Noemie Decaen
© Noemie Decaen
Noémie Decaen is a French and Japanese female photographer based in London. She grew up in Paris, a city that forever resonates with her, and moved to London in 2014. In her photography, she is looking for the real, the funny, the weird and the beautiful in the streets, celebrating people and life.
In 2023 and 2024, she joined the teams of SPOT and Urban Photographers Club, two amazing communities celebrating everything street photography internationally. This year, she decided to explore her roots in Japan and took her photography there.
The two selected photographs were taken during this trip to Tokyo in October 2024. November 2024 also marks 10 years as a Londoner, and what better way to celebrate than with her first photography exhibition.
© Noemie Decaen
London Photo Show Exhibition
What inspired you to curate this particular collection of photographs for your exhibition?
Last October, I went to Japan for a one-month trip. I am half-Japanese and it was my first time alone there, which made it all heavily emotional but so exciting. There was a lot to express and process. Photography helped me to say what I could not always formulate with words in images. It became one of my ways to communicate with Japan. I also challenged myself with a new camera and went to shoot every day. These two shots were taken in Tokyo, within the first days after my arrival in Japan. I love the contrast, colours and composition achieved by them, and how it shows Japan and Japanese daily life without being too obvious about it.
Could you share some insights into the creative process behind these photographs?
These two were taken very quickly on a very 36-degree sunny and humid day in Tokyo. Everything was a bit hectic. For the man in front of the vending machine, I first noticed how the light fell on this frame, but then to my luck, a man arrived to purchase some refreshments. I have a few shots I took of him from behind, but then I decided to go closer and take a chance at the shot. Luckily, he turned to the right side and looked right at me. The second shot happened quickly, I noticed the light and colours, plus the two men in their uniforms, the yawn was an extra fun bonus which made the whole shot interesting. During the whole trip, I tried to get shots which conveyed my vision of Japan, and not just shots which meant to be cool because shot in Asia. I wanted to attempt taking real good quality shots, shots that spoke about daily life, humans, raw. I kept this mindset during the whole trip.
What emotions or messages do you hope viewers will take away from experiencing your exhibition?
Taking photographs is one thing, making sure your viewers will get what you tried to capture is something else. Images need to have a life of their own, as everyone will look at photographs under their filters. If people can look at my photographs and feel something, question the image, laugh… that’s a win. I’d be curious to get feedback from viewers too! Communicating and exchanging with viewers and other photographers is key to keep evolving and growing.
Are there any specific stories or moments from your photography that you would like to highlight in this exhibition?
I do feel that the whole month of October was a key moment for me personally, but also for my photography. I do hope it shows in the shots! There’s much more to be unveiled so if you like what you see I invite you to keep an eye on my social networks for more.
How do you see your photography evolving in the future, and how might that influence your future exhibitions?
I am still looking for myself and what I want to say through my photography. My style is still on an ongoing journey, and I am always working towards new goals and challenges to keep it interesting. So far, I am pleased with how my work is evolving, even if I am conscious there is so much to work on still. If I get enough good material, I guess exhibiting and books will be the natural next step.
What has been your experience with UPC in regards to this exhibition?
The UPC community has held a dear place in my heart since the day I joined them. I love the energy put into it, and how it creates a safe and fun environment for photographers to connect, exchange, meet, and help each other grow. It was truly an honour to join their team this year, and a great opportunity to be able to exhibit my work at the London Photo Show exhibitions with UPC and the team of other photographers who decided to participate in this project.