Denis Barbas - SUNLIGHT Adventure Crew (ENG)

His posts collect over a million likes, his reels tend to go viral and his incredible following is still growing fast – and deservedly so! Denis Barbas is an outdoor photographer driven to document the most spectacular landscapes in the world’s most intriguing regions. With his recklessness and love for nature he is just destined for our Adventure Crew!

Denis, how does one become such a famed travel content creator?

We all start from somewhere – and for me that starting point was literally zero. Just a guy with a phone and a strong belief in what he was doing. I didn’t even own a proper camera for years. When I finally got one, it felt incredibly natural because I had already learned how to create with nothing and make the most out of what I had. And it took years! People eventually started noticing. It wasn’t an overnight breakthrough. It was the complete opposite: a long, obsessed journey.

Was it clear to you to pursue that career?

No, I’ve doubted myself a thousand times, had sleepless nights, made huge sacrifices. But I walked away from a “normal” life to chase something that made me truly feel alive. Even when I wasn’t making a single cent from my videos, I kept going because nothing compares to that feeling of being out there, exploring, discovering new places, new cultures, capturing the beauty of the world and sharing it with everyone.

What was your biggest experience to date?

Definitely setting foot on Antarctica. I grew up watching documentaries about it – the landscapes, the wildlife, the penguins, I had been dreaming about it for so many years. It is the most remote, harsh and extreme place on Earth. Being out there, surrounded by nothing but untouched nature and colonies of more than half a million penguins, creates a feeling that is hard to describe. It gives you a deep, almost spiritual connection with nature, something I will carry with me forever.

Are you also into exploring cultures, or only landscapes?

No, I love discovering remote cultures and traditions. Seeing different ways of life and learning from people is something I’m genuinely fascinated by. I travelled across China from the very South where it was over 30°C to the far North where temperatures dropped to -25°C. I lived with an indigenous group called the Hani People in Southern China. They invited me to their biggest annual festival, shared their meals – I experienced incredible hospitality. Then I lived with another group in remote Northern China near the Siberian border to see how they survive the cold, drink hot tea and enjoy the simple things in life.

Do you find it easy to connect with the locals?

Absolutely! I tend to travel to places that not a lot of people go to, so naturally in these places, the locals are usually happy when they see a foreigner. I’ve always found it super easy to connect. In the big cities it’s different. It seems that people are just too busy with their own lives, always in a hurry and no one really cares about you.

What places do you long to see?

Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan are very high on my list, but I would love to explore them in a different way. Not just by flying there, but by driving across the region in my 4×4 campervan, reaching some of the most remote and epic landscapes that you can access only with a real off-road vehicle. I want to live with the indigenous people high in the mountains and learn about their centuries old eagle hunting tradition which is slowly fading. I would love to document that before it disappears completely.

What places do people have to go?

ICELAND is my absolutely favourite country in the world and the number one place that I think anyone should visit at least once.
Italy, my home country.
And Norway.

What are your tips for hobby videographers equipment-wise? What is a cool basic set-up to start with?

To be honest, I would not focus too much on the gear. I get this question every single day from my followers, and believe me, it is the most asked question, but stressing about equipment is not the point. Good gear can definitely make your work easier, but it will not make you a better storyteller. Today phones, especially iPhones, are so good that you do not even need a camera to start. You do not need a gimbal either since phone footage is extremely stable. So focus more on your craft, on the stories you want to tell and on learning how to edit.

What’s the best thing about campervan life?

It teaches you to slow down, disconnect and appreciate the little things. Cook something simple, watch the sunset, listen to the sounds around you. That is the beauty of it. And now it makes me want to leave with my camper again…