Danika Magdelena: The Power of Spontaneity and Authenticity on Film
Self-portrait
Danika Magdelena, otherwise known as @sirius.film on Instagram, has become a leading light in analogue photography over the last few years. Initially labelled as a name to remember in British Vogue’s 2020’s Forces for Change, the London-based creative has now amassed a following of thousands and a celebrity-studded résumé. Her impressive collaborations ranging the men’s Arsenal Football team to Jorja Smith are such casual snaps that, at a glance, you could almost miss her A-list repertoire.
What makes Magdelena’s aesthetic so refreshing – and popular – is the spontaneity of the moment, whether the moment is Jourdann Dunn getting her hair done or Neelam Kaur Gill getting papped in her bathroom.
Her natural vibe is partly defined by her choice of settings, which is often simple, such as the home of the subjects, the streets of London or somewhere outside – somehow, she even makes London’s football arenas setting seem cosy.
Yet, the setting solely enhances the individuality of the subjects that Magdelena captures, as her ability to convey emotion so organically is what makes her work so fascinating.
Her earlier is based on a clear distance with the overly stylised editorial photography, with her captures of everyday life at the tattoo parlour or the basketball court. The fashion within these earlier pictures is unmistakably true to London’s street style; lots of sportswear, oversized clothing, and big hoops.
More specifically, her work has been and continues to be a celebration of Black identity and individuality in all its forms. This essence remains palpable in her more recent studio and editorial work, through her showcase of vibrant outfits and casual poses. Her unique ability to strip-back the sense of curation and artifice, even in collaborations with some of the world’s biggest brands such as Nike, is a turning point for visual representation of diversity and individuality.
