Through the Lens of Soul
Photography, at its purest, is not just about documenting what is seen — it’s about revealing what is often invisible: emotions, stories, and fragments of truth that slip between words. For Moroccan photographer Anas Benayad, the camera has become more than just a tool. It is a vessel for connection, memory, and presence — a way of capturing both the fleeting and the eternal.“If you can see it, you can shoot it,” Anas says. A simple phrase, yet one that reflects the heart of his philosophy.
His journey began in black and white, a stripped-down medium where shadows and light became his playground. Over time, he embraced color, allowing it to deepen the emotions in his work. For Anas, every frame is an attempt to capture not only the external world but also the soul within it.Anas’ passion for photography traces back to childhood, when he was always searching for beauty in his surroundings. Whether it was the way light shifted across walls or the energy of the people around him, his instinct was to notice. Photography, at first, was simply a way of preserving memories while traveling — an act of keeping moments alive.
“Since a young age, I was always looking for beauty through my environment, sharpening my ability to see and to feel what’s around me,” he recalls. “Using a camera was a way for me to keep memories while traveling around the world. Nowadays, it also allows me to deeply connect with people and reveal things inside them.”That connection is at the core of his work. For Anas, every subject holds a hidden truth waiting to be seen. A portrait is not about the pose — it is about the bond, the conversation, the exchange of energy between photographer and subject.
A Style Both Bold and Gentle
Defining Anas’ style is not simple, because it shifts depending on mood and project. What remains constant is his desire to create art that feels both bold and soft.“My journey started with black and white photography, and today I’m playing with different styles depending on the project or the mood,” he explains. “I’m always trying to create art that feels bold and soft at the same time, probably as an extension of myself.”
This paradox — bold yet soft — is perhaps what makes his images so magnetic. His portraits carry weight, but they are never heavy. His colors are vibrant, yet they never overwhelm. It is a balance, an equilibrium that reflects his own complexity as an artist and as a human being.What inspires Anas most is not a single muse or subject, but the hidden emotions that can be translated into pictures.
“The hidden feelings that can be translated into pictures are what inspire me the most,” he says. “In a portrait, it’s about connecting with the subject to reveal something. In a concert, it’s about capturing the energy, the collective vibe, a unique moment of joy. Life happens in a fraction of time then disappears forever, and a camera helps us bring it back later, like a tiny time machine.”That “tiny time machine” metaphor captures his work perfectly. Photography becomes both memory and magic — a way to stop time just long enough for us to notice what we might otherwise forget.
A Father’s Portrait
Among the many images Anas has taken, one stands out deeply: his father’s first portrait. It wasn’t about technical perfection. It was about connection, vulnerability, and the revelation of memory.
“When I saw how talking impacted him, and how it could project him through memories to moments of happiness or sadness, I saw this switch in his eyes, in his soul,” Anas recalls. “That’s when I understood how powerful a portrait could be.”
In that moment, photography became something more profound — not just an act of seeing, but of witnessing. Through his father’s portrait, Anas discovered that images could hold memory, emotion, and legacy all at once.
What He Wants Viewers to Feel
When asked what he wants people to feel from his work, Anas resists prescribing an answer. For him, art belongs as much to the observer as to the artist.“It’s a very subjective question,” he admits. “The goal of every piece of art is to make you think or feel something. Whatever can be felt belongs to the observer. If you feel, it means you’re alive.”
That openness is the essence of his vision
His photography does not force meaning. Instead, it invites reflection, allowing each viewer to project their own story into the frame.
In a world where so much feels fleeting
Anas’ photography asks us to slow down, to see, to feel. It is bold, it is gentle, it is human. And above all, it is a reminder: if you can see it — truly see it — you can carry it with you forever
Check Out More Icons Around The World