PHOTO CONFESSIONAL: Julio Estrada
the azores, 2020
IF YOU WEREN’T A PHOTOGRAPHER, WHAT OTHER PROFESSION WOULD YOU PICK?
If I weren’t a photographer, I would have liked to be a musician.
cambrils 2020
WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST CRUCIAL DECISION YOU HAVE MADE IN YOUR CAREER’s DEVELOPMENT?
The most crucial decision in my career development was migration. It led me to reinvention and constant changes. At 46 years old, I faced many challenges, and I had to adapt as if I were starting from scratch.
the azores 2020
HOW IMPORTANT IS RESEARCH IN YOUR WORK?
Research is one of the things I always do and enjoy the most. It helps clarify and lay the foundation for a project, determining whether it can be executed or not. Research will always provide valuable knowledge.
the azores 2020
IS THERE A PHOTOGRAPHER/ARTIST WHO IS A CONSTANT REFERENCE FOR YOU?
My references are all the photographers I’ve encountered over 25 years, through my work at Larga Distancia Expediciones Fotográficas. I’ve learned a lot from them, and they’ve helped me become more humble.
naples 2022
WHAT WOULD YOU NOT WANT TO PHOTOGRAPH?
I have never had to say, “I don’t want to photograph this.” What can influence that decision is how you approach it and the situation you're in. This may or may not make the photographic act enjoyable.
the azores 2020
WHAT EQUIPMENT DO YOU USE, AND WHAT IMPORTANCE DO YOU GIVE TO TECHNIQUE?
For my personal work, I use a digital camera with a 40mm manual focus lens and an analog camera, the Xpan model, which I use exclusively in panoramic format. I also really enjoy developing my negatives. I believe technique is something you practice constantly without realizing it; it’s inherent to your photographic process. Using photographic film makes you more conscious of the photographic act itself.
cambrils 2020
WHAT IS THE STARTING POINT OF YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS?
The starting point of my creative process is closely tied to how I feel. Personal motivation is the main foundation for my creative output. Everything around me interests me, and I see how everything is interconnected. Everything transforms and responds to a "why."
cambrils 2021
HOW DO YOU DEFINE YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY WITH a #tag
#Authentic
at what point did you feel you were a photographer, and what made you think that way?
The first time I felt I was a photographer was when I successfully conveyed something with my images. That day, I felt I had something wonderful in my hands.
the azores 2020
HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH REJECTION?
Common sense and experience minimize rejection. I prepare myself for a negative response, and when I receive a positive one, I feel fulfilled.
barcelona 2014
HOW DO YOU THINK YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED SUCH SUCCESS?
I do what I do because I enjoy it. In every project, I try to give 100%. I don’t believe in success, as it can make you lose sight of your goals.
naples 2022
HOW DO YOU APPROACH STRANGERS IN YOUR PROJECTS OR TO INCLUDE IN YOUR PROJECTS?
I approach with respect above all. I seek to break any barriers and convey what I want with honesty. The photographic act must be genuine and not force a reality that doesn’t exist in order to gain recognition.
catalonia 2021
IS IT COMMON FOR YOU TO QUESTION YOURSELF OR YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY?
You can always question yourself and your photography; I think that’s normal. I always start from the point that I do things because I like them and enjoy them; it’s my way of expressing what I feel. When I question myself, I think about my camera and my work, and refocus.
spain 2016
how is to approach to the art world/ photo-book world?
My approach to the world of art and photobooks is that I enjoy fostering and helping others show their work and publish, more than doing it for myself. The photobook is something wonderful, where the format has managed to establish itself and become democratized as the preferred medium for visual artists, thanks also to advances in technology. We thought this technology might take away the printed medium, but in fact, it has contributed to its perpetuation. Exhibition proposals comfort me; I enjoy them very much and am interested in detailing the entire creative process: the proposal, the space, the dynamics, the editing.
spain 2016
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO A NEW PHOTOGRAPHER WHO IS JUST STARTING OUT?
Understanding that the world moves through images and that there is always space for us to express ourselves, even though the medium can often be overwhelming and hostile. My closest experience has been with the Taller de Fotografía Roberto Mata, where many photographers have trained and gone on to establish themselves as recognized artists.
ABOUT Julio Estrada
started his formation as a photographer in Roberto Mata Taller de Fotografía and has a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Universidad José María Vargas. his professional experience includes co-founding Larga Distancia Expediciones Fotográficas, where he organize photographic workshops and road trips. his work has been exhibited in numerous international galleries and museums, including Galería Marta Traba de Arte Latinoamericano in Sao Paulo and Galleria del Cortile in Rome. he has received awards and recognitions, such as the Martin Chambi Award from L'Union Latine and the First Prize at the XI National Visual Arts Salon Francisco Lazo Martí. Additionally, he has participated as a curator and juror in photography competitions, and has published his work in various magazines and books, including National Geographic and Black & White Magazine.
Portrait by ricardo peña
