me since. 
• While I grew up in Slovenia and my father is Slovenian, my mom is French and my Breton roots make Brittany feel like my second home. 
• I’ve always loved listening to people sing along a guitar but it didn’t happen often enough, so I just learned to sing and play it myself. 
• I need to be surrounded by nature as much as possible to stay sane – possibly all the time. I never miss the city and only go when I really need to. 
• I lived in Paris for four years while studying photography. While it was fun and very enriching, it also confirmed that living in a city is not for me. 
• I need and love a lot of alone time, but I also deeply cherish the time I spend with my family and friends. 
• Gratitude for all the good and simple things in life is what keeps me going and looking on the bright side of life. 
• I don’t like to talk about me as much as it might seem right now, but someone once told me that sharing helps us connect better – so here we are!

You are invited to explore the images here. My hope is to bring serenity, awe, and a touch of sea’s magic into your space.

If you have questions about the photos, ordering, custom options like framing or paper, or anything else, feel free to reach out—I’ll reply as soon as possible.

In addition to my fine art sea photography, I also bring a wealth of experience to a variety of other photography fields, including commercial, nautical, real estate, lifestyle, portrait, and event photography.
To view a selection of my diverse work, visit: https://barbaramilavec.com
For my nautical photography, explore: https://seaandlighthorizons.com