PHOTO LONDON: Street food
© Dámaris rodríguez, 2024
It’s understood that each of the participants was assigned a photographic project during the trip to Photo London. Do you think you were able to apply a personal vision to the assigned project?
Yes, it was possible. My theme was “Food Street” and, at first, the literal nature of the subject It hindered creativity. However, with the guidance of teachers and the analysis of my images, I found those that reflect my way of seeing the world, capturing not just the food, but also the stories and details surrounding it.
The photobook “STREET FOOD” is the result of the Photo London 2024 trip organized by Long Distance Photo Expeditions and Roberto Mata School of Photography. It is part of a collection of seven photobooks created by each of the participants during the photographic journey to London in May 2024. The course was led by Julio Estrada and Ricardo Peña, with the books designed by Claudia Leal. Participating photographers: Carlos Anllo, Michel Catalan, Aránzazu González, Omar Mattar, Dámaris Rodríguez, Yuraima Rodríguez, and María Elena Velasco.
When creating the project, did you place more importance on the individual images or on the group of images you wanted to create?
I knew that each photo had to tell part of a story about street food in London. But, at first, due to lack of experience, I saw each image as something separate, without thinking about how they connected. As the days went by and with guidance from Julio and Ricardo, I realized that I had to think beyond the individual images. I learned that one image should lead me to the other, creating a sequence that told something bigger, something meaningful.
© Dámaris rodríguez, 2024
Do you think working with a project in mind is beneficial for the photographic process?
Yes i do.
And if so, what advantages or positive characteristics were you able to recognize?
By working with a project in mind, you gain experience and it helps you a lot. The photographic journey is no longer just a set of loose images that end up forgotten on your computer. You start to focus on maintaining a coherent style, taking care of the lighting, colors, and narrative. Having a clear purpose not only optimizes your time but also encourages you to research more on the subject, allowing you to see it from new perspectives. But, without a doubt, the most gratifying thing was to discover how the photos connected to tell a real story, rather than remain in isolated and directionless images.
