Yaga The Gathering 2025

Well, hello there! Shall I tell you a story abooooout....? My first festival experience? I think I definitely should! ^^

Wont gonna lie but visiting Yaga was in my head for at least a few years already, as soon as I heard some of the stories about this magical town in a forest full of happy people united by Artistry in all shapes of form: you name it - I saw it.

I was expecting much, but I can surely say that I was surprised anyway. There is a limit of what you create as Festival curators... but nobody told me that almost everyone attending Yaga... is part of this never-ending absurd Carnival. Everything and everyone is there for a reason.

In this post, I will try to cover just a small bit of it... How it looked, what kind of Tribe you can meet, what kind of stories and memories I made there.

Personal diary of our camp that will only grow from this moment on! ^^
P.S.: I suggest using Desktop version... not scrolling through the Mobile view

Intro

We were lucky enough to arrive during the calmest part of the day, with slight drizzle at worst. We found a great spot that boys picked from last year, and a white tent with just clothes near us as a neighbor (oh boy, I was wrong)

We've put our tents, pulled up some kind of a "roof", grabbed some clothes, and decided to have a small walkabout to check some roads and meet the Media team for the Briefing.

Some OG coming to the festival on the bike, hell yeah ^^

P.S.: I can't compare my experience on that part as it's my First Festival ever... but I know that weather conditions can break the supply chain and mess everything up so quickly. However, not once did I notice any lack of organisation. It was flawless to my taste and need.

Or maybe it was just a beginners luck?
lets end the Intro here!

Mindaugas: -Welcome to the Yaga Festival guys, First of all, this tent is empty because a lot of the Gear is still stuck somewhere... As roads are washed away and blocked by traffic... But we will handle everything! Lets start the brief!"

At this point I knew... this festival is gonna be fun ride, and a thing to remember!

Through the mud, through the rain.
It was getting too exciting...

It's was time to see Yaga the Gathering.
And let this forest meet the:

Going to Yaga, I had one personal project in mind.

To bring some studio gear and white cloth. To create a seamless backdrop and lightbox using the sun... to invite people for a portrait... People that I find interesting for whatever reason. However, after some brainstorming and feedback... I decided to go easy for my first time... And switched the idea... to just using a portable chair (my friends suggestion that I loooooved)

This work is one from a short series... People of Yaga.
I had a lot of fun trying this out... and I hope next time I will go full guns blazing on this concept. To collect enough work worthy of an independent publishing via a handmade Zine.

Daylight Mr Shroom

Nighttime Mr Shroom

It was only getting darker and wetter on the first day of Yaga. But people were arriving nonstop

Right when I visited the info center to ask if my Media badge arrived... it went pitch black in a minute. I knew it's way to early for the sun to get down, and then I heard it. Thunder
I was lucky enough to get cover under the roof of Safe Lab, a Vital and educational spot for all the safety stuff during the festival.
Low-key... I love when nature shows it's power... storm, blizzard, heat waves. So I made only a few shots there... as I was just enjoying the view... Harder the storm... calmer I feel inside. you?

Wandering in the night in rainy glowing forest... dancing your way and saying hello to each camp passing by and everyone inviting you to meet them and join them... it's heartwarming

This lad had one mission... to keep the campfire going.
And I'm so happy that such a fiery young blood is out there.
He even slept nearby in a hammock. True madlad.
Could you imagine volunteering for a role to keep a fire alive for a few days straight? I know that it doesn't sound as complex for anyone reading this, since adult life is full of responsibilities and stress... But imagine you run away from the Grid and all of the overthinking... to focus on one thing. Provide a safe and warm place for strangers.

This guy is an illustrator for kids books, coming originally from Jordan.

One of the best encounters at Yaga, I had a blast talking with him for probably a few hours straight.

Kids, here is a tip for you. When you are at the Yaga.. you might feel like anyone you meet there is someone close to you and known for years.. even if it's a new face. Don't get fooled by that, and fcking remember the name of people you meet there.

But I will find him somehow, superb dude ^^

It started with just a regular campfire and some safety area...

An amazing guy, giving a "The Dude" Vibe. Coming straight from L.A. (originally, since he has been living for quite a long time in LTU already)

It was a pleasure to bounce of jokes about our different mentality since he is from so far away. And I'm glad that he is now part of the mini series!

Yaga Off The Map

It's that same campfire later in the evening...

It was a family with friends from Panevezys, veterans of Yaga coming for 16+ years...
Told me some stories about festivals and life...

"...Some people ask, How are my kids doing? Isn't the Festival a bit too much for them?
Well, 'points on his daughter,' she was growing up on Yagas... 2 months old... when she saw a first one..."

I loved that part... and thanked them for such an Artsy camp, our nights looked magically ^^

Ohh btw, that white tent previously? Oh yeah it got upgraded overnight...

I visited many places during those days... yet I still have a feeling that I saw less than a quarter of what was happening all around us... magnificent forest transformation.
Into the never ending Carnaval

The Duskwood Stage

And then...
...we found

And look who I found out there working the nightshifts at the Bar? It's Laki Eve ^^
We had a "plan" to meet up at the new studio for a shoot. But we are both way to lazy to actually plan.. it will happen whenever eventually... And since she was working at Yaga and I got my camera... I just snapped her cool outfits between the days.
IDK, but kinda counts as Photoshoot!

Laki Eve

The Sun is out

Into the Last Night

Fun Fact - In this picture, you see a Chief doing a chant and burning up MY special token.

They said... that by doing this ritual, my wish can be granted.

I wished for my Artwork from Yaga to be awesome.
I could have said that, fancy - You can be the judge if it worked?!
but

I.D.F.C.

Это Стиль Якогамского Бандита.

Dancing with your friends at Psy-Trance Stage with GFX in hand... what a fcking Night to remember... ^^
Oh, and when I say dance... I was having such a blast out there... for once. I wasn't the only one dancing in trance... EVERYONE.

The day before this stage literally had a river and swamp on one side, people dancing in water. But this Night it was the Sahara Desert. Sea of people holding the same rhythm, generating such energy, the whole place was dry and foggy because of the heat. It was electric and beautiful... <3

And as someone was chilling and getting ready for the upcoming day or two...

We were packing and leaving the Festival...
I could tell you so much about this experience, what was so great about it, and what part was least enjoyable, but to be honest, it won't make any sense.

I can tell you stories - But you can create them yourself.
I can show you places - But you can be there yourself.
I can tell you how awesome it was - But you will feel it yourself.

Once upon a time... When will we meet at Yaga The Gathering. ^^

Thank you for your time. I hope you liked this photo diary about Yaga The Gathering festival.

Hope I will be a better photojournalist for the next big blog post...
I see you when I see you