A very interesting Photographer from Spain. Jontxu Fernandez shows us some impeccable street moments we must have encountered ever. In this brief interview with 121clicks.com, Jontxu shares a lot about his journey as a photographer, the lessons he learnt from his family using a old rangefinder camera and his vision towards street photography.
Speaking about his photographs, there is a lot to mince about the moments especially quite decisive and unforgiving it would be to have not shot them. In every instance, Jontxu has nailed such beautiful moments in his portfolio and teaches us what it takes to witness such moments first.
Tell us a little bit about yourself?
I am an amateur photographer with passion about street and documentary photography. I work as a camera operator and post-production editor. I am from Sopela, a town in the Basque Country in northern Spain.
What first drew you to photography and how did you discover it?
My father had a Yashica rangefinder and I always remember him taking photos. Since then it attracted me and I knew that one way or another my life would be devoted to looking through a viewfinder. Photography is something that has always been presented in my life and I hope it will remain so.
What does ‘street photography’ mean to you?
For me street photography means capturing street life, recording the epoch, evoking memories and transfer sensitivity to life that lasts over time. It is a way of documenting the everyday life of the city, small towns, its people, its streets; ultimately portray the way though our environment.
What does it take to make a good street photograph?
Be curious, be constant and learn from the best, adapt to the style that you feel more comfortable and feel the call of the street, the latter is essential for me.
Please choose one picture from your portfolio and share the story behind the making?
This day the light was like I prefer, it was morning and there were many clouds and clears. Also it was raining … well, quite a typical day in the Basque Country. It is an area where I visit a lot but this day as I said the light was very special. I had only to wait something interesting enough to capture it with my camera. Of course many factors helped me and this allowed me to take the picture which captured me from the very first moment.
Which photographers inspire you?
There are many photographers who inspire me, from classics like Henri Cartier Bresson, Elliott Erwitt, Robert Frank, Garry Winogrand, Saul Leiter, etc; to actual ones as Joel Meyerowitz, David Alan Harvey, Trent Parke, Rupert Vandervell and Paul Buscató; and the best from my point of view is Alex Webb
You have any favorite books on photography?
There are many, but my favorite and the one I never get tired of is “Surfering of light” Alex Webb , all pictures are great and every time I see it I discover new things. It is a real pleasure for me.
Your Gear?
I usually use a Fuji X100. I think it is a camera that suits well to my manner of photographing and to which make me very happy because I feel it like an extension of my body.
Best compliment you received so far?
The last thing I was told that I had style of work that likes and that all photos have their own distinctive style.
Your Inspiration?
Any photographs that transmit, somehow inspires me, today there are many photographers who inspire, in Barcelona there is a group Calle 35 with photographers as Rafa Badia, Marcelo Caballero, Manu Mart, Mingo Venero , etc , and this is easy to find inspiration.
Any final thoughts for our readers?
I would like to thank 121clicks for the opportunity to present my work and encourage all people who like photography to go out to the streets to photograph.
Click on the image for better and enlarged view.
You can find Jontxu Fernandez on the Web :
Copyrights:
All the pictures in this post are copyrighted Jontxu Fernandez. Their reproduction, even in part, is forbidden without the explicit approval of the rightful owners.
