Janko Bosch, A lizard walked beside me in the desert

Please introduce yourself: What is your name, where are you from, what do you do?

My name is Janko Bosch. I live in Koog aan de Zaan, which is basically a suburb of Amsterdam. I'm a digital art director for a dutch newspaper (NRC) and a freelance photographer. I also run my small imprint Zoink by Zaptronic. So far only I published my personal work but I hope to expand with other interesting projects.

What is your relationship with photography, and how did you get into it?

I feel I had multiple moments when I discovered photography. As a child and teenager, I was more interested in drawing and wanted to become a comic artist. During my time at the academy, I discovered the darkroom and loved it. But also at the academy, I discovered the internet which defined my life. I became a web designer and later I became an art director. I continued to shoot for personal reasons. In 2011 when I grew tired of drawing I bought a new camera. This is what I consider my true start in photography. Besides being an art director photography became my dominant creative pursuit. 

What do you think triggers you to photograph in a certain moment? Is it planned or solely driven by intuition?

I work a lot on intuition. Currently, I'm working a lot in a studio but even in this controlled environment, I notice how intuitive I work. It can take weeks to figure out setting, styling technicalities, etc. by adding, testing, removing, and testing again to learn by doing.

What is the story you want your pictures to tell?

I don't strive to tell journalistic stories. I consider myself an art photographer. The pictures I make often have a poetic element to it and often have a deeper level. For example, a picture of a balloon is not just a picture of a balloon but it's also a picture of the fragile balance between life and death.

Which city would you like to visit the most, and why?

I can't get enough of London. For me, it's such a place of creativity and culture. But I also love Berlin, Stockholm, Antwerp, and Tokyo. After the pandemic, I really need to visit them again. But living in Amsterdam is a dream for me as well. Nothing beats the atmosphere in Amsterdam on a sunny day.

What is your personal relationship to cities, and how do you perceive them as places in general?

Despite how impressive nature can be its cities that inspire me most.The cultural histories, the shapes of the cities themselves, the human activity and interaction with these places. 

Regarding your project A lizard walked beside me in the desert: What was your intention, and how did you come up with the idea?

I didn't have a real plan beforehand. I have wanted to visit Iran for a long time. Being a photographer naturally, I intended to take photos. If I go somewhere if I never know if I come back with enough pictures for a project. In this case, I had. What I did intend was to stay away from cliché media stories like the regime and women's rights. I photograph urban scenes so that's what I did.

Which project did you never finish?

So many. I have quite a few unfinished comics and photo books in. But it's all part of the process so I don't look back at them with regret. If I did it would actually be a reason to pick it up again. I would clearly not be finished but still in progress.

What is that «one thing» you have never managed to photograph and is now gone for good?

My childhood. I grew up in the 1980s. I have some blurry memories but not enough pictures. Although my father is a photo enthusiast and took a lot of slides only a few survived. If I took pictures then I'm sure they ended up as blurry as my memories haha.

If you could travel back/forth in time, what advice would you give your younger/older self?

I don't think in that way. We're all the result of what happened to us during our lifetime. Good or bad. Self-inflicted or caused from the outside. The way my photography developed is influenced by my experiences as a designer and vice versa.

What do you prefer saying: «to take a photograph» or to «make a photograph», and why?

I say I «take a photograph».

What is the most interesting experience you have had while photographing?

I had so many interesting encounters with random people while walking around with my camera. The most common response from people is the look on their face saying: «why is he shooting that?». It seems a universal response.

If it wasn’t for photography, what would you be interested in doing instead?

Probably still drawing comics :)

How would you describe one of your pictures to a blind person?

Tough question. One of my favorite images is a white wall with a few yellow dots and a splash of blue. When I see this picture I always think of it as a piece of minimal music where white is silence and the color spots perfectly placed tones to make it a piece that consists of almost nothing but just enough to make you listen again and again. 

What are you currently working on, and—if there is—what is your next project or journey?

Traveling is difficult right now so once we're able to travel again I'll decide where to go depending on where we can go. I'm also working on a project in my studio. It focuses on fetish fashion and erotica. I hope to exhibit some of that project in 2022.

Thank you, Janko!

Editorial Notes:

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Header image: Yazd, Iran

Photography: Janko Bosch (2019)
Location: Tehran, Iran

Links: Website, Instagram, Imprint