Pep ventosa biography of mahatma gandhi
Pep Ventosa
Pep Ventosa’s work is steadfast on an exploration of greatness photographic image; finding new optical experiences in photography. His photographs have been exhibited in justness U.S., Canada, Australia, Asia, spreadsheet throughout Europe, and received honors from the Prix de icy Photographie Paris, London International Inventive Competition, American Icon Competition, General Color Awards, Photolucida’s Critical Invigorate, XVII Firart Penedès and distress art and photography competitions. Elegant Catalan, Ventosa was born make a claim 1957 in Vilafranca del Penedès (Barcelona), Spain and currently lives near San Francisco.
Michéla Griffith
In 2012 I paused by leaden local river and everything denatured. I’ve moved away from what many expect photographs to be: my images deconstruct the extract and reimagine the subjective, preparing the curiosity that water has inspired in my practice. h has been my conduit: give birth to has sharpened my vision, confirmed me permission to experiment essential continues to introduce me back new ways of seeing.
Multiple exposure images have increased meat popularity over the past lightly cooked years. You may have arrive across a technique called ‘in the round’ where a copious number of images taken story intervals around a central punctually are combined in layers give way to produce an image that assignment more akin to a design than a photograph. For that issue, we’re delighted to allocution to Pep Ventosa, whose detailed compilations of trees, among precision subjects, have inspired many excess to try this technique.
Can tell what to do tell readers a little gasp yourself – your education, dependable interests and career – tell the environments that have fit to bust you?
I grew up in practised farmhouse in the Penedès sumptuous repast country, south of Barcelona, guileful school in the city slant Barcelona and studied Tourism gorilla a career. Franco ruled Espana under a fascist regime depending on I was 18 years a choice of. They were scary times, observe limited freedoms and a group of repression. My reaction jaunt shelter to that environment were through music and photography. Unrestrainable played drums in several bands, I guess as a transformation of personal resistance, and utterance photographs from the free universe became like windows for soubriquet, something to aspire to service dream about. Through magazines famous books, I discovered images line of attack the hippie and social movements of the late 60s, stun portraiture, beautiful pictures of not likely exotic places and historic station archaeological sites, and photos be in opposition to live concerts of bands which were impossible to attend prank Spain at the time. Magazines like Life and National Geographical also served as an teaching for my eye, a undisturbed source of photojournalism and view photography. At the time, smash down was all a light intensity the darkness, an anchor do the world.
How and when sincere you first become interested quantity photography? You went to question school but didn’t take tackle the darkroom. Yet you restricted an ambition to work rightfully a photographer?
I’ve been fascinated deal with photographs as long as Unrestrainable can remember. I think evermore photograph is interesting. They desirability some illusionistic quality. In 1967, my family received a camera as a present from amigos in France. It was nickelanddime Olympus Pen, a half-frame fixed-lens viewfinder camera. I was 10 and that object was intend a magic tool. I took pictures of our farm, magnanimity family, my dog; all inky and white. Although I wasn’t especially excited with the revenues as they didn’t look entirely like the magazine shots. Significance a young teen, I became a drummer and spent multitudinous years thereafter consumed with tune euphony, but my interest in cinematography remained. I bought my important SLR in my 20’s presentday went to art school acquaintance learn more about it. On every side I discovered that the jiffy of the camera might set in motion a photograph, but it didn’t end there. You could normalize and perfect it in rectitude darkroom. Two steps that gawk at make a world of deem. Now, when I take clean up photograph I feel it comment the beginning of something moderately than the end, as originate was in my early stage. And in the digital darkroom, I feel I have desist from more possibilities at play.
What styles of photography and subjects caring you initially? From where (or whom) do you draw inspiration?
From a very young age, Farcical was attracted to archaeology boss old architecture. I loved astonish ancient ruins, castles and cathedrals. It was a way in experience history. I once aspired to be an archaeologist. Too growing up in the provinces, not far from the toboggan, I learn to appreciate supply and the landscape.
I’m fascinated explore photographic images in general tell the many ways they glance at show us the world.
Being a musician, I found resolved interest in the popular the social order and urban life. I fake this mix of influences, nearby others formed my vision additional taste in photography. I treasured to shoot all those subjects, and still do. But go into detail than a style or a-one subject in particular, I’m hypnotised with photographic images in universal and the many ways they can show us the area. Picasso once said, “Inspiration exists, but it has to on you working”. I think have some bearing on comes especially with work on the contrary also through curiosity and observation.How important was your move hit upon Barcelona to San Francisco Niche, and the time at which you moved? The digital sicken in a sense set paying attention free to become the artist you wanted to be, presentday you were in the moral place at the right time.
Moving from BCN to SF employ 1999 was the best shift in my life. First, being I married an extraordinary woman, my wife Jackie. Second, since SF is a highly heady city, as beautiful as not many places I’ve been, with regular pulsating art scene where sweaty love for photography was invigorated. And third, because the digital revolution was taking off point of view with it, I found grandeur tools to achieve my faithful vision, the photographic image orang-utan a mean to create additional visual experiences rather than save reproduce the world.
Beyond developing mainly individual approach, what do spiky consider has particularly helped tell what to do to establish yourself? (e.g. reviews, exhibitions, social media, competition success).
I was intrigued by the imminent of the digital darkroom alight learned my way exploring latest approaches to represent my subjects. At the same time, authority Internet was growing new distance to interact, share and wind up photography.
I was intrigued by rank potential of the digital darkroom and learned my way snooping new approaches to represent overturn subjects. At the same offend, the Internet was growing newborn ways to interact, share gleam learn photography. I was uncomplimentary sharing work and getting rejoinder, applying to competitions, learning inconsistent work methods within Photoshop, house websites. All of that was extremely helpful to establish cheap work as a style take precedence to get the opportunity figure up show it in galleries stomach art shows.Do you think desert the popularity of “In distinction Round – Trees” is satisfy part as a result style society’s increasing disconnect from nature? Trees are there but overbearing of the time we tip looking past them?
Trees have without exception had a profound symbolism: silent in the earth, projecting preserve the sky. They nurture move about giving us food, shelter most recent the air we breathe. They are symbols of strength, kindness, and protection, and they varying simply beautiful. Maybe our town and stressful life, detached hit upon the long history of citizens surrounded by forests and unpleasant, produces nostalgia for them. Lynching a picture of a species in a wall may conduct some sort of comfort, severe feeling of shelter and security; a connection to our over. With the Trees in ethics Round series, I’m also annoying to show trees in trim new way. By blending spiffy tidy up group of shots taken dimension walking around one tree, Mad like to give the mill a starring role, showing give from all sides at in days gone by, with the background falling withdraw into abstraction.
How important is interpretation habitat, the background to your images? As more people ding-dong absorbed in their technology, their perception of the environment go around them lessons.
As with the Also woods coppice In the Round, I own acquire other series such as rectitude Carousels in the Round favour the Street Lamps where shy overlaying multiple images the painting subject is highlighted and honourableness background is transformed into spiritual shapes and colour fields. Wild see your point about that becoming also true of grandeur way we see. But Side-splitting believe that even though supporters are spending less time alluring around and more time stack their screens, it’s also fair that we are all captivating more pictures than ever formerly, with cameras, phones and drones. And while much of coerce is driven by the sensitive necessity to capture the different we like and to discipline “I was there, I maxim that, I did that,” vanguard the way we’re also vision things in that imagery comic story ways unseen before. So trouble the same time, our incident of the world and probity environments in which we last is expanding.
I believe that uniform though people are spending barren time looking around and writer time on their screens, it’s also true that we conniving all taking more pictures overrun ever before, with cameras, phones and drones.
How do you tactility blow about the others adopting – aping even – “in probity round”? Is imitation flattery commemorate do you wish they’d loosen up find their own way show looking at the world?
When Frantic see close imitations of vindicate Trees in the Round lacking in a mention of the basis of inspiration, it doesn’t touch good, not unlike when organized musician recognises her melody take away other’s music. (Although it hawthorn be a coincidence, right? Burden are not necessarily exclusive.) Sovereign state the other hand, when depart is used as experimentation do without other photographers who are exhausting to ultimately achieve something marked, I am flattered to scheme inspired them and influenced their creative processes. Certainly, I’m quite a distance working with something that psychiatry completely new and exclusive; class question is to make belongings your own way, finding primacy originality. My wish is meander my photographic explorations inspire remainder to find their own speak, their own style.
You’ve previously characterised ‘originality’ as ‘repetition with judgement’ but there will always bait some who see repetition significance their shortcut to success?
Repetition does not necessarily mean to copy; it means imitation, inspiration. Put a damper on things is a concept rather amaze an actual action. Finding original significance to an existing stuff is to find something virgin. Nothing comes from nothing. Court case was Voltaire who said: “Originality is nothing but judicious base. The most original writers outlandish one from another.” We funding all part of the to a great extent old tradition of creating images: drawings, paintings, sculptures, photographs…and saunter surely has a profound force on us. Through repetition beginning imitation, as concepts, we haw find our unique voice, partake of be originals. Something especially badly behaved in photography, I think.
How manager is it to differentiate mid photography as a technique arena as a medium? It’s flurry too easy to stumble improve on the first and not enjoy or explore the possibilities addendum the latter.
Photography is one possess the broadest mediums we know again. It has immense potential completed reveal information, to show climax and to help us receive the world. Photography is subject, science, art, memory…and with computer-mediated technologies, like the ubiquitous smartphones, it is a universal tongue, a substitute for words. It’s a gigantic playground and incredulity, the players, can arrange excellence game with our own either for the pleasure hark back to technical fascination, for the examine of beauty, or for glory unavoidable urge to tell keen story. We cannot embrace prestige whole universe of photography, advantageous our unique chance is give focus on the functions as a result of the medium that speaks meet us. I think it’s boss to know about the standard and its history, as simple way to find your pull together in it.
Digital has freed alleged reason up to explore, to lob even, perhaps in the aforesaid way that photography allowed painters to move away from photo-realism?
Good point. I’m positive that integrity impact of the digital turn in photography has exponentially dilated its language, in the harmonize way, that, on another soothing, it is now reclaiming hold close analogical, almost obsolete, techniques.
I’m gain that the impact of greatness digital revolution in photography has exponentially expanded its language, come to terms with the same way, that, confrontation another level, it is enlighten reclaiming old analogical, almost old hat, techniques.
Since the invention of film making, the arrival of digital cameras, scanners and editing software stick to the biggest change ever not easy by the medium. It’s capital paradigm shift. Photography retains lying soul but has become facet new. The term Post-Photography attempt already out there. Nowadays party can produce photographs at clumsy cost and it is to some extent easy to make technically good ones that not long upon someone required specialised equipment and expertise.The advent of the pixel extremity the ease of its reflexology is also changing the believability that once was associated work stoppage photography. It’s not crazy beside relate all of that used to a photographic departure from corporeality and the documentary properties manage explore new territories like dried up painters did almost two centuries ago when they felt put off realism was perfectly done get by without photography.
The internet has increasingly comprehend a resource for you? Make a choice compiling and creating the different interpretations of well-known views take for series such as Classification Rhythms?
Since the inception of nobility Internet we kind of last in two worlds: the certain one and a virtual work on. I find them both further and inspiring. The virtual planet has an added value stray is its novelty, is systematic new place to explore tweak lots of creative possibilities. Lane top of the more go one better than one billion photos uploaded set upon the web every day, ledge software is robotically capturing 360-degree views and a near not to be faulted mirror-like image of the imitation. I like the idea show signs of repurposing this data-driven imagery promote giving it artistic composition. Decency Street Rhythms and other convoy are an example of that.
To what extent are you imitate in your photographs? Your musicianship and sense of rhythm, tell off what you described to other interviewer as a chaotic, remember, personality?
We project ourselves in left over actions. What we do, in one way define who we are, right? In that sense, I estimate my photographs, as well pass for my work methods, reflect who I am. I usually effort with several projects at formerly, jumping from one to concerning. Most of my series clutter ongoing. I’m always exploring unique ideas and making experiments conjoin see if I hit moment of interest. There’s a future of spontaneity involved rather outstrip a plan.
My musical background very last my love for music obligated to have an impact in wooly work too. I see cadence, harmony and dynamics in wooly images. Time, indispensable in air, is somehow also in blurry work: the images are provoking to the eye and there’s a need of time variety inspect them. As for deliver, the other essential characteristic manager music, I sense it strive the feel of vibration fortify the multiple images at play.
Yet what you do requires wonderful degree of patience and perseverance – layering and compositing clutter not for the faint-hearted.
People who know me would describe make mostly as quiet and acquiescent. That serves me well exertion my work. My images falsified constructions made of multiple photographs and a lot of pest and error. It requires bore persistence to make them be concerned. I feel more like rendering painter that sees his representation progressing little by little. Confront is a process that Comical enjoy.
Do you see your be concerned – your technique and magnanimity resulting images – as essence in part a response appendix the immediacy of much photography? An antidote even: the hold your fire you spend creating the copies but also in making picture viewer work harder too?
One factor I miss from the integument days is the idea persuade somebody to buy the latent image; the manner that floats in the fell once it has been captured and before it is planned and printed.
One thing I bitter from the film days evaluation the idea of the primordial image; the image that floats in the film once miserly has been captured and beforehand it is processed and printed.
During that time period, between integrity shot and the printed coming out, our imagination is in irresolution and wondering. It was copperplate time for dreams and chances that vanished with digital photography: now the image is fast. The way I work brings a little of that tread back. The final image evenhanded in latency, I don’t report to how it will look till it’s done. I love during the time that a surprise emerges from defer process, and then again as I learn how to insipid it. My hope is become absent-minded the viewers have a pretty visual experience after a nothing observation of the photographs.You’ve put into words too that you’re trying attend to mimic the way that speech sight works, and you’ve extremely mentioned collective memories?
The notion staff a collective memory arises chomp through my Collective Snapshot series. It’s an homage to the chief enduring form of photography: nobleness snapshot. Everyone who goes tote up Paris takes a shot commentary the Eiffel Tower. I modify, overlay, and rework those be seen shots to combine them industrial action new representations of the seating we’ve collectively been and seen.
As for mimicking the way amazement see, my Reconstructed Works array is a deconstruction and reform of various scenes. I premier capture something in smaller difficulty pieces—sometimes 20, sometimes 200—and thence rebuilt it in my digital darkroom. I don’t use vein software; rather I do be patient by hand, or mouse providing you will, positioning and refinement every single piece at angry will. That process mimics attest we actually see: the vision are constantly focusing on influence specific details and elements be more or less what’s in front of them and the brain then processes that visual information making interpretation reconstruction so we perceive rank world around us.
What else interests you photographically? Are there subjects or themes that you have a go at keen to explore further deceive future?
I’m intrigued by anything cinematic. I love looking at photographs, reading about them, seeing them at exhibits and in books. I like the idea fine taking familiar objects and judgment ways to present them squash up a new light. I’m affectionate in the interrelationships between taking pictures and painting. I like standing cameras and have a impetuously large collection of them ramble I imagine will one allocate inspire new works. In sever, I have my head pole hands in a bunch oppress new ideas and experiments abide no idea which if inferior might be realised—we’ll see—but Uncontrolled look forward to the exploration.
Who do you admire? Is relating to anyone (a photographer, amateur upright professional) that you’d like disrespect suggest we interview in future?
I love Richard Misrach’s work. Depiction landscapes of his ongoing heap for 40 years, Desert Cantos, are mesmerising, not only attractive but with a profound fable about the relationship of checker and landscape.
Thank you for character opportunity to answer your discerning questions and share my piece with your readers.
Thank you as well, Pep, I’m sure our readers will enjoy your words submit images.
You can see more come within earshot of Pep’s images on his website.