Interview: Photography and I

2011-03-24T17:25:00.000-03:00

Tell a little bit about how you got where you're now in life.

I was born in a little town located in Buenos Aires, Argentina. I lived there for eighteen years wishing to graduate from high school and just leave home.

In late 2008 I moved away from town and started the English-Spanish Translation course of studies.

What do you want to be?

A photographer, a designer, a mama and a translator, we'll see.

What's your relationship with photography?

When I was 4, my dad gave me a broken Kodak Brownie Fiesta. He thought that I was going to break it even more, but instead, I started looking at everything through its viewfinder and didn't stop making questions about photography and cameras.

Two years later, for my birthday, I got an Ouyama 2000N from my uncle. It was a very cheap and basic camera but it helped me discover that I loved photography. Since then I started to photograph the world with my eyes.

At the age of 10, with the help of my dad, I took my first pictures using a reflex camera. It was an analogic Asahi Pentax that my dad borrowed from his best friend. I remember that I shot my cousin, a horse and a lorry and I can still recall my grandpa congratulating me for my “gift”. I didn’t understand what he meant.

My relationship with photography got stronger when I discovered the digital world back in 2005. My mom bought me an Olympus Stylus 600 for my birthday. Due to its format and low weight I started taking my camera everywhere and I took pictures of every single thing I saw.

In 2008, and thanks to the internet, I met Enrico, one of my best friends and a big influence in my life regarding photography. Talking with him I learnt a few things about photography, such as what macro is, what bokeh is, the difference between reflex cameras and compact ones, rule of thirds, so on and so forth. Since then, I started feeling curious about photography theory and that was when I begun reading and searching for information that answered my questions.

In November 2010, for my 20th birthday my dad bought me my first reflex camera: EOS Digital Rebel T1i (or 500D). It took me quite a few days to get used to it, and I'm still learning new functions everyday (Haha!). In three months I took more than 20 thousand pictures.

What does inspire you?

Flickr is a great source for observing others work. I've got a few favourite photographers there, I try to learn from them and let their ideas inspire me so that I can create my own style.

Do you think you have a style? How would you describe it?
Well, creative and artistic photography are my favourite types of photography. I try to capture things that go unnoticed. I think it's really easy to take a picture of a nice landscape, anyone can take a beautiful picture of a mountain, a river, the sea.... because nature is beautiful itself, God made it that way. I generally shoot things that can be find in everyday life: a meal, a cup of coffee, a book... That's the kind of photography I like and most of the photographers I admire take that kind of pictures. I would describe it as some kind of "Simple things photography" or "Everyday photography".

Any pros and cons?

It's really easy for me to find something to shoot, that'd be a pro. And a con could be considered the fact that I don't like shooting people. I do take pictures of people, of course, but I get really nervous when doing so, I don't know why.

Do you like the pictures you take?
Only sometimes. I consider myself a perfectionist and I'm never happy with the results I obtain. From 1 to 10 I'd place myself between 2 and 4, depending on the picture. I know I'm not that bad at taking pictures, but I'm not good either. I've got lots of things to learn and improve.

Have you ever worked as a photographer?

Yes, I worked at a few birthday parties last summer.

Have you ever studied photography?

I started attending photography classes two weeks ago, I'm really excited!

Would you like to add anything else?

I love photography more and more each day. I'm in love with photography.

2011-02-25T18:08:00.003-03:00

My name is Katya, I'm twenty one and I live in a small apartment that is full of mugs, scarves and books.
I never go a whole day without having diet coke or a cup of coffee.
I paint my nails with vivid colours and I'm obsessed with green.
I like staying in and staying up late.
I enjoy night walks, rainy days and morning silence.
I paint with my fingers, take lots of pictures & make crafty stuff.
I love God more than anything in this world.

Kanastacia

Interview: Photography and I