Gadjo Dilo

Häre Christian

What pieces or projects have you been working on lately?
I took some photos of a friend of mine, a talented actress here in Spain. We talked about maybe continuing to do more in the coming months, so something might come out of that. I also have a longer ongoing series in Georgia, where I’ve been a bunch of times, so hopefully I’ll be back there soon again.

What did you learn (or unlearn) while working on it?
Nothing new really, only reaffirmations of things I learned many years ago that keep being assured: to always check whether there is film in the camera, and that the real and best pictures are intimate moments, not staged or forced.

What words, ideas or emotions were running through your head?
I think I was mostly engaged in our conversation, and at the same time waiting for the moment where the photos naturally appear. Which is usually not when you think they will.

Were there any conversations, movies, music, or books that made their way into that work?
Not for this one :). We mostly gave each other an update on our private life, so it was quite an organic, private, and one-off piece.

What’s been the most difficult thing you’ve faced recently in your creative process?
Finding real intimate moments with people to photograph. Always is. Oh, and getting four rolls from Morocco wiped out in airport security (new machines, be aware y’all!).

What is your favorite coffee shop and why do you like going there?
I like going to my friend’s spot called LOT in Barcelona, Peruvian coffee and chocolate, off the chain. That’s a treat though; I mostly buy ground coffee at this old traditional place in downtown Barcelona and make my own at home :).

If your life were a movie this month, what would it be called and who would write the soundtrack?
Gadjo Dilo, Tony Gatlif.

Which studios, laboratories, or workshops have you collaborated with recently or would you like to collaborate with in the future?
I haven’t. I think I’m still quite underground haha. Sure, I’m up for anything.

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.
That’s a hard question. I don’t keep track of people’s names and don’t know too much about famous photographers. I see stuff on IG, but I don’t know how to find them for you. Off the top of my head, I like Suffo Moncloa. I like Aitor Laspiur, his aesthetics and subjects. They’re like stills from a movie. My friend Iris Humm and how she tells beautiful stories, plays with light, and has found a way to incorporate her other passions in life into her photography. I also like Michael McCraw, who photographs the continuity and everyday life with his family. And Kristina Podobed.