Sarah Ohayon : Revealing the Invisible!
Sarah Ohayon is a French photographer based in Tel Aviv, renowned for capturing street scenes and moments of life that often go unnoticed. Her work seamlessly blends analog photography, digital formats, and video to reflect the world around her. Through her lens, she captures street scenes and the unique attitudes of people. She favors raw, unedited moments, allowing the stories of her images to emerge through the viewer’s interpretation.
Her distinctive style plays with the ambiguity of time and place. In her photographs, ordinary elements can seem to belong to entirely different eras or locations. She regularly exhibits her work, including her recent show Mouvements II in Paris in 2024, which explored themes such as impermanence and resistance to change.
Additionally, Tel Aviv serves as a major source of inspiration for her art. Her photographs vividly depict the daily life and energy of the city, often instantly recognizable to those familiar with it. Ohayon began her artistic journey after studying business and dramatic arts, falling in love with photography in 2016 following a life-changing encounter with a Canon AE-1 film camera.
Her participation in the Mouvements II exhibition at the Hotel des Académies et des Arts in Paris provided the perfect opportunity for her to share insights through our questionnaire.
Website: https://www.sarahohayon.com
Instagram: @saerahohayon
Your first photographic revelation?
Sarah Ohayon: Discovering a Canon AE1. I found a large black leather case from another time. Opening it, the interior was lined with deep red velvet, and inside lay the camera alongside a set of lenses. It appeared untouched, as if I were the first to use it. I was so mesmerized by the object that I couldn’t part with it.
A visual artist who inspires you?
S.O.: Helen Levitt and JR.
An image you wish you had taken?
S.O.: Steve McCurry’s Floating Flower Market Vendors—to experience the moment firsthand.
An image that moved you most?
S.O.: The vibrant yellows in Harry Gruyaert’s work.
An image that angered you?
S.O.: One I planned to capture in Japan, but the film’s whereabouts remain unknown.
A key image in your personal pantheon?
S.O.: Robert Doisneau’s The Lovers of Paris.
A photographic memory from your childhood?
S.O.: Burning through Polaroid cartridges like iPhone bursts, and those old photos of great-grandparents cut like stamps, of which there is only one print.
An image that obsesses you?
S.O.: Right now, it’s the field of lightbulbs from The Prestige. That film has always fascinated me.
With no budget limit, what work would you dream of owning?
S.O.: The child’s hands holding a donut from Martin Parr’s Common Sense series.
The essential quality for a good photographer?
S.O.: The ability to translate feelings into images in a fraction of a second.
What makes a good image?
S.O.: An image that resonates—whether by moving, disturbing, amusing, intriguing, or leaving a subtle yet visceral impression.
The secret to the perfect image?
S.O.: There are many; the goal is to do the exact opposite of all of them.
Someone you’d like to photograph?
S.O.: The Ama divers in Japan—women who continue an ancestral tradition of harvesting seaweed and pearl oysters. Their skills and customs are fascinating, like many artisanal practices in Japan.
An essential photo book?
S.O.: I recently got United Kingdom by Martin Parr personally signed by him, so I’d say that one. His advice to me was: “Get closer and take lots of pictures, can you do that?” I said, “Yes, of course.”
Your childhood camera?
S.O.: A disposable Kodak with a cardboard case and traces of melted chocolate on it.
The camera you use today?
S.O.: Canon AE1 with a 50mm lens.
Your favorite addiction?
S.O.: Watching the sea or observing people.
The best way for you to disconnect?
S.O.: Wandering the streets with my camera and nothing else, or sitting at a the terrace of a café with my red Moleskine notebook.
Your personal relationship with images?
S.O.: It’s like a family bond—it endures no matter what. I’ve always loved images, whether through TV, cinema, videos, ads, or photography. I feel photography gives me a sense of balance, simplicity, and joy. It encapsulates everything I love: being present, seeking what moves rather than what is conventionally beautiful, capturing moments, and accepting that if I missed one, maybe it wasn’t “meant to be.” I also relish the surprise of discovering the results during development—it’s like a second layer of discovery.
Your greatest quality?
S.O.: Curiosity. It constantly leads me to unexpected adventures and unusual encounters.
Your latest indulgence?
S.O.: Plane tickets.
An image for a new banknote?
S.O.: One of Ellen von Unwerth’s portraits of women.
If you hadn’t chosen photography?
S.O.: I studied business at HEC and have worked on various entrepreneurial projects, so probably something along those lines.
Your greatest professional extravagance?
S.O.: Always going overboard when preparing an exhibition and ending up printing twice as many images as initially planned.
What is the difference between photography and fine art photography?
S.O.: For me, fine art photography makes you think, touches you in a certain way, and connects to something universal. Photography, in general, is simply a medium of expression.
The city, country, or culture you dream of discovering?
S.O.: I dream of exploring India. It’s a country I’ve wanted to visit many times, but the circumstances were never right. When I travel, I love spending time with local peope, learning about their culture and traditions. I dream of an authentic journey, without the tourist filter, so I’ll wait for the perfect opportunity!
A place you never tire of?
S.O.: New York or nowhere.
Your greatest regret?
S.O.: No regrets, just experiences.
Which social media platform do you prefer: Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, or Twitter? Why?
S.O.: Not boomer enough for Facebook, too much of a boomer for TikTok, and I’ve never understood Twitter — so Instagram. I love its mix of formats, allowing me to share both photos and raw video snippets, like little life scenes.
Color or black and white?
S.O.: Color.
Daylight or artificial light?
S.O.: Daylight, except for neon lights — I adore neon.
Which city is the most photogenic, in your opinion?
S.O.: Los Angeles, though it’s not my favorite. It’s like people — often more interesting when they’re not conventionally photogenic. Otherwise, New York and Tokyo.
If God exists, would you ask Him to pose for you or take a selfie with Him?
S.O.: Neither — I’d photograph Him discreetly while brushing His teeth or observing humans.
If I could organize your ideal dinner, who would be at the table?
S.O.: Woody Allen, Joel Meyerowitz, Helen Levitt, and Annie.
An image that represents the current state of the world for you?
S.O.: Diane Arbus’s photos — strange but beautiful.
What’s the last image you captured?
S.O.: An athletic older woman in a bikini feeding pigeons on the beach promenade while the pigeons went wild.
If you had to start over?
S.O.: Ask me again in 20 years.
Final word?
S.O.: I’d love to collaborate with a city to capture its atmosphere, vibe, and how people live there. A word to the wise!
