The first time I travelled, with photography as main purpose, was to Syria in 1996, using 35mm colour slide film, as well as black and white.

An incredibly interesting month, using buses, train and hitch-hiking to travel the country, with camera opening my eyes even wider, for all there was in that surprising, beautiful, police state.

It's not possible to look back at the images without sadness, wondering the fate of all the people, places.