SAM YOUKILIS’ STREET SKILLS
Expanding His World Of Photography
A young couple makes out against the backdrop of the famous Ponte Vecchio bridge and a purple dusk sky, a cacao-frosted tiramisu sits on the table of Trattoria Cammillo, once considered one of Florence’s best restaurants, and a smiling man rides a bike through lamp-lit streets, one hand at the handlebars and the other gripping his relaxed dog — Florence, Italy, through Sam Youkilis‘ eyes.
The New York native now calls Italy his home, spending part of his year in Umbria, the only landlocked region of the country. While his work largely centers on Italian landscapes, plates, and characters, he’s recently begun a deeper expansion into Asian countries, like Turkey, Japan, Vietnam, and India. He gracefully captures gold-hued sunsets in Jaipur, India, rigorous mochi making in Japan, and the steaming bowls of hot noodles in Vietnam’s Đồng Văn market. This break from his more commonly posted European content makes a welcome change and leaves a sense of intrigue as we wonder which countries he might cover next.
Traditionally trained in photography, Youkilis found creative freedom in social media’s immediacy and began posting short video clips in 2016, focusing on all the little things normally overlooked. Now his name has become a staple in the mouths of many young people who praise and echo his street photography style.
Youkilis recognizes his outsider identity as he enters foreign places and practices measured mindfulness in his approach. In one of his videos of a men’s barber shop in Varanasi, India we are offered a rare glimpse of his figure in the filming process. Three men are pictured sitting, brushing, and shaving as usual in the warm interior of the shop. Behind them are three mirrors that, upon closer inspection, reflect Youkilis’ frame. One of his hands holds the phone in front of his face while the other rests easily against the doorframe.
Perhaps the most enticing aspect of Youkilis’ imagery is the state of ease in which he captures his subjects. A self-described flâneur, Youkilis walks miles each day, going to great lengths to capture his surroundings in a way that feels effortless. At times, the videos almost seem staged, the subjects, objects, and backgrounds aligned in achingly beautiful formations. His videography naturally communicates culture, human nature, and an intrinsic belonging to a place. The world through Sam Youkilis’ eyes is undeniably beautiful, and we’re lucky to be able to see it.