Roshan Basil
Born and raised in North Philadelphia and well into a long and successful global nightlife/hospitality career. Roshan randomly picked up a camera as a new hobby and started wandering the streets of Philly and New York City during the 2020 Pandemic. He has been outside ever since; putting in his “10,000 hours” to become one of Philly’s most prolific emerging photographers.
Fate works in mysterious ways and that layoff ended up being the perfect time for Roshan, who is self-taught to get out and learn to shoot street and documentary-style photography. The Pandemic, George Floyd Protests, and the 2020 Election drama, all helped to develop Roshan's signature style for quickly snapping witty events and scenes before they forever disappear.
Fast forward to the present. Roshan (aka ShanSnapz) has been selectively sharing work at local galleries/events, his vintage camera collection and artistic process have been recently featured in an interview with Lomography Magazine, and his fine art prints are already selling to well-known multinational companies and private collectors. With “10,000” hours down and another 10,000 to go, Roshan is well on his way to building a strong foundation and undeniable presence in the space.
ARTIST’S STATEMENT
I am a nomad, a wanderer, and street philosopher, composing a visual diary of my thoughts, experiences, and observations. For what? Who knows! I shoot first and ask questions later. Being a "photographer" is incidental. Being obsessed with being on the streets constantly snapping photos isn't. This is a lifestyle, not a profession and what captures my eyes, heart, and soul is always present and ever-changing.
Everything from witty critiques of society to street portraits of interesting characters is fair game. I'm best known for my film photography and a quirky collection of old vintage film cameras, but being an analog boy living in a digital world, I have no hesitation with also capturing life in .jpg. I step into no boxes! I pledge no allegiances! I wear no labels!
Born and raised in North Philadelphia and well into a long and successful global nightlife/hospitality career. Roshan randomly picked up a camera as a new hobby and started wandering the streets of Philly and New York City during the 2020 Pandemic. He has been outside ever since; putting in his “10,000 hours” to become one of Philly’s most prolific emerging photographers.
Fate works in mysterious ways and that layoff ended up being the perfect time for Roshan, who is self-taught to get out and learn to shoot street and documentary-style photography. The Pandemic, George Floyd Protests, and the 2020 Election drama, all helped to develop Roshan's signature style for quickly snapping witty events and scenes before they forever disappear.
Fast forward to the present. Roshan (aka ShanSnapz) has been selectively sharing work at local galleries/events, his vintage camera collection and artistic process have been recently featured in an interview with Lomography Magazine, and his fine art prints are already selling to well-known multinational companies and private collectors. With “10,000” hours down and another 10,000 to go, Roshan is well on his way to building a strong foundation and undeniable presence in the space.
ARTIST’S STATEMENT
I am a nomad, a wanderer, and street philosopher, composing a visual diary of my thoughts, experiences, and observations. For what? Who knows! I shoot first and ask questions later. Being a "photographer" is incidental. Being obsessed with being on the streets constantly snapping photos isn't. This is a lifestyle, not a profession and what captures my eyes, heart, and soul is always present and ever-changing.
Everything from witty critiques of society to street portraits of interesting characters is fair game. I'm best known for my film photography and a quirky collection of old vintage film cameras, but being an analog boy living in a digital world, I have no hesitation with also capturing life in .jpg. I step into no boxes! I pledge no allegiances! I wear no labels!
$460.00
Fine art print on hahnemuhle metallic silver paper.
11x8.50"
Limited edition 1 of 50.
8.5x11 hahnemuhle metallic silver fine art print currently living in a standard 8.5x11 black frame with glass.
$850.00
Platinum premium prints.
7x13"
Limited edition 1 of 1.
Inspired by the photography of Gordon Parks I bought a vintage Nikon F film camera from the 1970s. The Nikon F was a legendary camera used by Gordon and many other photographers of the time. War Photographer Don McCullin's Nikon F became famous when it took a bullet and protected him from serious injury during the Vietnam War.
Wanting to follow in the footsteps of some of my favorite photographers I took my Nikon F with me to the March on Washington 2021 and made these historical 35mm photos for my private archives. They include Reverend Al Sharpton, Attorney Ben Crump, and George Floyd's brother - Philonise Floyd.
(3) 4 x 6 platinum premium prints currently living in a standard 7 x 13 black frame with glass.
$180.00
Fine art print on lasal exhibition luster paper.
5x7"
Limited edition 10 of 150.
Episode 02 (Stand On It) of my ongoing street photography series "The Crosswalk Diaries."
5 x 7 lasal exhibition luster fine art print currently living in a standard 5 x 7 frame with plexiglass.
$910.00
Fine art print on premium paper.
16x12"
Limited edition 1 of 20.
Inspired by Grant Wood's iconic American Gothic painting, this candid photo was snapped in Philadelphia during the 2020 George Floyd Protest. When fully armed National Guard Troops were brought in by city officials due to civil unrest.
8.5x11 premium fine art print currently living in a standard 12x16 black aluminum matted frame with tempered glass.
$895.00
Fine art print on premium paper.
16x12"
Limited edition 3 of 20.
The title of the photo "Radio Flyer: Fly Black Boy Fly" is inspired by the iconic red Radio Flyer wagons that were mass-produced for children across America starting in the 1930s. The image made in Philadelphia during the George Floyd Protest reminds me of the innocence of childhood that these wagons symbolized.
While out shooting that day, I noticed this young man who seemed kind of oblivious to all of the events around him. He was just being a kid, doing wheelies with his friends on his red bike in front of this defensive line of Police wearing all blue.
Using a pan photography technique I was able to "paint" the photograph of the boy seemingly taking off on his "Radio Flyer." My hope is one day he can fly above all of the fu**ed up realities of growing up Black in one of America's most violent and poorest big cities.
8.5x11 premium fine art print currently living in a standard 12x16 black aluminum matted frame with tempered glass.
$510.00
Fine art print on premium paper.
12x12"
Limited edition 3 of 30.
"Chess demolishes differences. It's a language of different generations." A famous quote by Chess Grandmaster, Judit Polgar sums up perfectly this photograph I made while doing Street Photography in Washington Square Park.
8x8 premium fine art print currently living in a standard 12x12 black aluminum matted frame with glass.
Shot on a vintage 1960s Medium Format TLR Camera and Kodak TriX400 film this piece makes a great addition, especially for vintage film camera photography collectors.
$680.00
Fine art print on hahnemuhle metallic silver paper.
12x12"
Limited edition 2 of 50.
Episode 01 (104 via Broadway) of my experimental film photography series New York in Neon. This image was made using a vintage 1960s TLR Medium Format Film Camera. The low shutter speed photography technique I use in addition to the print being done on a special fine art metallic print paper causes the photo to appear more like a painting than a photograph.
8x8 hahnemuhle fine metallic silver fine art print currently living in a standard 12x12 black aluminum matted frame with glass.
$420.00
Fine art print on premium paper.
12x12"
Limited edition 5 of 30.
Street Photography snap of a game on the West 4th Street Ball Courts in NYC. Image was made with a vintage 1960s Medium Format TLR Camera. (Film: Kodak TriX400)
8x8 premium fine art print currently living in a standard 12x12 black aluminum matted frame with glass.
$1,230.00
Fine art print on hahnemuhle premium paper.
16x16"
Limited edition 2 of 20.
Every June, Philadelphia hosts Odunde - one of the largest African/African American Street Festivals in the USA. This image was made of an elder leading a drumming circle at Odunde 2023. Baba means father or elder in the Yoruba language.
This photograph makes a great piece for vintage film camera photography collectors since it was made using a 1960s Vintage TLR Medium Format Film Camera. Another fun fact for collectors is that this photo was snapped with some of the last remaining rolls of FujiFilm Pro 400H. As of Summer 2023, Fuji discontinued this film stock. So, the unique color palette and aesthetic it creates will soon be a prized relic of the past.
12x12 hahnemuhle fine art print currently living in a standard 16x16 black aluminum matted frame with tempered glass.
$1,230.00
Fine art print on hahnemuhle premium paper.
16x16"
Limited edition 2 of 20.
Every June, my city of Philadelphia hosts Odunde - one of the largest African/African American Street Festivals in the USA. This image made during Odunde 2023 is of a performer doing a Bata-inspired dance to the beat of live drummers. Bata is a high-energy ceremonial dance practiced, especially in the Yoruba culture of Nigeria.
This photograph makes a great piece for vintage film camera photography collectors since it was made using a 1960s Vintage TLR Medium Format Film Camera. Another fun fact for collectors is that this photo was snapped with some of the last remaining rolls of FujiFilm Pro 400H. As of Summer 2023, Fuji discontinued this film stock. So, the unique color palette and aesthetic it creates will soon be a prized relic of the past.
12x12 hahnemuhle fine art print currently living in a standard 16x16 black aluminum matted frame with tempered glass.
$175.00
Fine art print on lasal exhibition luster paper.
7x5"
Limited edition 10 of 150.
Episode 01 (Stride) of my ongoing street photography series "The Crosswalk Diaries."
7 x 5 lasal exhibition luster fine art print currently living in a standard 7 x 5 frame with plexiglass.
$895.00
Fine art print on hahnemuhle japanese rice paper.
19x13"
Limited edition 1 of 20.
As a devoted disciple to the art of street photography I roam the streets for hours looking for unique, witty, or poignant images to snap. Many of these scenes happen and are gone in an instant.
This image is part of my ongoing "Philly at Night" series and a great example of my approach to street photography. My feet are constantly moving, my mind is always running, and my camera is always ready to compose these completely random images that happen in a split second. If you miss the opportunity they are gone forever. I try to not miss.
19 x 13 hahnemuhle Japanese rice paper fine art print currently living in a standard 19 x 13 black frame with plexiglass.