On Happening Happenstance — 3 Candid Questions, 3 Clever Answers
On catching the beauty of comic momentums through Happening Happenstance
Writer Giovannella Pirina explores Happening Happenstance, the vibrant publication resulting from the recently concluded Candid, Clever, Comic Open Call at ephemere., featuring the works of 132 photographers, including Federica Nannini, Kat Granicky, Austin Gilje-Hodges, Przemyslaw Mioduszewski, Cenk Erdoğan, Geoff Beveridge, and Rafa Rojas. This eclusive Q&As invite viewers to reflect on the essence of life's quirky moments and the artists’ unique interpretations of what it means for life to "happen."
Casual glimpses, quirky encounters, blunt moments.
In our daily lives, each one of them can be just around the corner or already right in front of us. Sometimes, we can catch and savor plenty of them; other times, we quickly miss them without even noticing. Without a doubt, one of the captivating perks of photography is its power to freeze such peculiar junctures, making their ephemeral nature last forever. Consequently, it becomes clear how photographers can suddenly become human filters of the life all around them.
So, is life happening, or is life happening to us?
This very question sparked the development of the “Candid, Clever, Comic” open call at ephemere., in collaboration with Noice Magazine—a project conceived by Anne Murayama, curator and publisher at ephemere., and Colin Czerwiski, head of Noice Magazine. It was an open call that awakened the eyes of photographers from all over the world.
The heartfelt result is the publication and exhibition held on the 24th and 25th of August: HAPPENING HAPPENSTANCE, a vivid and joyous representation of life as seen by the participants who made the cut after Anne and Colin’s careful selection process.
I had the chance to browse through the pages of the brand-new publication designed by Federico Zavatta, feeling an immediate and profound sense of wonder as all of these images by 132 authors filled my mind.
Needless to say, I spotted some works that particularly struck a chord with me and sparked my eagerness to learn more about the people who created them. I narrowed my selection down to seven talented photographers and then proceeded to explore more of their world, one picture at a time. Ultimately, I came up with three questions, upon which all of the photographers were kind enough to reflect.
Without further ado, let me introduce each of them and their answers to you.
Federica Nannini
📍Italy • @nuovi_obiettivi_
“A teacher and a self-taught photographer.” This is how Federica Nannini starts to describe herself. Passionate about capturing moments, she refined her photographic technique through constant training, which led to a solid knowledge that is well applied in every shot she takes.
Her work has already been recognized by major editorial platforms including Perimetro, Broad Magazine, and Woofermagazine, and she has been featured in group exhibitions such as Photo Liquida. Her most recent achievements in 2024 include winning second place at the "Circuito OFF" of Fotografia Europea and, of course, being selected for ephemere.’s Happening Happenstance publication.
Giovannella Pirina — During the open call we asked you to capture the essence of comic happenings, but what best represents the notion of “comic” for you?
Federica Nannini — For me, “comic” is a bizarre situation that occurs within the context of everyday normality. Something absurd that arises in ordinary situations.
Can you recall what was your first shot ever and what is it that made you fall in love with photography in the first place?
My first shots were taken with a Polaroid during a trip to Barcelona. I photographed the Boqueria market. The minutes spent waiting for the image to develop were moments of incredible happiness for me: it was then that I realized photography made me happy.
Your style reflects what I love to call “present nostalgia”, what kind of emotions do you seek while holding the camera?
My dad has always loved photographing our large family. I have so many memories of him capturing birthdays, trips, and happy moments of me together with my mom and my sisters. When we cleared out his house after his passing, I found a drawer full of photos.
When I take pictures, I try to do what he did: capture moments, a sort of visual diary that I hope will transcend time and emotions.
Kat Granicky
📍Germany • @katgranicky
A cat rescuer with a deep love for nature, Kat Granicky developed her artistic eye growing up in Northern Europe, between Northern Germany and Denmark, surrounded by the melancholic poetry of dunes nestling on the endless North Sea beaches.
This, together with minimalist Danish architecture, had a huge impact on how she approaches photography.
Giovannella Pirina — During the open call we asked you to capture the essence of comic happenings, but what best represents the notion of “comic” for you?
Kat Granicky — What is comic? I think that to me, comic is anything that unexpectedly deviates from a certain norm in a surprising and amusing way, but then, what is "amusing" and what is "surprising"? It probably depends on what is considered "normal" in the given surroundings, circumstances or contexts.
Can you recall what was your first shot ever and what is it that made you fall in love with photography in the first place?
One of my first "conscious" shots ever was when I went to a small Mediterranean island at the age of 14 or 15. I discovered a lonesome beach and there was this old little building by the sea: someone had sprayed the words "Vive l'amour" on the wall. I loved the combination of the shadows, the light, the angles, the message of those words and the rundown state of that building, so I took a picture.
I’m fascinated by how you manage to show human presence in every single image, yet without showing any people. Is there any particular reason for letting people out of your shots?
When I was a teenager I once saw the painting Rooms by the Sea by Edward Hopper. When I started taking photos, my brain recalled his artwork or rather the feelings that I had when looking at his paintings. It was a subconscious process, where I felt deeply connected to it without even being able to recall all the details of his work. To me, taking photos feels like looking at a silent story suggested by a composition that everyone might interpret differently. The viewer could be the person that you cannot see in my photos.
Austin Gilje-Hodges
📍Norway • @austinxc04
When at home with his cats, Austin Gilje-Hodges loves to relax by playing video games and watching horror movies. When traveling around the world, he seeks the extraordinary in the ordinary, as it clearly shows in his photography.
Giovannella Pirina — During the open call we asked you to capture the essence of comic happenings, but what best represents the notion of “comic” for you?
Austin Gilje-Hodges — To me, the word "comic" signifies more than just humor.
It's a way to transform situations into something fun and enjoyable, adding a lighthearted touch to everyday experiences.
Can you recall what was your first shot ever and what is it that made you fall in love with photography in the first place?
My love for photography didn’t begin with taking pictures, but through my father's collection of photography books and prints.
Going through your work feels like embarking on a journey to explore the world. How do you usually find the perfect spot?
The ideal location can be found anywhere, as long as the timing is just right. It’s about being present in the moment and recognizing the beauty and significance of your surroundings, no matter where you are. The magic lies in the intersection of place and time, where everything aligns perfectly to create something truly special.
Przemyslaw Mioduszewski
📍Iceland • @przemyslaw.mioduszewski
A carpenter, a jeweler, a jazz radio personality, a seaman on a cargo ship, a fisherman, but truly a photographer by heart. Przemyslaw Mioduszewski spent his life between two continents (Europe, then the USA, and back to Europe again), not being afraid to experiment and change.
He’s the kind of photographer who always wants to capture his surroundings and his personal life on an analog camera, stating he has taken too many photos with a digital pocket camera so far. His shot for Happening Happenstance made it straight to the publication cover.
Giovannella Pirina — During the open call we asked you to capture the essence of comic happenings, but what best represents the notion of “comic” for you?
Przemyslaw Mioduszewski — The notion of comic, for me, is to connect with people through comedy and jokes. A way to release stress and anxiety from what I suffer.
Can you recall what was your first shot ever and what is it that made you fall in love with photography in the first place?
I think it could be the easiness of just pulling out the camera capturing something pleasing to me. I probably started taking photos with an old telephone camera and so-called "idiot camera" in the 90's. I love dressing up and, thinking of ideas before sleeping. I like the process and what comes up after. It is often a surprise especially when shooting with film. Also, I've always been a photographer lover, watching old family photos for hours as a little kid.
In your pictures imagination meets reality and the outcome is one of a kind. How much do you like to push this aspect when taking photos?
Most of the photographs show me in raw surroundings where I fight for survival, becoming wild and mismatched in nature with an absolute inability to find myself in rough terrain. To push that aspect the idea has to come by itself so I try not to push too much, not to force it.
Cenk Erdoğan
📍Turkey • @cenkerdogan
Working as a graphic designer and creative director for 27 years, Cenk Erdoğan thoroughly explored the many forms that communication and design can take.
Being a photography enthusiast, or as he points out, a shutterbug, allows him to capture life’s moments and create compelling visual stories.
Giovannella Pirina — During the open call we asked you to capture the essence of comic happenings, but what best represents the notion of “comic” for you?
Cenk Erdoğan — Although it shows cultural differences across societies when speaking of photography, the concept of "comic" could be the reflection of moments that we are not accustomed to seeing in everyday life when the moment is frozen, the occurrence of humorous images, or juxtapositions and overlaps.
Can you recall what was your first shot ever and what is it that made you fall in love with photography in the first place?
Due to my profession, I have been involved in numerous commercial photo shoots and have worked as an art director. It's difficult for me to recall specific instances personally, but the magic of photographic imagery and living in a city like Istanbul, which is a treasure trove for street photography, have been factors that magnetically drew me to photography.
Each of your pictures discloses a compelling story for people to stop and look at them with genuine curiosity. Do you usually go out with your camera with a precise storytelling idea in mind or do you let people and circumstances guide your instinct?
Actually, it can be either situation from time to time. Since I enjoy creating stories in series with context and concepts, using metaphors and allegories, I would say the first situation reflects me more accurately.
Geoff Beveridge
📍UK • @geoff_m_beveridge
With a strong background in film and video with a specialization in film editing developed while working on music video productions, Geoff Beveridge, originally from Glasgow, Scotland, and now based in Manchester, England, landed on street photography around 2018-2019.
Something that he considers a natural consequence of observational journal writing “where I described the people, places, and happenings I happened on (sic!) on my wanderings through the places I lived and passed through” he points out.
Influenced by his editing background, he creates narrative or thematic projects through his photography. To always find creative inspiration by “stimulating the old gray matter” he relies on reading, cinema, and art exhibitions.
Giovannella Pirina — During the open call we asked you to capture the essence of comic happenings, but what best represents the notion of “comic” for you?
Geoff Beveridge — That is an “in the beginning, there was…” type of question for me.
Being from Scotland and the UK, my notion of comic is dark, absurd, surreal, irreverent at times. I gravitate to a comic that unsettles or agitates, at the same time as being amusing. So, graphically and semantically surreal in nature, hopefully celebrating the heroic and absurd nature of our everyday rituals, activities, obsessions. Humanistic, with a shady or edgy side.
Can you recall what was your first shot ever and what is it that made you fall in love with photography in the first place?
A still from a super 8mm film, if that counts. I include this as my compositions with a film camera are the same as that of a still camera. The shot was my grandmother, Mary, wearing big sunglasses and a headscarf, with a field of young corn rippling behind her in the wind. Not candid, but an absurd and comic image in a way. Not forgetting to mention for the record (as I am contractually obliged to do so) that she resembled Gloria Swanson in her heyday.
Vibrant, peculiar characters easily emerge from your photography. What is it that ignites your curiosity towards a subject?
Some hit you over the head, hopefully not literally. It might be their dress, or lack of it, or something about their general demeanor that you can't quite put your finger on, that makes them stand out from the crowd. Others, I am drawn more by a specific look, gesture or the shape their body makes in the space, either at one or at odds with the environment. For some, it's an activity I notice they are doing with such conviction that puts them out of sync with the passing masses, like a boulder parting the flow of a river.
The ideal is a very ordinary character, doing a peculiar thing that makes them extraordinary. Or the thing doesn't need to be peculiar, but something that is normally hidden, like the way a long-married couple might interact in a public place without thinking. My motivation is to celebrate and treasure the eccentricities of people, those who either wholeheartedly put their peculiarities on public display, or those who let their mask of conformity slip, or indeed high-five those who don't just give a damn.
Rafa Rojas
📍Brazil • @_rafarojas
Constantly inspired by the energy that fills a big city like São Paulo, Brazil, Rafa Rojas is a photographer and editor who always looks for new and unique experiences to capture on camera.
He is the co-creator and editor of the magazine "Imagem Vertigem" and editor of Selo Vertigem. In 2022, he published his book "Underground Stories". In 2024, he exhibited his project "Cores de São Paulo/Colors of a Grey City" at the MIS (Museum of Image and Sound).
Giovannella Pirina — During the open call we asked you to capture the essence of comic happenings, but what best represents the notion of “comic” for you?
Rafa Rojas — I believe that in street photography, various situations can become comical depending on the context, the unexpected, the bizarre, and the fantastical.
Can you recall what was your first shot ever and what is it that made you fall in love with photography in the first place?
Honestly, I don’t remember my first photo, but I do remember being fascinated by cameras from a very young age and by the endless possibilities that photography offers.
You have a firm sense of geometry when it comes to taking a shot and the best part is that you can flawlessly place subjects in such contexts. Would you disclose to us your usual process while on the streets?
I don’t think I have a single process; each photography session becomes a new and unique experience, especially when you do street photography in a city like São Paulo (which is the largest city in Latin America and has a population of over 12 million).
I’ve always been fascinated by colors, patterns, shapes, and geometries. I’m heavily influenced by cinema, especially Wes Anderson’s films, and I try, whenever possible, to convey these influences and references in my work along with my own signature style.
Publisher's Note: We’ve sold out, but if we receive at least 50 new orders, we can reprint. Please fill out the form below if you'd like to request a copy. Thank you!
This photo book is a collection of 132 photographs that celebrates candid, clever, and comic photography. Curated by Colin Czerwinski, designed by Federico Zavatta, and edited by Anne Murayama, Happening Happenstance is the tangible accompaniment of the exhibition with the same title. It embraces the beauty in the mundane and the humor in everyday scenes, capturing the timeless essence of humanity in single frames. As viewers flip through these pages, each photograph serves as a reminder that life is always unfolding, and there is profound beauty in simply paying attention.