Meet this inspiring photographer who has done wonders with light shadows and interesting compositions. Jose Luis Barcia is from Spain and loves street photography for the surprises it gives. Jose wants to travel more and starts to tell us how his love for street genre happened in this fine interview with 121clicks.com. Making the full use of iphone, Jose tries to keep the gear simple while concentrating much more on the things going on around him through the viewfinder. Finding calmness in chaos, cant get any better. Take a look at these stunning photographs and be inspired.
Could you tell us a bit about yourself and what you do?
My name is José Luis Barcia Fernandez and I am 39 years old. I was born in Pola de Siero, Asturias, a beautiful region in the north Spain and I am currently living in Madrid. I have a chemistry degree and I work as a logistics manager in a multinational retail company.
What first drew you to photography and how did you discover it?
In 2003 I became interested in digital photography and then I started to mix it digitally with painting, composing digital collages. In February 2011 I bought an iPhone 4 and I started to try different photography apps and take photos, just for fun. Then a friend told me about Instagram and I began to share my pics and had a nice feedback, so mobile photography became one of my favorite hobbies.
What makes street photography so special for you?
I don’t know why but I love street photography…people, color, energy, lines, lights and shadows. For me is relaxing and the perfect way to do something creative and escape from routine. It’s really addictive, I also love traveling, these are my two greatest passions.
One thing that photography had taught you over the years?
Just go, take pictures, meet people and enjoy yourself.
Please tell few words about your series In Shadow?
I focus my photography in peoPle, light and shadow. In “En sombra” you will find some black and white candid street photos, with a lot of geometry, strong subexpositions and high-contrast lighting. These pictures were shot and edited only with mobile phones, and were taken in Oviedo, Avilés, Madrid, London, Paris, Tenerife, Berlin, Istanbul, Toledo, Barcelona, Granada and Lisboa between 2014 and 2016.
For me, photography is a way of expressing emotions and mood states, so in this series I tried to reflect emotions such as melancholy, inner conflict or the passage of time, confining my subjects between different geometric planes of light and shadow.
Can you please choose one picture from your portfolio and share the story behind the making?
I shot this one with my iPhone 6 in Toledo, 2015, at La Subida de la Granja. There was an amazing light coming from the right side, then this woman appeared and saw me taking photographs, then she covered her face with her hand. I particularly like the light and the texture of that hand. A few minutes ago I had gotten my right leg into a ditch full of water and green particles, so I had to put off my trousers, sock and shoe, and put them in the sun untill they were dry. I guess it comes with the territory.
Your favorite photographers?
Ray K Metzker, Saul Leiter, Koudelka, Fan Ho, Ernst Haas, Alex Webb…the great classics. And my daily inspiration, really talented photographers: Orietta GS, Langlent, Nazaret, Ernesto, Circo, Andrés Canal, Serpiaka, etc.
What camera do you use the majority of the time?
iPhone 6S
Any tips for aspiring street photographers out there?
Good light, a pair of comfortable shoes, shoot a lot and invest in photographic books.
You can find José Luis Barcia Fernandez on the Web :
Copyrights:
All the pictures in this post are copyrighted José Luis Barcia Fernandez. Their reproduction, even in part, is forbidden without the explicit approval of the rightful owners.
