Ilan Derech (Mexican, b. 1988) is a street and documentary photographer whose practice expanded into AI-assisted image-making after years spent living in Tokyo. He studied art and design before turning to photography, developing a cinematic style built on candid scenes of everyday urban life. He lives and works in Tokyo, Japan.
Derech turned to photography after the death of his father, when a friend gave him a camera during a period of depression. He found that vintage lenses suited the photographs he wanted to make, and eventually sold his equipment to fund his first trip to Japan, traveling with a single camera and lens. He arrived in Tokyo as the city was shutting down because of Covid, and continued photographing what he called the beauty in everyday life. He travels extensively with his camera and lives in Tokyo with his wife.
