Roman Fox Takes us Around the World with his Superb Street Photography
Street photography; it’s raw, edgy, and pushes the boundaries. It can also have a hint of class and a splash of charm, offering a more high-end feel to the final frames. The nomadic photographer Roman Fox uses all the fundamentals of street photography and puts his own, premium, style into his images--I absolutely adore his work.
I’ve been following Fox for quite some time, predominantly on his YouTube channel. Beyond his talents as a photographer, I enjoy listening to him speak about the craft. That’s because he does so in a way that feels authentic and from the heart. There are no cliche catchphrases or populist terms, Fox just gets right into the conversation, and with this approach, offers great value to his audience.
Regarding his photography, Fox’s photographic talents mirror his work ethic, they’re superb. I feel like I’m looking at stills from a movie scene, but unlike cinema, none of the characters know they’re part of the story Fox is telling.
Due to his nomadic lifestyle, Fox is able to take his audience on a trip around the world and I admire how he documents other cultures--he approaches them with respect and humility. This is evident through his images, as they’re clearly not made with an aggressive and invasive approach.
I firmly believe in time, Fox will be known as one of the great teachers of photography. He’s already on that path, but more time and experience will certainly get him closer to where his potential suggests he’s meant to be.
Because of his work ethic and artistic talent, I knew Fox would make for the perfect interview. He didn’t disappoint. Enjoy his photography, and let his teachings sink in, I’m confident you’re going to take something positive away from this article.
Them Frames: Hey Roman, let’s skip the small talk and get right into it; tell us about that amazing shot you made of a squirrel. How did you encourage the interaction and how did you take the shot?
Roman Fox: That was a lot easier than it looked. In London, there is a park called Holland Park and just to the side of Kyoto Gardens is a row of benches where everyone feeds squirrels. I was there with my girlfriend who wanted to feed them. At the time I had a wide-angle lens on my camera so I put it as wide as it can go, place a nut in the lens hood, and then waited patiently for the squirrel to come and grab it. The squirrel ended up putting one hand on top of the lens hood. I took a burst and this was the best shot.
Them Frames: You travel a lot. What keeps you motivated to continue moving and how do you manage burnout and ensure you’re always in the optimal mind frame to create your photographs?
Roman Fox: The only way to avoid burnout is to do everything slowly and travel slowly. This is why I go for a minimum one month to a bigger city and 2-3 weeks to a smaller town. That way I can shoot today, edit tomorrow, work on the business the day after and then take two days to chill on the beach or even just be lazy for the day.
I also prioritize money on good quality food, a nice Airbnb where I can fully relax and taking care of myself both physically and mentally. Daily exercise also is key. Finally always being in touch with family and close friends helps. In terms of what keeps me motivated, to be honest I love nothing more than travel and photography at a slow relaxing pace. I have so many countries I dream about visiting and taking photos in. So I never feel like there is something specific motivating me as such.
Them Frames: What are some dream locations you would like to visit in the future?
Roman Fox: In no specific order:
Japan
Iceland
Italy
Them Frames: Beyond creating photographs, what does street photography provide you in terms of life experience and satisfaction?
Roman Fox: Just being curious about the world and being outside. If not for street photography I wouldn’t have walked 17 miles around Porto recently. Street photography forces me to leave the house and spend time outside. Today this is no longer forced but certainly, when I started it was what got me going.
Furthermore, it is a fantastic workout for your body and mind. You're always moving and you’re always looking for opportunities.
Them Frames: Most people tend to only see the end product. So, in regards to making photographs, editing, creating video content, and also creating your useful guides, how many hours a week do you dedicate to photography, and what’s a typical week like for you?
Roman Fox: In terms of hours I don’t really count as it depends on the day. Some days I can spend 12 hours outside shooting. Other days I do two hours and I'm satisfied. Given that I have a whole business to run, I actually have less time for just photography compared to when I had a job. However, I aim for 1-2 days per week dedicated to just photography and nothing else.
A typical week will consist of:
Two days photography
Three days video
One day business
One day rest
However, this changes drastically on where I am, what I am doing and who I am with. If I'm solo traveling, then work will be a priority. If I'm with others, then there will be more chill days. If I am in a big city. I will prioritize photography more. If I am in a small coastal town, then I will probably spend an extra day on the beach with a book.
Them Frames: In terms of your video content, you’re great in front of the camera. How do you feel about your presentation style? Were you always a natural or do you have to work hard to develop your on-camera personality?
Roman Fox: I think only 0.1% of people are natural on camera from day one. I am three years into this and only now I am starting to feel comfortable and not make so many mistakes that need re-shooting.
My style has always been the same which is simple, straight to the point and blunt. I am not a YouTuber / Vlogger and my YouTube videos are there to provide value. Over time more personality will come, but ultimately I want the channel to remain as a source of information and not an account of my life.
Them Frames: Congratulations on your three-month residency at the Fuji Store in Nuremberg, Germany. Can you tell us how it feels to have your work recognized in such a way?
Roman Fox: Thank you! It is pretty cool for sure. Although it feels great and I am immensely thankful for them hosting me, I have never really had dreams or aspirations to be in a gallery so to me it came as a bit of a shock. Honestly, I am more touched by the people who have traveled from across Germany (five hours by car +) just to see my work. Seeing my photos on a wall in large print is nice but nothing compared to meeting all the people who came to see the gallery.
Them Frames: Your street photography is consistently good. That said, please can you share one image that you feel really highlights your style and the type of work you like to create…
Roman Fox: This photo is from Jerusalem Old Town back in 2019. This photo highlights everything I love about photography and is still the same style as I have today for these kinds of shots. It is somewhere warm, in a far-flung location, in a small backstreet market surrounded by amazing light, colors, characters and smells.
Them Frames: Tell us about your relationship with your camera; why you enjoy using it, how it makes you feel when you hold it, and how it helps inspire you to walk for hours a day creating street photography.
Roman Fox: I don’t really have that. To me a camera is just a tool. I love shooting on my Fuji and I love shooting on my iPhone. I do need to enjoy using that tool which is why I have chosen Fuji and iPhone over other brands but ultimately I just enjoy walking around a city.
I enjoy being a tourist, popping into museums, grabbing a coffee, sitting down with a beer after a few miles and being as present as I can be. If I come home with a good photo, it is a cherry on top of the cake.
Them Frames: Finally, if you had to tell people to listen to one musician (or band) while viewing your images, which would it be?
Roman Fox: My main goal with my photography is to bring people along with me for the travels. When people look through my photos, I want them to feel like they could be standing there themselves. My favorite destinations are warm, by the sea and full of color. When I look back at some of my photos from such location, this specific song pops up. So anything within that genre or by that artist. The song is Science by Burna Boy.
You can enjoy more work by Roman Fox by visiting his website, YouTube channel, Instagram and Twitter.
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