PHOTO LONDON: Park life
© Yura 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?
Totally, having the option of having time to photograph in a group and individually, I feel that it allowed me to have a good balance between coaching and taking recommendations from Julio and Ricardo and developing something with my vision taking their recommendations. Even more so after the correction sessions. Maybe I would have liked to have a couple more.
The photobook “PARK LIFE” 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?
It’s a combination of both: finding a balance between creating an image that establishes a series or theme while also conveying a specific idea. Since this is a photo book project, it's important to ensure that the images work cohesively, even if they are divided into chapters or different concepts related to the main topic. Each section should complement the overall narrative while allowing for varied exploration of ideas and themes.
© Yura rodríguez, 2024
Do you think working with a project in mind is beneficial for the photographic process? And if so, what advantages or positive characteristics were you able to recognize?
It can be stressful at first because it can lead to anxiety over "what you have to photograph." However, having a defined focus helps to develop the project. In other experiences, the direction of the work can emerge naturally or not, depending on what you capture. Having a clear concept for the project helps guide your observations. This is my first experience with trips like this, and although it was challenging at the outset, it ultimately opened my eyes to new perspectives.
