What pieces or projects have you been working on lately?
I’ve always been a deeply nostalgic person. Photography has become a very valuable tool for me, as it allows me to freeze feelings, give them a visual form, and romanticize my life. Ever since photography became my full-time job, I’ve been trying to explore my creativity outside the office, without the obligation of responding to what a client is looking for. I transform my personal experiences, everyday moments, and travels into intentional frames.
What did you learn (or unlearn) while working on them?
Perfection doesn’t exist. Over time, I’ve learned to find beauty in small mistakes. As a photographer, I’m not yet where I would like to be, but I’m truly enjoying the process of getting there.
What words, ideas or emotions were going through your head?
There’s a quote by Susan Sontag that says: “To photograph is to frame, and to frame is to exclude.” While her statement is completely true, photography for me has been a way of savoring what surrounds me, not excluding it. In such a fast-paced world, analog photography has forced me to slow down, to capture and observe my surroundings with different eyes. I always want to capture images that show emotion and convey that they were taken with great care.
Were there any conversations, movies, music, or books that made their way into that work?
I tend to connect special moments in my life with the music that accompanies them. I think that, in some way, the mood of the music I listen to filters into my images. During this trip, I listened a lot to The Beatles, and one song I couldn’t stop playing was “Devotion” by Earth, Wind & Fire.
What's been the most difficult thing you've faced recently in your creative process?
Letting go of references and learning to be more spontaneous. I tend to construct in my mind images I’d like to capture; however, especially in street photography, I’ve come to understand that it’s not always possible to work from a predefined structure. It’s an ongoing exercise to release control and find inspiration in what’s right in front of me, since the perfect moment is impossible to plan.
What is your favorite restaurant and what do you recommend we order?
My all-time favorite restaurant is Cara de Vaca. The tacos tiesos and fresh oysters are absolutely delicious.
If your life were a movie this month, what would it be called and who would write the soundtrack?
It would sound like “The Air That I Breathe” by The Hollies, and it would be called Visual Dessert.
Recommend one or more artists you follow who inspire you, and tell us what you like most about their work or their way of working.
I’m fascinated by the work of Sofia Coppola. I’m in love with her use of color in her images. Everything she creates is beautiful—very delicate, feminine, and romantic. Her film Priscilla is one of my favorites; I love the aesthetic and atmosphere that transports me to another era.
A Mexican photographer who inspires me a lot is Cecy Young. The way she portrays her travels through Asia is beautiful. I find it very interesting how her photographs convey silence and calm, as if there were no noise when they were taken.
