Ahmed Hassan manipulates light and shadow to create eerily perfect photographs

From renowned photographers, postmodernism to magical realism, the London-based photographer pulls inspiration from a vast array of sources.

With a glossy sheen and sleek finish, at first glance Ahmed Hassan’s photography has a certain perfection to it. But look beneath this veneer and things start to get a little surreal. Ahmed manipulates light and shadow to create striking compositions, and such high-contrast lighting draws attention to the “dramatic details” of his subjects, drawing you in with a creeping intensity. All of this attention comes with one goal, to create work that is more personal to him. “When it’s more eccentric and unconventional, the images immediately feel more special to me,” Hassan says, “they become more memorable and personal.”

Ahmed sources inspiration for his work from a wide pool of influence. From the “sense of wonder and intrigue” found in the works of contemporary photographers Tim Walker and Paolo Roversi, to the timelessness of legends like Richard Avedon and Irving Penn and their “highly staged productions”. Outside of fellow photographers, Hassan’s creativity is also fuelled by theories of postmodernism, specifically the “intentional mixing of styles from different time periods”, and the magical realist works of authors Gabriel García Márquez and Haruki Murakami.

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Ahmed Hassan: The Face (Copyright © Ahmed Hassan, 2023)

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Ahmed Hassan: For Claudia (Copyright © Ahmed Hassan, 2023)

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Ahmed Hassan: Drop By My Office (Copyright © Ahmed Hassan, 2023)

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Ahmed Hassan: Will (Copyright © Ahmed Hassan, 2023)

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Ahmed Hassan: Mason Mount (Copyright © Ahmed Hassan, 2023)

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Ahmed Hassan: Mason Mount (Copyright © Ahmed Hassan, 2023)

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Ahmed Hassan: Jay Shetty for The Telegraph (Copyright © Ahmed Hassan, 2023)

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Ahmed Hassan: Gift for Young (Copyright © Ahmed Hassan, 2023)

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Ahmed Hassan: Zéna for ByFar (Copyright © Ahmed Hassan, 2023)

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Ahmed Hassan: Mika in Paris (Copyright © Ahmed Hassan, 2023)

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Ahmed Hassan: From Ranch to Regiment (Copyright © Ahmed Hassan, 2023)

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Ahmed Hassan: Beaten (Copyright © Ahmed Hassan, 2023)

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Ahmed Hassan: Bonnie in Paris (Copyright © Ahmed Hassan, 2023)

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About the Author

Olivia Hingley

Olivia (she/her) is associate editor of the website, working across editorial projects and features as well as Nicer Tuesdays events. She joined the It’s Nice That team in 2021. Feel free to get in touch with any stories, ideas or pitches.

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