Inspired by coastal landscapes, small fishing villages, and Mediterranean beaches, there is nothing more calming to Paulina Sauer (@paulina_nana) than standing by the sea in the early morning, listening to the waves, and waiting for the sun to illuminate everything in golden light. Her photographs of Dalmatia, in the south of Croatia beautifully illustrate this love, presenting a moment to pause, breathe, and immerse oneself in the seemingly undisturbed beauty of the natural world.
I wish to let the viewers feel as if they’re right there sensing the peace of the scene.
As the December chill settles in for many of us, Sauer's photographs offer a tropical reprieve, transporting us to the warm escape we long for during these colder months. The series captures an alluring sense of tranquility, each image a serene, contemplative moment, reminiscent of the summer months.
© Paulina Sauer
Sauer had visited Montenegro a few months before her trip to Dalmatia (you can find her series on this on her Instagram), she adored the stone houses, topped with orange roofs, and the aesthetics of the region's endearing environment. She hoped Dalmatia, being so close to Montenegro, would be just as enticing, suffice to say she was not at all disappointed.
Known for its myriad of coves, islands and channels, Dalmatia is located along the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. It boasts beautiful coastlines, populated by the islands Brač, Vis, Hvar, Mljet and many others. Dalmatia's timeless atmosphere is gentle and peaceful, but rich with opportunities for adventure and exploration. Brač, the largest and liveliest of the islands, makes up most of the series. Known for its immense cliffs, clear waters, and rolling hills overgrown with ancient olive groves, Brač offers an enticing atmosphere, radiant with life, but certainly not overcrowded. Taking to the quaint villages nestled among its charming stone towns, and the secluded beaches interspersed along the coastline, Sauers images often capture these scenes in the early, quiet glow of the sunrise.
Her photographs walk the tenuous line between solitude and livelihood. There is a presence of community in her frames, but it doesn't distract nor overwhelm. Her images highlight the beauty of the island beneath these communities, complemented by the remnants of them- an intertwining of natural and human life. One of Sauer's favourite photographs from the series is a perfect example of this, an image of a few clothes taking stage in front of the gentle Adriatic Sea, an image that epitomises the slow pace of life on the island.
Based in Berlin, Paulina Sauer is a German travel and hotel photographer who chooses to primarily shoot with analogue, often using Portra 400, or 160 on her Canon AE-1. The appeal of the warm, soft tones that film offers presents her with the perfect tool for painting this series of the Croatian coastal paradise. Her adoration of the medium also led her to curate the work featured on @grainysummer, a page dedicated to showcasing nostalgic, analogue images reminiscent of summer, featuring the work of women, BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and other underrepresented voices.
