For Yanis Angel, photography is not just about capturing an image—it’s about capturing a moment of truth. Working primarily with portraiture, the approach is direct and unembellished, focusing on the energy exchanged between photographer and subject. At the heart of Yani's work lies a deep appreciation for spontaneity and instinct, balanced with an understanding that discipline and experience shape the craft.

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How do you reconcile the tension between raw, innate creativity and the discipline required to master your craft?

I find it important to remain playful and experimental even though in some cases discipline or experience says otherwise. It's great to allow raw tendencies and instincts to get into this, they need to - sometimes it won’t lead anywhere but sometimes it will take me somewhere new, it’s great to be surprised in this way.

How do you reignite creativity during those inevitable periods of self-doubt or stagnation?

By connecting with other artists. By going out to shoot something without a plan, simply to put myself behind a camera. By connecting with my own past work, reminding me how it felt to produce those images.

Do you believe an artist's passion is something destined or a conscious choice?

There is, I believe, an energy, a tie of some sort, linking an artist’s existence with the activity of making, which at certain times presents to you in its full glory, a bit like you were designed solely for the purpose of doing this. If there is choice, it has to do more with how much you give in to it.

What do you think is the most meaningful role an artist plays in society today? 

Being truthful to themselves. Inspiring others with their passion, work and way of living.

Do you think art should have a political or ideological agenda? 

I don’t think it should - but it’s ok if it does as long as it’s not purely opportunistic. We’re all to some extent influenced by what’s happening around us and for some the need to speak out about things is greater, so this will come through to the work. However it can get in the way too - the agenda might overpower everything else and then that’s all I’ll see in your work - if that’s the intention, then no problem. In any case, I think art should be about communicating whatever your own interpretation of the world is and not worry about agreeing with others’ opinions. We don’t need endless confirmation of some dominant view, we need your view.

Does ambiguity add value, or do you seek clarity in your expression?

The way I see and practice portrait photography is quite direct, clear and unambiguous - if there is a message in the work it is to just face it, to see and feel.

In a world flooded with imagery, what responsibility do artists have to stand out and say something authentic? 

They need to stand out simply by being who they are.  By persisting and making work they believe in; and there is a chance that this will come through as a unique force that makes a statement.

Do you feel a personal connection to your subject matter is essential? How has this connection shaped your work?

Yes, there is a connection. It’s all about communicating and trying to create something together with the people I photograph, everyone has their own story and brings their own energy - it’s a two-way process. And it goes through phases, there are moments where we are a bit lost trying to understand what it is that we’re trying to capture and then moments where it feels like everything is coming together. And there are times where it’s just there, instantly, like it was waiting to happen.

Has social media democratized art or diluted its value? How do you feel platforms like Instagram influence modern creativity? 

I think to some extent yes, it has democratised it - but at a price. The amount of content means more effort is required to process it, and processing it moderately becomes important, and so does being critical and selective.

Do you think art that is created for commercial success loses its integrity, or can it still hold meaning? 

Commercial success means something about people, society and how we perceive things - what our aesthetic standards are basically, so the art that makes that happen does hold some meaning. But there is no guarantee that something created solely for that purpose will succeed - despite the ever evolving tech, I want to believe - so, genuine vision and integrity is always a better way to do this. And it’s great to see cases when that also succeeds commercially because it feels that we’re more in charge of shaping popular culture and we don’t let it descend into bad taste.

Do you think the boundaries of what can be called "art" are being stretched too far, or is this evolution necessary? 

I agree with art being an open concept, which is one of the reasons why boundaries can appear stretched. Another reason is various political factors at play related to the art market at a given time. I think it’s best to not be part of a culture where we’re told what is good and what isn’t, or why something should be admired based only on some narrative or analysis; it’s important to feel less intimidated by what we’re told is or isn’t art or what has value and what hasn’t - if something doesn’t speak to us, we move on until we encounter something that does. As long as we keep an open mind and a good pace - slow down and try to take it in, it'll either work for you or it won’t.

If you had only 24 hours left to create, how would you spend them?

That is quite an ultimatum! I would grab a few cameras and a few friends and head to the coast. 

Are there any upcoming projects or dreams that you’re particularly excited about? 

There are some concepts that I considered early on in this journey and still excite me, some ideas that triggered me to enter the world of photography in the first place and that I haven’t yet figured out how to approach - in some ways I feel the right moment has not yet come; or they will never realise, it could be the things that served as a bridge and were never meant to be made.

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Through a lens that favours clarity over ambiguity, each portrait becomes an intimate collaboration, an attempt to understand and translate a fleeting exchange. There’s no agenda, no attempt to conform to dominant narratives—just an unwavering commitment to making work that feels real, work that resonates.