Home Contemporary Photography “A Lie, To See The Truth”

“A Lie, To See The Truth”

Brandan Gomez - Lugares Comunes

“I conceptualize before I decide what I want to do and how. I think about the medium which I’ll use, its purpose, when to shoot, where etc. – I’m very rational.”

Brandán Gómez

Brandán Gómez. Spanish photographer based in Santiago de Compostela. Photography runs in his family. “In my parents house there was a laboratory for black and white pictures. Photography has just been a great passion throughout our family”, Brandán Gómez says. Later he obtained a university degree in photography. Still Brandán Gómez is not working professionally as a photographer, but dedicates himself to taking pictures as a “personal form of expression”.

He earns his money working as a designer.

Among his photographic work there’s a series called “Lugares Comunes” (Common Places), in which Brandán Gómez shows his unique view of ordinary places and situations, that we normally don’t even register anymore because we are so familiar with them.

Interview with Brandán Gómez

Brandán, what was your first camera and photographic experience?

A Pentax K1000 with a 50mm f1.4 lense.

Why did you become a photographer?

I don’t work as a professional photographer, but rather use photography as a form of personal expression.

What does photography mean to you?

A medium to communicate. A lie that helps us to see the truth. A wonderful sense of reality.

Which photographer has inspired you most and why?

When I was young, I admired Henri Cartier-Bresson. These days I love the subtlety of William Eggleston, Joan Fontcuberta, Chema Madoz, Jacob Aue Sobol and Ryan McGingley.

How would you describe your photographic style and way of working? How do you realize a shooting?

I conceptualize before I decide what I want to do and how. I think about the medium which I’ll use, its purpose, when to shoot, where etc. – I’m very rational.

The important thing to me is that a photographer must have something he wants to tell. Just look at Antoine D’Agata: zero technique and all expression!

What’s important in order to develop an own photographic style and how did you achieve it?

The style is developed by looking at pictures and taking lots of photographs. One must look at the work of many photographers, trying to understand how they shot a particular photo, and then go out there and try oneself. In the end, one has to decide in which direction to move as a photographer.

The perfect use of the camera shows when a pictures transmits a good concept. That is to say, when looking at a photograph, the observer forgets for a brief moment, that this image was captured with a camera.

What does a photo need to be a great photo in your eyes?

A relevant message well transmitted.

Where do you draw inspiration from for your photographic projects?

Of life around me, from my work as a designer – or from books I read.

How do you keep up to date with new developments in photography, to keep on learning new things?

The internet is a great source to keep up to date and discover new things – site like ffffound, burnmagazine, 1000words or photo.net for example. But also blogs of other photographers.

What kind of photography equipment and photographic supplies do you use?

Mamiya RB67, Mamiya Press 23, Leica MP, some flashes, remote transmitters, and a spot meter.

Which advice would you give someone who wants to become a professional photographer?

Fail, fail more, fail harder – fail better!

More about Brandán Gómez

Website

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