Every Photo Resembles a Memory

Gritty photos with lack of detail and clarity are the closest to memories of people.

This article is going to be a bit more personal, with a deep dive into my vision and philosophy on street photography and photojournalism in general.

The Look

The look I chase is one that I’ve been familiar with my whole life. I often suffer from nightmares that carry a distinct and very unique atmosphere I can’t quite put into words. The feelings I encounter in those nightmares are exactly what I try to portray in my photography: stress, paranoia, hopelessness, and that odd sensation you feel in your stomach when you’re about to cry as a kid.

Philosophy

I’m a firm believer that you don’t always have to capture moments in sharp focus, with point on composition and polished faces. Pictures can be crooked, blurry and filled with imperfections. No memory on the face of Earth is clear. They all lack detail, but all carry emotion.

The sucking in effect

When you look at a piece of visual art, your first response isn’t to analyze its visual structure, but to focus on how it makes you feel. My documentary work is centered on exactly that. Making people relive the moment and portraying it in its rawest form is my true goal.
That’s when the “sucking in effect” happens. Sometimes you encounter a picture so powerful it lures you into its world, making you linger, unable to pull your eyes away from its beauty.

With love from Hakaniemi,
Clay Khoroshev. 8th May 2025