Ismail Zaidy Softens Your Perspective With Wind-Swept Photos
Ismail Zaidy Softens Your Perspective With Wind-Swept Photos
Delsey Paris x VISUALPLEASURE
NEW HORIZONS - WORLD TOUR 2024
Moroccan Artist of the week - Ismail Zaidy
Name:
Delsey Paris x VISUALPLEASURE
NEW HORIZONS - WORLD TOUR 2024
Moroccan Artist of the week - Ismail Zaidy
Photography:
Ismail Zaidy
Words:
Erica Nichols
If you feel like floating on air, find a Ismail Zaidy photo to get lost in. You’ll often find the photographer on his rooftop, crafting dreamy snapshots with billowing pastel fabrics. Growing up in Marrakech, Zaidy found the camera as his tool to express and explore his personal journey, familial ties, and cultural background. Add the fabrics to that formula, and an ethereal expression of self remains. Learn more about Zaidy’s process, his thoughts on travel, and what he created for our DELSEY Paris collaboration.
What first drew you to photography and how did you develop your style?
Ismail Zaidy: Photography is a family affair to me, and in 2018 I started a project named ‘3aila,’ family in English, with my younger brother. He’s quite a creative person as well, together with my sister. They both play a huge part in developing the ideas behind the pictures and we also support each other in developing different concepts for new stories. I mainly use photography to express my inner point of view on some of the topics that I can’t express through words. Most of the time I am a person who doesn't like to talk too much so the best medium that I have explored and found to express myself is through photography and imagery.
Your work has a poetic nature to it. What’s the key to capturing those qualities?
When I was a kid, I used to live in a modest area in Marrakech and would watch the way the women would wear their fabrics, hike, and djellaba out on the streets. These women are still a huge inspiration for me today, and when I initiate a project I always try to show this side of my culture through my work. Starting in 2017, I was mainly capturing my surrounding environments in Morocco. Slowly, I was getting comfortable as an artist and growing as a creative family, which I think led me to the minimal, abstract, and poetic style of the pictures I capture today.
I love pastel colors but since we, unfortunately, can’t see it in our daily lives, I try to transfer my love to those colors into my photos. I think playing with colors and tones is a way of communicating my family’s problems, as well as what’s been put in place for us as a society. I believe each color has a story, meaning, and reason behind it, and sometimes the colors are purely based on the beauty it gives to the image itself.
Are there certain themes or ideas you aim to express through your work? Any new concepts you’re excited to explore?
Basically, I’m highlighting the theme of family and the relationships between family members—the love and joy they share. I’m now working more and more on this theme and learning to explore it deeply. Instead of seeking new themes, since there are endless topics to choose, I’m focusing on developing my unique touch and refining my practice
What’s imperative for you to get the shot?
I feel there is a big formula that contains many ingredients when creating “the shot” and lighting is a big thing for me. The composition, too. I love to create a main focus who is isolated in a big landscape, which will create the mood that comes with my work.
What do you want viewers to take away from your photography?
A feeling of a beautiful dream. Something that can draw them in and somehow make them feel relaxed.
When you need some inspiration, where do you go to find it? Any local places in Dubai that you love?
Living in Dubai, we have beautiful landscapes of cool and warm tones, such as the ocean, mountains, or desert. It gives me a canvas to be inspired by and create what I need.
How does travel influence your work and world view as an artist? Any specific travel stories that have stayed with you or informed your work?
The biggest influence is when I get to shoot on different terrains, which can have a different effect on the image. Also, when I travel, I get to work with different teams and models which also plays a big part in the end result. I have some images that I am working on currently, and I want to travel to two different places to take the two images. It does make it hard sometimes but when I have the vision, I need to do what it takes to accomplish it. This is my way forward.
“I mainly use photography to express my inner point of view on some of the topics that I can’t express through words. ”
How does your approach change depending on personal or collaborative projects?
When it comes to collaborative projects, I’m always open to seeing what others will bring to the table and whether it matches my principles, values, and goals.
How do you continue to challenge yourself as an artist?
I’m trying to jump out of my comfort zone, learn more skills, and stay updated with the latest in art and technology. I could stay in my comfort zone since I have my own touch, but that would be detrimental to me. For me, once you stop learning, you’re as good as dead.
Does place or location influence your perspective? Are there any local places you shoot often?
Most of the time, I’m shooting on my rooftop with my sibling. It’s really challenging to create more than 100 unique pictures in the same place, but I believe that location plays a significant role in the creative process. Having a good location can feel like you’ve completed 50 percent of the work.
What do you love most about Morocco?
What I love about Morocco is the light. I was in Europe for three months, but I struggled with the lighting there. Morocco, especially Marrakech, has a magical light.
