How was this space born and what made it different from its early days?
Photography can be approached in many ways, both in front of and behind the camera. From the beginning, we wanted this to be an unpretentious space, a human place to share photography as a means of understanding both the inner and outer worlds. It is, at the same time, a celebration of photography as a craft, a legacy, a tradition, an art form, and an object of appreciation.
What time of day, corner of the place, or part of the process do those who work here enjoy the most?
There is an hour in the afternoon when cars reflect the sun through the window, and then the space is filled with a parade of shadows and projections: a play of lights that transforms everything for an instant.
If someone is coming in for the first time, what should they not miss?
We believe that, through books, we can discover new ways of seeing and experiencing photography. It is in this process that, almost without realizing it, we gather ideas and references, and through our own analysis, we broaden our way of seeing and being in the world.
Has there been a challenge that has made you rethink the direction or form of this project?
Photography is about patience: everything has its own rhythm, and learning it takes a lifetime. In any project, there are things that are impossible to predict, lessons that only come day by day. We've understood that it's about progressing little by little, improving each process with consistency and attention.
What influence, idea, or reference continues to shape the way they work today?
The way Japan approaches the craft: continuous improvement, experimentation, contemplation, and attention to detail.
What place, project, or person has recently inspired you, and why?
We are inspired by a philosophy of life that teaches us to live simply in the present. Photography is an act that demands our full attention. As Cartier-Bresson used to say, you have to forget about the machine until it becomes an extension of yourself: shoot from instinct, not from the mind. The same applies in the lab: it's about being present and doing everything with intention.
If your space could invite someone to collaborate for a day, who would it be and what would you do together?
We are an open space for collaborating with photographers and creators. We would like this space to be used for exhibiting and sharing work, and above all, for generating conversations around photography.
Is there any object, corner, or detail with a secret or little-known history?
Carlos Marbán was a photographer about whom we know very little, but we were fortunate enough to rescue his archive when it was about to be thrown away. It consists of hundreds of slides scattered throughout the shop: travels around Mexico, cityscapes, flowers, and landscapes from other countries. Today they coexist here like small windows into a world that was nearly lost.
If this project were a city, a book, or a record, which would it be and why?
A contemplative city, lived at night.
A book: Ravens, by Masahisa Fukase or Valparaiso by Sergio Larrain.
An album: Giant Steps, by John Coltrane, or Disintegration, by The Cure.
