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Photography: Ilan Derech
Innovation

Capturing mobility: London by night with Ilan Derech

12 December 2024 8 min read

For Ilan Derech, a multidisciplinary digital artist and street photographer, mobility doesn't just mean traveling the world – it is also the main focus of his work. With each shot, he captures the pulsating energy of cities when people, buses and trains are on the move. As a photographer, he feels a responsibility to capture historical and cultural elements in the urban environment. His ZEISS 1.4/35 ZM and ZEISS 2/50 ZM are his constant companions.

Photographer Ilan Derech

Ilan Derech, a multidisciplinary artist and photographer, walking through London. On the journey, he incorporates the dynamic energy and the pulse of the city into his photographs.

Behind us is the station, all around us people are on the move. And in front is the hustle and bustle of buses, scooters, bicycles and cars. At Paddington Station in London, you can see a prime example of different means of transportation in cities. Here we meet Ilan Derech, a multidisciplinary artist and photographer from Mexico. He not only observes the mobility and movement around us but also captures it with his camera.

Ilan's art is a fusion of street photography and cinematography. He tries to take the pulse of the places he visits and make it part of his photos. By capturing movement and dynamism, Ilan tells stories – stories of mobility that unfold in every moment. Part of these stories are also humans. Humans who are shaped and influenced by mobility and for whom mobility offers new opportunities. People who are on the move and interact with the world around them.

On this evening, Ilan embarks on a journey through the city to discover London through his lens. Camera in hand, he immerses himself in the city's nightlife to capture the different facets of mobility and human activity. The route includes three iconic locations in London – Paddington Station, Canary Wharf and Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford – places and landmarks full of movement. On the journey, he demonstrates how the dynamic energy of these urban spaces is incorporated into his photographs.

Ilan's work is characterized by darkness, shadows and blurriness. The sense of mystery gives his art its unique allure. These images were captured with the ZEISS 1.4/35 ZM and ZEISS 2/50 ZM lenses.

Darkness and the enigmatic quality make Ilan's photographs something special. ZEISS 1.4/35 ZM, ZEISS 2/50 ZM

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Experiencing the world in a new way

Through his camera, Ilan can experience the world in new ways.

Paddington is considered one of the most important train stations in London. Here we meet Ilan Derech, a multidisciplinary artist and photographer.

As we walk through Paddington Station, Ilan talks about his passion for photography: "For me, photography is more than just taking pictures, it's a way of life, a way of experiencing the world through the camera. The moment I looked through the viewfinder for the first time, I saw the world in a new way and that helped me out of a difficult time. What fascinates me is the blend of raw human interaction and the challenge of capturing it in a way that amplifies the essence of the moment. Street photography pushes me to make split-second decisions, driven by the transient nature of the fleeting scenes I encounter. I'm deeply intrigued by observing how people navigate their daily lives and the constant motion that surrounds them – it sparks my curiosity and fuels my passion.”

Ilan captures everyday situations and mobility in his photographs.

For Ilan, photography is more than just taking pictures, it's a way of life and his way of experiencing the world in new light.

The desire to capture the world and everyday situations on camera led Ilan to travel. And the key to this endeavor is mobility, which is also reflected in his images. Technologies that allow us to be mobile allow us to travel to places or even to work. When Ilan is on the move, he also needs the right equipment: "If you can rely on your lens, you can move. The fact that ZEISS makes compact equipment that is also of such good quality allows me to go anywhere,” says Ilan.

Ilan Derech

The ability to travel around the world with just my equipment defines mobility for me. I can simply go to the other end of the world to photograph, without a crew or much luggage – just me and my camera with the ZM lenses from ZEISS.

Ilan Derech Multidisciplinary digital artist and photographer

In tune with urban life

On this evening, Ilan only has two lenses with him. A ZEISS Distagon 1.4/35 ZM and ZEISS Planar 2/50 ZM. Arriving at Canary Wharf, Ilan stops to take a few photos of the towering skyscrapers. The stillness of the buildings, which have long since closed for the day, contrasts with the fast-paced movement of the people around us. “The city has its own rhythm,” says Ilan. “It's not just about movement but about capturing what it means to be on the move.” With every shot, his camera captures the pulsating energy of the city – when people, buses and trains are in motion. 

 

Ilan captures everyday situations in his photographs. His equipment enables maximum mobility.

At Canary Wharf, Ilan captures the distinctive rhythm of London with his camera.

As we walk through Canary Wharf, Ilan reflects on the changes in urban mobility. “The way we get around today – from e-scooters to smart transportation systems – is fascinating. It's exciting to see how the future of mobility is reflected in places like Canary Wharf. Mobility is becoming more convenient and accessible.” A mission that ZEISS is also working on – to make mobility more comfortable, sustainable and safe with innovative technologies. 

Photographer Ilan Derech

Everything is becoming more accessible and seamless in our daily lives. Modern mobility enables us to work, travel and experience things. It opens up new possibilities. 

Ilan Derech Multidisciplinary digital artist and photographer
  • London Olympic Park

    The potential for modern mobility is unfolding in Stratford.
  • London mobility
  • Mobility
  • London Stratford

    The potential for modern mobility is unfolding in Stratford.
  • London Olympic Park
  • London mobility
  • Mobility

Future mobility

On the way to Stratford and Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Ilan reflects on the importance of sustainable and efficient mobility in the city of tomorrow: “I see the future of mobility as a sustainable journey that connects all parts of a city,” he explains. “Parts of that future are autonomous vehicles, smart infrastructure and green transportation.”

In Stratford, the development towards the future is already visible. What was once an industrial center is now a vibrant area that shows the potential of modern urban development and mobility. Various subway lines and train connections converge here in a modern infrastructure. On this evening, the traffic appears as bright lights moving through the darkness.

Mystery in art

The darkness makes Ilan's photos very special. “Mystery makes art beautiful, because it raises more questions than answers. And I think the night is exactly that. There are mysteries in the night because there are things we can't see. With the darkness, we allow the viewer to create a part of the story and fill in the little gaps,” Ilan reports. 
 
In the middle of the darkness, our journey together ends, but Ilan's work continues. The city never sleeps, and neither does his creativity: “Photography is a way of telling stories,” explains Ilan. “Stories of change, progress and movement. With photographs I can capture the fleeting moments of urban mobility that would otherwise pass by.” In a city that never stands still, movement becomes art for Ilan. And it is through art that he brings his vision to life, made possible by ZEISS. 

More information about this story

London Liverpool Station

ZEISS x Ilan Derech: ZEISS supports Ilan as a brand ambassador. The high-quality ZEISS camera lenses are indispensable for him in capturing the dynamics of the urban world and realizing his creative vision. 

Locations in London: the selection of filming locations – Paddington Station, Canary Wharf and Stratford – emphasizes the different aspects of mobility in one of the world’s largest metropolises. These locations not only provide stunning visual backdrops but also reflect London’s cutting-edge mobility concepts. 

The future of mobility: Ilan envisions the continued evolution of mobility as an opportunity to design more efficient and sustainable urban spaces. From autonomous vehicles to innovative transportation infrastructures, Ilan believes the mobility of tomorrow will profoundly shape our cities.

Three questions for Ilan Derech

  • “I see the future of mobility as a sustainable journey that connects all parts of a city. Part of the future are autonomous vehicles, smart infrastructure and eco-friendly transport.”

  • “Each city has its own rhythm. For me, it’s about capturing what it means to be in motion. Every moment, every movement tells a story. And through the lens, mobility becomes art.” 

  • “ZEISS is like family to me. Whether I’m in Mexico or Tokyo, with ZEISS I always feel connected. Reliable tools are especially important for photography when you’re traveling the world – and ZEISS offers that to me." 

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