Pictures: ©Yanis Ourabah. Visit his website here -> www.yanisourabah.com

Yanis Ourabah is a damn fine photographer from France. We’ve been impressed by his talent, especially in skateboarding and snowboarding photography. Recently we got the chance to cooperate with him and we found a very nice person too. So we decided to talk together about photography, sports and more.

1.Hi Yanis! Welcome on Candiesmagazine.com! Let’s present yourself to the readers:
Hi there! I’m Yanis Oourabah, I’m 29yo and I live in Lyon, France. I also have my own apartment in les 2Alpes.

2.You’re young, but neverthless almost ten years passed since the first time you took a camera. Can you still remember what was that brought you into this passion?
I don’t really remember, but probably to keep souvenirs of friends and sessions. I’ve always loved travelling too and I have a poor memory so I needed a camera!

3.What does photography mean to you today?
Tough question For me it’s still an art, even if everyone can get a camera and take pictures, we are not all artists. In my everyday life, it’s pretty easy to define, I live-eat-sleep-dream photography. It would be hard to live without.

4.What was your very first equipment? What are the main differences between shooting film and digital?
My very first was an old analog Canon AE-1, property of my parents, bought around 1977. I played a lot with, but results were disappointing. Then I bought my first digital camera in 2001: 1,3MP! Can you imagine that? My mobile phone takes better pictures! But it was an important step for me.

5.Are you a self made photographer or you maybe went to schools, courses and so on? Why?
All I’ve learned I did it by myself. That’s probably why it takes time. You have to be patient, to read a lot, trying to find you own way. Two years ago, I had a course about portraits, studio and lights…don’t know if it has been really useful or not!

6.How do you prepare before a shooting session? Do you try to visualize new angles, or you let yourself to be inspired on place?
When I was younger, it was way easier: my equipment was “light” and I didn’t think about what I wanted to do. Now I have much more lenses and gears, more experience and I have to prepare my camera bag seriously. It’s the same for the shootings, I try to think about it before, but most of the time, you can’t do what was in your mind! The riders, the jump, the weather, the crowd…to many things you can’t always consider before.

7.You have a solid background in skateboarding photography – that naturally evolves in a good attitude towards other freestyle sports such as snowboard, ski, bmx and more. Why did you choose this branch? Do you practice any of these sports too?
You’re right, I have choosed these branches because I practiced many of them : ski (I stopped at 16yo), skateboard and snowboard (for more than 13years now!)…but I wasn’t probably good enough that’s why I became photographer!!

8.Of course this is not a limit for you, and I saw some amazing shots in your portfolio like portraits, lifestyle, urban environment and many more. Do you think there’s a common thread in your pics, never mind the subject?
I’m trying to keep a common thread…but it’s hard! There’s a lot of differences in all these activities. My main idea is to “convey” feelings, representative of the moment.

9.You have some of the sickest shred-sequence ever and a quite personal touch in editing pics. What’s your approach with post production and photoshop? In your opinion, is it necessary having strong editing skills to create good images?
My passion for sequences is old…I remember when I was young, I was always impressed by sequences in snowboard/skateboard magazines. And I told to myself “I’ll do it one day”! So it’s one of the reason I have a “professional” camera, to realize an old dream

Of course, I spent a lot of time working on Photoshop. But right now, I use Lightroom most of the time, except for the sequences and specific treatments. I only use RAW files now, and it rocks. I’d love to take pictures which don’t need any changes, but the reality is way different : dusts, changing light etc! But I hate HDR, or over-retouching pictures.

10.Are you making a living out of photography? I mean, it’s a job or a pastime for you?
It was just a pastime, until 2 years ago. Now, I earn money with photography, but I do have a “real” job, I’m an executive in a sport company!
In my opinon, it’s hard to earn money in ski/snowboard/skate photography, that’s why I open up to new branches: weddings, studio, portraits…

11.What’s in your photo bag at the moment? And what’s your favourite lens, the one you’d like to have on your camera in every moment?
I’m working with Nikon, since 2006. But I have nothing against friends using Canon, Pentax, or whatever! As we say, it’s not the most important
I have 2 favorite lenses : my Nikkor 50mm f/1.4. It makes people more beautiful when we work together! And my Peleng 8mm, a crazy wide-angle from Bielorussia, all manual. Unfortunately, the perfect lens doesn’t exist for me, and never will! Something like a 8-300 f1.4VR, probably because I’m getting old and lazy

12.There’s quite a waiting for the next Nikon release. Maybe D800, D400, or who knows. Do you have any expectations?
A “cheaper “ full frame camera, cause I think I’m gonna change soon!! Maybe the D800, but I’ve heard Nikon Japan has some problems…

13.Thank You Yanis, such a nice talk! As usual, last line is yours: just end as you like!
I have to thank you Silvia and Carlo (you both rock), my girlfriend, all my friends, my parents…everyone who gives me encouragement and like what I do!

Yanis is super skilled! Don’t miss to check out his Portfolio on Flickr (click here) and stay glued to his personal website (Click here!).
Keep up the good work mate!

 Pictures: ©Yanis Ourabah. Visit his website here -> www.yanisourabah.com