Sivan Askayo: Life Through the Camera’s Lens

March 25, 2014

Meet travel photographer Sivan Askayo. With a passion for the vibrancy and dynamism of city life around the world, Sivan has created a life photographing what she loves. This includes capturing everything from street food and street art to the unexpected beauty of hanging laundry (her stunning Intimacy Under the Wires project). Born in Israel, she lived in New York for 12 years and now calls both Tel Aviv and New York home. When she’s not travelling around the world on assignment for magazines like Travel+Leisure and Monocle, she's taking photos of the homes and hotels of her hometowns for Design Sponge. We were lucky enough to catch up with Sivan to find out what inspires her.

What first inspired you to become a photographer?

I was curious about photography since my childhood. My dad used to carry his Nikon camera with him everywhere we traveled and during the weekends. At a certain point he handed me his camera and taught me how to shoot. For my twelfth birthday my grandfather got me a one year subscription to National Geographic and I got very curious to discover new places around the world.

How do you explore a new city?

Mostly by walking. I always prefer to discover a new place by walking the streets with my camera. Sometimes, just wandering the streets allows me to discover new things.

Who are some of your favorite street artists?

JR the French street artist is very inspiring and I love what he does. I had the opportunity to meet him both in New York and in Tel Aviv. In the summer I was in London and discovered a street artist called HIN. I love his style and boldness, and of course there are the OS Gemeos from Brazil who are painting all over the world. Hopefully they can make it to Tel Aviv as well. 

Tell us about some of the best street food you’ve eaten?

Vietnam, hands down! I was in Sapa in the north of Vietnam to shoot rice fields but it was a very foggy day and I couldn't shoot. All I could do was to walk around the village. I arrived at an outdoor market, which was quite rustic, but I had one of the best Pho soups I've ever eaten. If my parents had seen that market, they wouldn't have believed me.

Apart from photographs, what mementos of your travels do you bring home with you?

If I can't carry much, I usually bring some postcards, mostly funny or design postcards. If I can, I buy a street art book from the place or an art book.

What is your favorite Bly Product?

I would probably go for one of the BATIK pillows. I have a grey sofa and I think a colorful pillow would look great. http://www.projectbly.com/products/hola-batik-pillow-kumasi

What city would you love to go back to?

Oh there are so many… I would love to go to Florence again. I had a great time there two years ago and managed to take some great pictures. Another city is Tokyo. Before I got there I thought that NY was the center of the world, and then I saw Tokyo. It is like Manhattan on steroids!

Where should Bly go next?

Tel Aviv. It is such a diverse and cosmopolitan city. It has so many new boutique hotels, trendy restaurants, a great flea market in Jaffa and a nice beach. I just recently started to re-discover it as it is becoming another home base for me.

What's your travel motto?

"One should really use the camera as though tomorrow you'd be stricken blind" -Dorothea Lange.

See more of Sivan’s photographs, and learn more about her work, at: www.sivanaskayo.com