Interviews
Bogdan Ianosi
Bogdan Ianosi is a self-taught travel and lifestyle photographer based in southern Germany. His visual work explores light, color, and emotion to create nostalgic narratives that celebrate everyday life and the beauty of spontaneous moments. He works as a freelance photographer from Augsburg, combining poetic sensibility with attention to detail in his projects.
Your journey into photography is self-taught. What initially drew you to the medium, and how did you cultivate your passion for visual storytelling?
I’ve always been drawn to the quiet moments—the way light falls on a surface, the stillness between gestures, the things left unsaid. Photography became a way to hold on to those fleeting emotions. I started by photographing what felt personal and real to me: my surroundings, people I loved, textures that stirred memories. Over time, I learned through experimentation, failure, and intuition rather than formal training. The more I photographed, the more I understood that storytelling through images wasn’t just something I did—it was a way of making sense of the world around me.
Your work often evokes a strong sense of nostalgia and timelessness. What influences or experiences shape this aesthetic in your photography?
I grew up in Romania during a time of transition, where memory and reality often blurred. My childhood was filled with old objects, quiet rituals, and a slower rhythm of life. That sense of rootedness—of finding meaning in the mundane—never left me. I’m also inspired by old family photo albums, Eastern European cinema, and the subtle poetry of everyday life. I suppose nostalgia, for me, isn’t just about the past—it’s about a longing for depth and presence in a fast-moving world.
Nostalgia, for me, isn’t just about the past—it’s about a longing for depth and presence in a fast-moving world.
Being born in Romania and now residing in Southern Germany, how have these diverse environments influenced your perspective and subject matter?
Romania gave me a certain rawness and emotional depth—a connection to stories that feel layered and human. Southern Germany, with its order, beauty, and structure, gave me space to reflect and refine. Living between cultures has taught me to observe carefully, to listen deeply, and to find universal threads in specific details. Both places, in their own way, inform how I see light, space, and people.
Your portfolio includes images from various locations, such as Marrakesh and Lisbon. How do different cultures and settings impact your storytelling approach?
Traveling opens up my senses. Each place has its own rhythm, color palette, and emotional tone. In Marrakesh, I was drawn to texture and shadow. In Lisbon, it was the melancholy light and soft chaos of everyday life. I try not to approach a place with preconceived ideas—I prefer to be present, to observe, and to let the environment guide the narrative. Different cultures challenge me to see with fresh eyes and to connect with people and spaces on an emotional level.
You’ve mentioned a passion for storytelling through visuals. Can you walk us through your creative process when conceptualizing and executing a photographic narrative?
It usually starts with a feeling rather than a concept—a memory, a sound, a piece of music. From there, I begin to gather fragments: locations, light conditions, objects, people. I think in layers, always asking myself what the image needs to say and what can be left unsaid. When I shoot, I let instinct take the lead. I observe body language, the atmosphere, the in-between moments. Later, when I edit, I piece together the story not just by what looks good—but by what feels honest.
As a self-taught photographer, what challenges have you faced in developing your unique style, and how have you overcome them?
One of the biggest challenges was trusting my voice in a world full of noise. Without formal validation, you constantly question whether your work is enough. But over time, I realized that the only way to develop something authentic was to keep showing up, even when no one was watching. I had to learn to see mistakes as part of the process and to embrace imperfection as a doorway to growth. Style, for me, comes from staying true to what moves you—not trends or expectations.
How do you hope viewers feel or reflect when they encounter your photographs, and what lasting impression would you like your work to leave?
I hope they pause. I hope they feel something they can’t quite name—an echo of a memory, a sense of familiarity, a pull toward something deeper. If my photographs can offer a moment of stillness, a sense of connection, or an invitation to look closer, then I’ve done what I set out to do. Ultimately, I want my work to remind people of the beauty and weight of ordinary moments—and the stories that live within them.
