Dani​ ​Oshi | Special Interview

Special Interview With Dani​ ​Oshi
by Omri Shomer

Brussels Street Photography Festival. Logo

Brussels Street Photography Festival.
Dani Oshi. Special Interview on Lens Magazine Issue 38

Dani Oshi is a street photographer from Brussels and among the most important key individuals whose involvement has been central in helping develop and build up the street photography industry in Europe and throughout the world in recent times. He is also the founder of the Brussels Street Photography Festival. Moments after the festival had ended and ​ Dani​ ​ was​ ​ able​ ​ to​ ​ catch​ ​​ his​ ​breath​ ​–​ we​​ managed​​ ​to​ catch​​ ​up​ ​to​ ​him​ for​ ​​a​ conversation.​

Dani,​ ​please​ ​tell​ ​us​ ​how​ ​the​ ​festival​ ​began ​ to​ materialize? ​How​did​ it​ ​ all​ happen?​

The BSPF started as a shared effort between me, Sedaile Mejias and Diego Luna Quintanilla, both architects and urbanists. We happened to be collaborating on a project they were leading in order to improve the look and feel of a square in Brussels, and I was documenting the process with my photography. After many hours spent together we realized we had common ideals and so the BSPF was born as a combination of our interests towards photography,​ ​urban​ ​spaces​ ​and​ ​Brussels,​ ​among​ ​others.

BSPF. Dani Oshi. Interview on Lens Magazine Issue 38

What​ ​is​ ​the​ ​main​ ​idea​ ​behind​ ​starting​ ​this​ ​festival?

The BSPF is a cultural project whose objective is to promote street photography as an urban research tool, a form of cultural communication and a visual art. The BSPF is a project of research, passion, experimentation, love for the city and of course photography. The founders’ visions are different and somehow they blend very well to create this particular event. We are very passionate about it and we hope this energy can be seen by our visitors and​ ​participants.

Tierra Santa – Holy Land: Photo Series By Spanish Photographer Guille Ibanez

This​ ​year​ ​you​ ​were​ ​the​ ​curator​ ​of​ ​the​ ​festival​ ​–​ ​did​ ​you​ ​see​ ​any​ ​significant​ ​change​ ​from​ ​the previous​ ​year?

I did see some changes in regards to last year, I think the quality overall was higher and the involvement from the community was also higher. The participation in the series was of great quality and it seems is gaining popularity among photographers, so creating a sequence of images rather than the single shot. I appreciate the efforts and I am happy to see​ ​street​ ​photography​ ​growing​ ​like​ ​this.

Kristina Koroleva (First Prize) Finalists 2017 | BSPF
on Lens Magazine Issue 38

Which​ ​works​ ​fascinated​ ​you​ ​most,​ ​and​ ​why?

Well, this puts me in the spotlight. I like all the winners and I am happy they have been selected as winners for many reasons. I am particularly fond of the International Singles winner shot by Kristina Koroleva, I remember that when I saw it for the first time while curating I was rather impressed. I also talked to other people about it in a very profound way before the festival, so yes, I like it very much. I also liked very much the International Series work of Guille Ibanez in Spain and the religious festivities. For some it might be a known subject and a big cliché but the execution and sequence is just superb, with some single shots​ ​really​ ​standing​ ​out​ ​there.​ ​Ultimately,​ ​big​ ​kudos​ ​for​ ​all​ ​finalists​ ​and​ ​winners.

Brussels Street Photography Festival. Exhibition View. Lens Magazine

What is the source of your inspiration and what​ ​is​ ​your​ ​vision​ ​for​ ​the​ ​future? ​ ​

I have many sources of inspiration, the main one being photography itself of course. I am delighted with the whole process of it and what it makes me feel when I practice it and when I observe it. I do however get inspiration from nature, the vastness of the universe and minute things in life, from the net of a spider to a leaf falling from a tree. Observation in general​ ​is​ ​key​ ​for​ ​my​ Inspiration,​ ​I​ ​can​ ​spend​ ​a​ ​lot​ ​of​ ​time ​ just​ ​​observing ​ and​ ​ admiring.​
My vision of the future? Huge question. I definitely want to keep taking photos and concentrate​ ​more​ ​in​ ​long​ ​term​ ​projects.

In your opinion, is there some kind of special formula for a successful photo? And if so, what​ ​is​ ​it?

Ultimately, I would say no, there’s no formula. I think this is extremely subjective and depends very much on the context of where is the photo being observed and under which circumstances. For example, seeing a photo in a book has a completely different feeling than as a single print or on a screen. There are however certain elements that I enjoy seeing in​ ​a​ ​photo,​ ​but​ ​this​ ​doesn’t​ ​necessarily​ ​makes​ ​it​ ​successful​ ​for​ ​its​ ​context.

Do you feel that street photography is in jeopardy on account of the fact that everyone nowadays ​ has​ ​ a​ ​ camera​ ​ on​ ​ their​ ​ smartphone?​

On the contrary, the ease of access to photography is making this whole thing explode exponentially and I think this is good for photography in general. More initiatives will start coming out to satisfy this market and hopefully the overall quality will increase and photography will start getting more spotlights and begin to be appreciated more. Instagram is a key player in this, with photographers having the opportunity to reach millions in seconds with their photos and art, people get enthusiastic and inspired and practice it more and more. Why make it so exclusive to a handful of individuals? Photography should be open for​ ​everyone​ ​to​ ​try.​ ​I​ ​embrace​ ​this.

What​ ​do​ ​you​ ​see​ ​becoming​ ​of​ ​street​ ​photography​ ​in​ ​the ​ future?​

My wish is for street photography to earn a more respected spot in society, as it is unfortunately somehow neglected and ignored by many. This form of art has been said to be one of the most difficult to practice for obvious reasons, yet it is highly disregarded as cheap and easy to execute. I hope initiatives such as the BSPF can make of street photography something to be appreciated more by the general audience, giving artists a push to pursue their passion and keep documenting life in the streets, portraying society nowadays leaving a​ ​legacy​ ​for​ ​generations​ ​to​ ​come.

In conclusion, what kind of advice would you give to an aspiring young photographer who wants​ ​to​ ​gain​ ​recognition​ ​through​ ​this​ ​festival?

To follow your own voice and practice your craft. Patience is one of the most important aspects of photography and of many crafts, so learn to be patient, practice and learn from the process, share and talk, engage in conversations and discuss photography and arts. Learn from​ ​those​ ​who​ ​have​ ​done​ ​it​ ​already​ ​and​ ​challenge​ ​yourself.

Read the full article on Lens Magazine Issue #38