Day 2 of SnappedAway In-Depth Series with Alberto Álvarez. We talk about how hiking helped him to discover photography, his masters and what he finds challenging in being a photographer.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and your photography style to our readers?
My name is Alberto Álvarez, I am 25, from Vigo, Galicia (Spain). In my case, photography and nature come together. I would say I prefer minimalistic and geometric compositions. In my photographies you would see large empty spaces and a few elements interacting with them.
How did you get interested in photography? And why did you pick photography as a medium and a form of expression?
I studied Media and Cinema in the university, so visuals have always been a main interest for me. After finishing my degree I moved to Scotland and started to study photography. As the course went, analog photography started to become more and more important. At that point, I think everything began when I brought photography and hiking together. Then photography became my way to understand, to explore, to enjoy nature.
How did you learn how to shoot? And what did you find the most helpful source of information along this way?
Academic education is always important but I think your own experience is what makes the difference. To try, to make mistakes…the more pictures you take the better they would be.
I also had a teacher in Scotland, David Grinly, who taught me that in photography, the brain is at least as important as the eye. You had to put a lot of thought into your projects, not just look for beauty or visual harmony.
How about your photography style? Can you describe your journey to where you are right now?
I suppose I had a long formation. Studying in Scotland I had to research a lot of photographers and as soon as you start doing that you start to find your main influences and to apply all the small things you see out there into your photography.
I started photographing the city of Edinburgh but it wasn’t a really fulfilling experience. As I said, everything started to make sense when I brought photography into the wild and became my way to study and to understand landscape and nature.
Then I moved back to Galicia and photography was really helpful to rediscover my homeland as I started to look at it through a lens.
Do you remember your first most inspiring photographer/ photo book/ exhibition in your life? And how about other photography masters? How do they inspire you and how do they influence your photography style?
I think it was Gregory Colbert’s series Ashes and Snow. It was the first time I saw something that powerful and mystical in an image. I really like Saul Leiter and Fred Herzog and the way they portray the human in a urban environment. I like Todd Hido as well…
But I never had a photography master as a main influence. The list of photographers that I like would be endless… I think their influence is more about the way I see reality rather than a visual technic or style that I could take something from.
How do you work? Are you after a specific project or a single frame? Do you come with idea first or the idea finds you when you are shooting? How do you find your project ideas? Please share your work flow with us.
I am a bit chaotic and messy at this. I don’t think I am the one to learn anything from.
I’ve never conceived a project at home, on my laptop, before I started shooting any photograph. I’d say the idea comes out there, you see something and then you start to take pictures around that idea.
I guess I let the projects evolve themselves, which is not always a good idea. I change a lot, I write a lot, many different versions…I’m sure my “finished” projects will be modified at some point again.
What is your favourite or memorable project/ photo you have worked on. Why? And also what is the project you will share with us?
I couldn’t choose one… I am sharing with you A cova (The cave). I think it is the most personal and human of my projects. I don’t think it’s 100% finished, though. I guess this project is the other side of the coin. I am looking for the same things, for identity, understanding… but indoors, in my own flat rather than in landscape.
What do you personally find challenging as a photographer?
Photography is challenging enough itself. To be happy with your work, to manage to capture what you want, to transfer what is in your head to an image… I think that is a huge challenge already.
Do you have your favourite lens? Why this specific one? Favourite camera?
I use a 35mm camera with a 50mm lens. I like the camera to be invisible, to have the least impact possible in the photograph. I see photography as the relationship between the photographer and nature, so I like to keep it simple in this area.
What is one piece of advice you would like to offer a person starting as a photographer.
As my teacher David Grinly taught me once, in photography the brain is at least as important as the eye. Don’t try to just get beautiful images, look deeper. Don’t treat photography as something purely visual, isolated from everything else. Write a lot and try to build something meaningful for yourself.
I don’t think I have the authority to give any piece of advice, though.
If you enjoyed reading this post check the previous blog entry with my introduction to Alberto’s work and also stay with us for more of his photography.
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