Known for their distinct short red multi-tools and the mountainous winter wonderlands in which Peter Sarstedt's, Marie-Claire, would sip her Napoleon Brandy without getting her lips wet, Switzerland is quite the magical little place. A few weeks back, we had the chance to send a few straps to Switzerland's own, Ivo Scholz. Ivo is a brilliant landscape & portrait photographer and we were fortunate enough to have a few words and get a quick glimpse into his world. Dropping the DSLR systems from his life and choosing for the lower profile Fuji X-Series cameras, Ivo tells us about how it's simplified his whole approach to photography and how these cameras almost embody a soul of their own.

Maru: How's Switzerland these days? You make it look soo damn beautiful out there.

Ivo: You know, Switzerland is such a small place, but so rich in terms of the variety of landscapes, cultures and languages. You'll find our famous alps, the beautiful lakes with some gorgeous beaches and of course the stunning cities where you not only shop, but also relax and get cozy. Everything is so close and in reach too.

I'm fortunate to be part of an open, peaceful and very democratic society.

Maru: How long have you been shooting and what are your cameras of choice?

Ivo: I have been taking pictures for about 12 years now. I'm currently using a Fujifilm X-E2 as my main camera. It combines a style and a quality which I absolutely adore. Last year, I sold my all my DSLR equipment and started off in a fresh way. First I was afraid and now I'm simply happy. The X-E2 helps me to get better with every shot I take. It pushes me. It's as if it has its own soul. I first had this kind of a feeling when I started using Fuji's X100 three years ago.

[o] ivo scholz. ivo's X-E2 with our custom brown strap

Maru: What inspires you to go shooting?

Ivo: Life itself I guess. I'm always on the hunt for a moment where I can find something more than what it seems to be in the first place. It's hard to describe. Sometimes I can really feel these moments. The power of a scenery and its story.

Maru: What is your process in determining composition and subject matter?

Ivo: The light is very important to me. It sometimes forces me to come back to a place for another shot. Sometimes the mood doesn't feel right. I then either come back another time to give it another chance, or I try to reproduce the feeling afterwards in post. And I think photography should be simple. Sometimes I still fail on this.

Maru: So you're quite the avid Fuji X-series shooter. Are you apart of any major forums and what drew you into shooting with these cameras?

Ivo: I use Tumblr as my main blog ivoscholz.com. In addition, I sometimes use 500px and Flickr, but I actually focus on Tumblr. Again, simplicity is important to me.

Until last year, I used to shoot Canon DSLR's. For me, it was just "ok" to take pictures with. This has changed completely for me. I think that the mirror-less cameras are the best thing that happened to the entire market.

Maru: What's next for Ivo?

Ivo: I'm currently working on a new project called "The woodlanders" where I try and shoot portraits with stunning colors and beautiful natural lighting in the woods. I have some more ideas of stuff I'd like to do, but not enough time yet. I plan on returning to Iceland to experience and capture the other half of this amazing country too!

See more of Ivo's stunning photography below and at ivoscholz.com! Thanks a ton Ivo!

An Interview with Ivo Scholz (ivoscholz.com)