My History and Point of View

Greetings, and many thanks for visiting my site.  I am a self-taught photographer, presently living in New York.

At the age of 11, I was stretching up to reach while helping my father with trays in the dark room.  I have carried a camera with me ever since my first photo won third prize in a magazine, and my photography today is the result of many decades of travel and shutter clicks.

In the last few years I have become passionate about a technique which has evolved towards what I call “painting” with the lens of my camera, using slow shutter speed. When I see beautiful movement and colors, I capture it in a personal way, keeping the movement in the one frame and letting the colors brush along.   I don’t actually freeze the moment, but rather let it move for a while to capture the beauty of dynamics and color. This unique and blurred photography is a style through which I feel clearly identified, and prefer the images emerge from the camera almost untouched, minimizing post editing. 

I am very inspired by what I see and experience. The constant search for harmony, in music and images, is the key that helps me spot those fascinating moment and frames.  Since a major part of my photographs is blurred, it leaves space for interpretation and viewers imagination. 

When I see an interesting face for a portrait, I am attracted to capture it.  My images can bring up different emotions in different people, and my goal is for the viewer to interpret the image and connect to it in a personal way. In portraits, this happens through compassion to the photographed subject.

I move from very sharp and clear portraits and macro photography into hardly identified faces and figures.  All my photography is done on original location as opposed to studio work. Being there, where things are happening, is a thrill by itself.

I begin each photo expedition with no expectations whatsoever on what I may find...thus opening myself up to receive any scene that transmits emotion.  I do believe art is always out there, waiting...and seek to capture it through the lens, telling a story in a compelling and emotional way which connects to the viewer.  It is this feeling and point of view I wish to bring to you here with my work.

When a picture is finished, I feel it in my guts. It is like passing a missing puzzle piece over the image until it fits perfectly in place.  If you count the traveling hours to the location it is quite a long process. Once I have the images, it doesn't take me long to make sure they are optimized for print.  All my files are sent to Germany to be printed.

My Travels

My passion has been further deepened by extreme travels, juxtaposing landscapes and circumstances, transforming my view of the world abstractly.   It is this perspective which allows beauty to be seen even in the war-torn Middle East, or a remote area of the world almost untouched by the hands of modernity. 

Out of the many exciting moments such as getting to know the insect world up close while doing Macro photography and exploring west India, Cuba and many other locations.  My visit to Kyrgyzstan in central Asia which was most fascinating in that it was quite different culturally, and very fulfilling photography-wise.

An expedition to Oaxaca in Mexico around "El Dia de los Muertos" (the Day of the Dead) was incredibly interesting.  I wanted to experience the almost paradoxical approach the Mexican culture has to death, as opposed to the western world.  Subsequently I visited Japan and Turkey, and am constantly open to whatever draws me in, even when I am at home in New York.

The Future

One day, I plan to go to the next level and combining music and images. I think these two senses together have an impact of one plus one equals three.  

 

There have been exhibits of my work in galleries around the world in New York, Miami, Rome, Milan, Italy, London and Barcelona, with more coming soon.  Please subscribe to stay in touch.

Currently, I am represented by Agora Gallery in New York  - https://www.art-mine.com/artistpage/danny_johananoff.aspx

Images are added continuously!