Lauryn Ishak

Embark on a journey through the lens of image makers, as they capture our bags in everyday life and the cities they move through. These snapshots present a visual narrative that offers insight into their craft, as well as an exploration of how design comes to life amidst the rhythms of living and travelling.

With a career that’s taken her on assignments across the globe, Lauryn Ishak’s photography is celebrated for their ability to evoke a sense of place and purpose, while capturing the intersection of design, travel and culture. In this conversation, the Singapore-based photographer shares the moments that deepen her connection to her craft, the interplay between design and storytelling, and the quiet joys of walking through cities with an open heart.

[start:#808080]CAN YOU SHARE A MOMENT IN YOUR CAREER WHEN YOU FELT TRULY CONNECTED TO YOUR CRAFT?[end:#808080]

I don’t think there is just one moment in my career, but more so one moment on every assignment that defines each shoot and that makes me feel connected to photography. Sometimes, everything just clicks: like when I’m managing a crew that works well together and we stay on schedule, or when the weather plays along to give you beautiful light at an outdoor shoot. There are also elements that are not photography related, but equally important. A factor that’s often overlooked is transport—it is so vital to every assignment, whether you’re alone or with a team. Getting to locations on time and in one piece with all your gear is not sexy, but key to your job. 

These moments that connect me to photography aren’t always good, and that’s not a bad thing. Sometimes I realise that I’m lacking a certain skill, or gear. Perhaps I miscalculated the call sheet. This gives me a mental note to improve myself, to do more for the craft, or to do research on certain pieces of equipment to find out how they will improve my workflow. 

Having said this, the most important connection for me is acknowledging what photography has offered me: on every assignment, I will find time to say a quiet thank you to this career that has given me so much. I’ve met some amazing people and I’ve truly experienced and seen some amazing places in this world.

[start:#808080]HOW DO YOU THINK PHOTOGRAPHY CAN TELL THE STORY OF A PIECE OF DESIGN?[end:#808080]

Photography is a form of design—how to frame a photo, how to shape the light, how to use colors. It is also a visual language to show viewers how to engage in the process of how a specific piece or space comes to life. 

This can be done by showing a space’s context or design elements such as shapes, colours and textures. Photography can tell viewers what to focus on, how to interact with a space, how to wear a piece of clothing, or use a certain object. This way, an emotional connection is created, and I think that this connection is important to make design meaningful.

[start:#808080]WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE WAY OF EXPLORING A CITY?[end:#808080]

Always by walking. I feel like walking gives you the freedom and vulnerability to be connected to a city, and to soak up its energy. I always do a bit of research if I’m going to a city I’m unfamiliar with, so I know what areas to explore, where the old, established neighbourhoods are, or where the up-and-coming ones are.  

I always try to visit the Iocal markets; I love them and they are really the best way to see how the locals live. And because I also love food, they’re a good way to discover the best things to eat. 

Walking is such a pure way of exploration—you stop at places as you wish, meander the streets, get a little lost, find a gem of a restaurant, sit in a cafe and talk to people, and occasionally stumble into really cool discoveries on your way. I always find that this way of exploring gives me the best memories of a city.

[start:#808080]HOW DOES THE ENERGY OF A CITY COME THROUGH IN YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS?[end:#808080]

I’ve always believed that you photograph what and how you feel and see. All the walking I do immerses me in the mood of a place, and through that, I develop my interpretation of how to best portray a city.

A place like Amsterdam is full of charm with its canals, many bicycles and beautiful house facades, so I try to weave that into my photographs. On the other hand, there are places like Iceland where everything is just moody, quiet and Zen—it’s a place for your mind to take a break and be present, so all my images tend to have a quieter, expansive feel to them.

[start:#808080]WHAT INSPIRES YOU TO CREATE WORK THAT FEELS TIMELESS, YET ROOTED IN THE PRESENT?[end:#808080]

It’s less of an inspiration and more of a philosophy. I’ve never been one to follow trends blindly—I like things that will stand the test of time, that will age well, that won’t look dated in three or even 10 years. 

This also carries through into my work. I like creating images that don’t have “a date” on them. Images that, when you look at them 10 years down the road, could look like they were photographed recently. Of course, this doesn’t work for cityscapes or certain landscapes as that’s always changing, but I try to apply this philosophy to everything else I photograph.

[start:#808080]WHAT THREE THINGS ARE ALWAYS IN YOUR BAG, AND WHY?[end:#808080]

Besides the obvious like keys and wallet, it’ll always be my iPhone, Kindle and AirPods. Most times, though, also a hair tie, sunglasses and a scarf. People always ask me whether I have my camera with me everywhere I go, and the answer is…no. I used to, but as I get older, my back and shoulders protest a bit too much, so I've learned to listen to that. I also realised that having a camera with me all the time meant that I was constantly looking for moments to photograph—and that made me less present in my personal life.