Newoldcamera (NOC)

A place where photography and humanity converge

More than a camera shop, Newoldcamera is, at its core, a celebration of photography. Founded in Milan by Ryuichi Watanabe, it feels less like a retail space and more like an old-world workshop — warm, familiar, and profoundly human.

Its name, Newoldcamera, couldn’t be more fitting. It reflects the essence of this unique place, where history and future, passion and precision, come together. Cameras are bought and sold with love, care, and expert attention. The staff — a mix of skilled technicians and deeply knowledgeable employees — embody the shop’s philosophy: thoughtful, dedicated, and always ready to share their experience.

In an era of impersonal e-commerce and rapid transactions, Newoldcamera defies the trend. They ask, “What can we do for the future?” Their answer: remain human.

They offer something the internet can’t: true personal connection. And they remind us that photography, like any art, is a deeply human act. Through those bonds — between people, stories, and images — culture stays alive.

Ryuichi Watanabe, presents Camp Erech, the book in the casket

A Shared Vision of Photography’s Role

The team at Newoldcamera approaches photography not merely as a business, but as a cultural force. They understand the importance of preserving and sharing visual history — not as nostalgia, but as a way to move forward and open new windows on the world.

Today, anyone can take and share images instantly. But Newoldcamera asks the real questions: Why do you want to photograph? What is your relationship with the image?

These are the same questions we ask ourselves at Ayzoh!. While others might shoot for awards or recognition, we reject the idea that human lives can be judged, compared, or ranked. Our work is not for galleries or critics. It’s for the communities we live with, the people whose voices we help carry. We are not at the center — they are.

This shared vision is why we feel so connected to Newoldcamera. We both believe that photography must be rooted in purpose. Why do you take this photo? Who does it serve? What sense does it make?

An Invitation to Learn and Grow

Newoldcamera offers more than gear. It’s a space to reflect, to create, to learn, and to grow. Their magazine, NOC Sensei, stands as a testament to their dedication to photographic culture — and we’ve been honored to be part of its pages.

The name Sensei — “the one who has gone before” in Japanese — captures the spirit perfectly. In this shop, everyone becomes both teacher and student, learning through dialogue, exchange, and presence.

Since our very first visit, they’ve embraced Ayzoh! and our work with open arms. They’ve offered support without expectations. In all these years, we’ve only bought one camera from them. We’re not gear chasers — we use only what’s essential and push our tools to their limits.

And still, they’ve never turned us away. They’ve given us space to breathe, to think, to shape ideas — and, sometimes, simply a place for a good conversation.

In Newoldcamera, we’ve found more than friends. We’ve found a refuge. A place where the human touch prevails. Where photography is not about competition, but about connection, resistance, and the quiet power to reveal the hidden corners of our world.

Publications

Somos Guatemala 01
Somos / Pueblo Ancestral Viviente
"Somos" is a call to listen, to witness, and to act. Created in deep collaboration with Maya communities across Guatemala, this project amplifies ancestral voices that have long been silenced, distorted, or ignored. At its heart lies the Popol Wuj, the...
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Biblioteca Comunitaria El Rosario
El Rosario is a photo book and a tribute to a grassroots library in Oaxaca, Mexico. Created with the community of Santa Catarina Minas, it celebrates literacy, biodiversity, and collective imagination. All proceeds support the library and its partner...
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Je Suis la Rue
Discover the vibrant streets of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, through the eyes of talented youth who transform urban spaces into creative playgrounds. Ayzoh! established the Centre Photographique de Ouagadougou (CPO), an inclusive photography center empowering...
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Visit Awra Amba
Awra Amba, a visionary community in Ethiopia, challenges conventional norms by promoting equality, peace, and sustainability. As global ambassadors, Ayzoh! shares their inspiring story through an illuminating photographic book and dedicated website, highlighting...
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Isegran
An intimate homage to the maritime community of Isegran, Norway, this book celebrates the profound connection between humans and the sea. Explore themes of love, tradition, craftsmanship, and passion, reflecting on the sea’s timeless ability to unite...
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Dialogo Silenzioso: the Book
Dance meets Ethiopia’s ancestral rhythms in "Dialogo Silenzioso," a compelling visual narrative commissioned by the Ethiopian Embassy in Italy. Ayzoh! created this book and traveling multimedia exhibition, celebrating dance as a universal language and...
Cover Speciali 05
Camp Erech - Milano Design Week
A powerful glimpse into “Camp Erech,” Ayzoh!’s acclaimed exhibit during Milan Design Week. This video showcases the photographs telling the story of a desert community in Adrar, Mauritania. Projected on giant city screens throughout the week, the images...
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Ayzoh! Ethiopia – Issue Zero
To deepen our connection with the people we walk beside, we’ve launched Ayzoh! Ethiopia Tours—our own travel agency rooted in values, vision, and place. This inaugural issue introduces a bold new path: immersive journeys and powerful images. Future editions...
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Tissia: Weaving Freedom
Founded by Alice and Veronique Ouedraogo, Tissia empowers disadvantaged women in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, through microcredit, literacy, and social programs. Supported by Ayzoh!, Tissia expanded in 2019 with a thriving textile workshop, weaving freedom...
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Somos / Comunidad Ancestral Viviente
"Somos" is Ayzoh!’s global multimedia initiative that connects indigenous communities across four continents with supporters worldwide. This ambitious project bridges cultures, fostering solidarity, understanding, and mutual empowerment through storytelling,...
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Travel with Afar
Dedicated to Afar Textiles, Ayzoh!’s longstanding partner, this book chronicles over a century of Italian craftsmanship, innovation, and ethical commitment now thriving in Addis Ababa. Explore the remarkable story behind Afar’s legacy of excellence and...
Cover Speciali 01
Travel With Afar - The Movie
Discover the story of Afar Textiles—a high-end fashion brand rooted in over 130 years of Italian craftsmanship and reborn in Addis Ababa. This film traces Afar’s ethical journey through style, sustainability, and storytelling. A proud supporter of Ayzoh!,...
Covers 02
Camp Erech – The Book in the Treasure Chest
Journey to Camp Erech near Mauritania’s Toungad oasis through the vivid photographs of Giulia Zhang and Claudio Maria Lerario. This special collection immerses you in the daily life of Yahya, his family, and their tight-knit desert community. It’s part...
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Penzi - Behind the scenes
"Behind the Scenes" highlights the extraordinary passion, meticulous effort, and exceptional quality behind Penzi Weddings, one of Ayzoh!’s most committed sponsors in Mexico. Discover the dedicated team whose artistry brings luxury events to life while...
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Daimon - All'improvviso
"Daimon" emerged spontaneously during Ayzoh!’s exhibition at Milan Design Week, from an unexpected encounter between photographers Giulia Zhang and Claudio Maria Lerario and dancers Claudio Gasparotto and Silvia Ferraris. This striking collaboration captures...
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Who Makes Afar Bags
Meet the faces behind the fashion. This intimate video celebrates the artisans of Afar Textiles—women and men who not only make the bags but embody the brand. Used as models in Afar’s own campaigns, they speak of dignity, creativity, and change. The film...
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The Coming Together
"The Coming Together" is a poetic exploration of love and freedom, inspired by philosopher Erich Fromm’s profound insights. Claudio Maria Lerario’s evocative photography captures Movimento Centrale’s performances, beautifully conveying humanity’s timeless...
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Avere Ubuntu
"I am because we are." Guided by the Ubuntu philosophy, Ayzoh! partnered with former street children in Hawassa, Ethiopia, to create pinhole cameras and document their lives. This book supports their ongoing journey toward education and independence,...
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Terra / Cooperazione Contadina
Small-scale farming is humanity’s timeless connection to Earth, sustaining communities across borders and generations. Ayzoh!’s "Terra" project supports farmers challenging industrial agriculture, advocating for sustainable methods that honor tradition...
Cover Speciali 03
The Energy of Women
Filmed between Bahia and Rome, this poetic documentary honors Angela Altieri McDonald (1963–2010)—a visionary writer and the soul behind Ayzoh!’s creation. Her bold spirit and support sparked the dream that became Ayzoh! in 2008. This tribute celebrates...
Covers 01
La Fotografia e i Territori dell'Altro
Drawing on Ayzoh!’s extensive field experience, this practical handbook provides thoughtful reflections and ethical guidelines for responsibly using photography in African contexts. Specifically crafted for the Vadoinafrica community of over 15,000 members,...
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Artisti in Piazza
Each June, Pennabilli, Italy, transforms into Europe’s capital of performing arts during "Artisti in Piazza." Ayzoh! captures this vibrant festival visually, documenting international artists and engaging thousands of spectators who become integral to...
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That Shadow Behind Us
Created for Harrisho ("sun" in Amharic), this impactful book documents Ayzoh!’s collaboration with a prison rehabilitation project in Hawassa, Ethiopia. It highlights the establishment of a social enterprise within the prison, offering inmates meaningful...
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Waga Studio Project
"Waga Studio" documents Ayzoh!’s successful photography and art initiative in Gounghin, Ouagadougou. Demonstrating how creative expression fosters innovation and social change in marginalized communities, this publication highlights the transformative...
Cover Speciali 04
Ouro Preto
Produced with Ayzoh!’s Brazilian partner Cultour, this moving short tells the story of a grassroots organization in Ouro Preto. They’ve reclaimed a former gold mine—once worked by enslaved children during Portuguese colonization—and turned it into a place...
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We Are Nebua
"We Are Nebua" captures the essence of Afrobloomy (formerly Nebua World), a dynamic community founded by Aida Aicha Bodian in Paris. Ayzoh!’s publication amplifies diverse voices, promoting entrepreneurial, social, and cultural opportunities for Afro-descendant...
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I Corpi Barricati
Inspired by Emmanuel Edson’s theater piece, this book showcases Ayzoh!’s involvement in performance art as resistance. It questions societal pressures to categorize identity, emphasizing theater’s profound ability to challenge perceptions and affirm human...

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