I am a French born sailor, writer, adventurer, and amateur photographer living in British Columbia, Canada. I grew up in Nice and moved to the Pacific Northwest in 2015. In 2023 I became a Canadian citizen, a milestone that felt like the natural continuation of a life shaped by the ocean.
I work on the waters of British Columbia in two very different but deeply connected ways. I am completing my officer training with BC Ferries, and I also work full time as a captain for whale watching and marine wildlife tours on the Salish Sea. Spending my days on the water keeps me close to the rhythms of tides, weather, and the quiet presence of animals that share this coastline.
I write in French under the name Johannes Berles and publish through my independent press boudidi.com. My writing explores memory, solitude, and the subtle places where thought and emotion meet. Photography is a natural extension of that search. I am drawn to poetry and philosophy, and I try to let that sensibility guide the way I frame the world.
When I am not writing or taking photographs, I volunteer with RCMSAR, the local marine search and rescue organization. Life at sea teaches patience, humility, and attention to the smallest details of light and movement, lessons that shape both my work and my art.
This website is my personal space to share photographs, Fujifilm camera and lens tests, small experiments, and fragments of the life I live between the sea and the mountains.
IATO is the way I approach photography. A quiet moment before the shutter. A breath. A return to presence.
It stands for Inner Attention To Observation, a simple idea that guides the way I look at the world. I try to slow down, to let the scene reveal itself, to listen to the light and the silence around me. Photography is not about capturing something fast. It is about noticing what is already there.
I learned this rhythm at sea, where patience and awareness are essential. I carry it with me on land, whether I am watching the wind move through autumn grasses near Nanoose Bay or testing a new Fujifilm lens on a quiet morning.
IATO is my reminder to stay open, attentive, and honest. To let poetry and philosophy shape the way I frame a moment. To photograph not what I expect, but what I feel.
A simple overview of the tools, places, colors, and workflow that shape my photography. Each section will lead to dedicated pages where I share details, tests, and personal notes.
My main bodies, favorite lenses, and long-term impressions.
Straps, bags, filters, batteries, and the small tools that follow me everywhere.
From the Salish Sea to Vancouver Island forests, beaches, and quiet coastal towns.
The Fujifilm color profiles I use the most and how they influence my mood and style.
A flexible approach using different software depending on the project and the feeling I want to express.
Custom looks I’ve created over the years, inspired by poetry, weather, and Pacific light.
