Danny Johananoff | United States
@johananoff
https://www.art-mine.com/artistpage/danny_johananoff.aspx
Danny Johananoff resides in New York.
Having spent over 50 years in photography, he started to exhibit his work only by 2018.
He held exhibitions in NY, Miami, Rome and Milan with further exhibitions scheduled in London and Barcelona.
As a photographer, Danny believes art is always there, and that all he needs to do is to capture it through the lens. Johananoff refers to his work as “painting” with the camera. His images are often blurred and dreamy, depicting the culture and the pure beauty found in nature. He begins each photo expedition with no expectations or notions on what he may find and shoot. Thus, opening himself up to receive any scenery that transmits emotions to him. It is this feeling and point of view he wishes to bring to the viewer.
Raised in a family with a passion for music and photography, Danny’s love for harmony in sound and color has lasted a lifetime. His passion has deepened by his extreme travels, juxtaposing landscapes and circumstances, with each experience transforming his view of the world abstractly. He believes it is this developed lens that 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.
Shadow and Limelight
Contemporary Art Station: Tell us about how you got started. When did you know you wanted to be an artist?
From early childhood (Age 11), I was a musician and a photographer, having my own pop group and developing and printing my own photos in a darkroom at home. I used to experiment photography with friends, and earning from shooting artwork in galleries and archeological items for catalogs and books. At the age of 24, after army service, I turned to a business career that lasted about 40 years. Now, I am back behind the camera, enjoying the macro world and traveling to remote places, "painting" with my lens. I'm back to my passion.
CAS: What is your process like, from initial idea to the creation of the piece? Do you usually develop the idea for a project before you find the "canvas", or vice versa?
When I embark on a photograph expedition, I have only a general idea of what I'm going to see but no real idea of what I'll be shooting. I open myself to detect and receive scenes and situations as I go along.Many times the outcome images surprise me, making it even more exciting. I stretch my imagination to envisage the final result of a take but frequently, the final product goes its own way.
CAS: What do you love most about your creative process?
I love to see and learn about the different cultures, behavior, see beautiful colors, dress, landscape and hear different music. I like experimenting and finding new ways to capture reality. Again, it is the surprise element that excites me when I see interesting results on the screen and on the wall.
Persian Miniature
CAS: What role does art and the artist play in the broader social conversation today?
I think Art is becoming more and more universal, at least when sharing it is concerned. Contemporary artists have a great platform to show and distribute their work world wide and in an easier way than prior to the digital age. On the other hand, it is becoming more and more difficult to stand out as a unique artists. The Internet is flooded with beautiful new contemporary work and art fairs around are filled with some excellent stuff. Today, art is more reachable and tradable, therefore it is more present in the social conversation.
CAS: Name a few of your favourite artists and influences.
Steve McCurry is one of the photographers I admire the most. He is out there, in the field, capturing life in a most fabulous way. His subjects, his natural lighting and stunning colors are beautiful to watch.I also like Annie Leibovitz style of work, her wonderful portraits and the celebrities she manages to photograph in their most natural aspect.
CAS: What is the best advice you received as an artist?
Open yourself to feel what you see. Try to connect to your subject, let it be an insect in Macro Photography, a person or an event you are capturing.Getting involved helps the process of taking the images in a way they are able to transmit your experience better.
CAS: When did you discover your voice as an artist?
I discovered my voice as an artist mainly after receiving positive feedback from family, friends, art curators and social media. You always feel fulfilled when you create something you think is good. Perhaps, the combination of this notion and professional feedback helps categorizing you as an artist.
CAS: What advice would you give to emerging artists trying to find their own?
Create, do something different, connect and love the process, be paitient, experiment and perfect.
Girl in Dunes
