Have you met Federico?

[Dahlia Ambrose]

This time around we get to know a little more about Federico, @federicoalegria

• Tell us a little about yourself and your photography journey.

o Where do you live?  How long you have had an interest in photography?

I was born in El Salvador and that’s where I’ve been living since 1989.

o How long you have had an interest in photography?

Throughout my life I’ve encountered several interests and I’ve always had a curious mind; science is my safe place to be and it handed a purpose for my love towards photography. Speaking of which, I’ve been interested in it since 2009 and it all begun with need for a creative outlet.

o What got you interested in photography? How would you describe your photographic journey to date?

First I explored my surroundings through various optical capabilities of photography. Later on, I discovered street photography and my curiosity steered me down the road of documentary photography in 2017.

Now, about visual consumption I must say that my taste is broad and I enjoy watching several types of imagery, even the ones that surpass my interest as a photographer. In other words, even though I don’t do certain photos (like landscapes for example) I enjoy watching them for sure.

• What is the best advice you have received so far regarding photography?

In short I can say that it has been to practice everyday. I must recognise though that I haven’t been practicing daily for a while now. Now this advice can be broken down into two smaller tips. First is to always carry a camera with you, and second to familiarize with a single focal length. I know that smartphones are pretty powerful nowadays, but there’s something about carrying a camera with you that makes you feel sort of guilty for not paying attention to the surroundings and consequently no making pictures. Something that smartphones are still not capable of making me feel due to their ubiquitous presence in our everyday lives.

Now about the focal length, I reckon when I started in photography that I felt this urge to have several lenses in my bag. Otherwise I wouldn’t be a photographer… How wrong I was. To my students (and everyone new to the craft) I always recommend this, use the kit lens and listen to it. Kit lenses are great for getting a clear glimpse on the optical needs your photographic taste will demand. For example, if you find that several of your shots are being made with wide angle settings, then you might consider getting a 28mm or even a 35mm and use it for a couple of years until you have fully mastered it. Trust me, I’ve been capable of shooting from my back due to this sort of experience.

• How do you maintain inspiration?

By consuming documentary projects and street photos. This gets done from several sources, from books and magazines to social media, from museums and galleries to dedicated portfolios and websites. But one of the greatest sources for keeping up with inspiration is to gather around other photographers as well.

• What is your favourite subject to shoot & why?

Craftsmanship and working culture perhaps. I enjoy documenting how people make a living from alternative practices that scope beyond traditional professions. So far I’ve been capable of documenting bush pilots, fishermen, lucha libre wrestlers and tattoo artists. Right now I’m working on a project focused on craftsman/inventor who has been making nutcracker dolls for about 8 years now.

• Do you have a favourite type of photography?

Documentary and street photography.

• How would you describe your photographic journey to date?

Pretty much self-taught.

• If you could only use one camera/lens combination for a year, which would you choose?

Fujifilm X100 system, I’ve been using the X100T since 2016 and I haven’t feel the need of using any other camera. This particular piece of equipment comes with a fixed 23mm (35mm equivalent) f/2.8 lens but there are a couple of adaptors that allow users to expand such equivalency to 28mm and 50mm. I have both, but the native 35mm equivalent setting is just fine.

• What is your favourite image right now? 

This is my favourite shot, and the story behind it is quite simple. This is a local man walking around Oceanside Pier in California. I was just sitting on the sand and observing the beach when suddenly the man in the shot walked in front of me and I distantly followed him with my camera. I reckon exposing by eye and keeping calm while walking on top of the rocks in the foreground of the frame. I shot a single frame and this is the result. The lesson here is simple yet strong, always carry your camera with you.

Now my favourite shots from other photographers are these:

Hans Gutmann – Marina Ginestà over the rooftop at Hotel Colón, Barcelona; 1936

Harold Feinstein – Coney Island Teenagers

Martine Franck – The French on Vacation; 1976

André Kertész – Meudon, France; 1928

Mike Brodie – Freighthoppin, USA; 2004_2008

William Egglestone, Untitled

This last shot is in super poor quality because I retrieved this printed book.

• Is there a photographer that inspires you?

Maybe André Kertész.

• What is your biggest challenge when it comes to photography?

Defining a good topic and finding the time to develop it properly.

• Is there anything specific you intend to learn or improve in your photography?

Photography is a lifetime decision, so I’m sure I’ll never stop learning things. Actually, Patrick raised a similar question the other day and these are the three things I find myself more interested in:

• Listening and Observing
• Crafting conversational questions
• Exposing from the eyes

• If people want to follow more of your work where should they go?

• Website
• Instagram
• Twitter

• Provide 3 or 4 of your favourite images that can be displayed with the interview

cc: @admin

Here is a list of our members who were featured in the past if you would love to read. I have attached a link to their profile and their interview.

Diane Wehr   @albirder : Introducing Diane Wehr

Tobie   @tobiepsg : Introducing Tobie

Rob Eyers  @reyers   : Introducing Rob Eyers

Duncan Stewart  @falxy : Introducing the Falx

John Thompson  @nikon-nut : Introducing Nikon nut 

Valery  @valeryp  : Introducing Valery

Tom Dinning  @tomdinning : Introducing Tom Dinning

Christina Brown  @Chrissiebee : Introducing Chrissie Bee

Bobbie  @bobbie : Introducing Bobbie

Gordon James  @gordonjames : Introducing Gordon James

Chris Pook  @chrispook  : Have you met Chris Pook?

Erik Fransman  @erik-fransman : Have you met Erik Fransman?

Gary Zerbst  @garyzerbst  : Have you met Gary Zerbst?

Allen Furst  @3pco : Have you met Allen Furst?

Jim  @Mistyisle : Have you met Jim?

Frogdaily  @frogdaily : Have you met Frogdaily?

Robert Apple  @robertapple : Have you met Robert Apple?

Steve Matten  @stevematten : Have you met Steve Matten?

Cornelia Acorn  @corneliaacorn : Have you met Cornelia Acorn?

Gray B  @grayb : Have you met Gray B?

Dahlia Ambrose  @dahliaambrose : Have you met Dahlia Ambrose?

Patrick @patrickw : Have you met Patrick?

Dave  @pentaxfan : Have you met Dave?

Peter  @peternowak : Have you met Peter?

Beaky @ozride : Have you met Beaky?

Graham Hart @diripics : Have you met Graham?

Daniel Krueger @drkrueger22: Have you met Daniel?

Jasenka @jasenkag : Have you met Jasenka?

Astaroth @astaroth : Have you met Astaroth?

Joanne Van Praag @vanpraag : Have you met Joanne?

Leanne Cleaveley @leannecleaveley : Have you met Leanne?

David Chesterfield @dchester1001 : Have you met David?

Patricia Garrett @PAToGraphy : Have you met Pat?

Beth @loki : Have you met Beth?

Elin @elax : Have you met Elin?

Greg @glegg : Have you met Greg?

John @johnteate : Have you met John?

Paul @paul-3 : Have you met Paul?

Charmaine @joubie : Have you met Charmaine?

Aurimas @aurikami : Have you met Aurimas?

Rose Marie @rgatscha : Have you met Rose Marie

Wendy @wendyp : Have you met Wendy?

 

[Patrick]

Thanks so much to both of you for taking the time to do this interview 🙂

I love you mind set mate i want to get inside and delve deeper and deeper , i learn or pick up on much of what i see you write here at Ls so thank you for that ..  also your fav shot also happens to be my own fav shot from you that from what i have seen so far i am sure you have many many beauties tucked away we have not seen yet , Thank you for sharing some of your fav shots from other very accomplished photographers they are all beautiful mate 🙂

Dahlia superb as always i love how you have constructed these interviews so easy to digest thanks to your excellent writing 🙂

[Federico Alegria]

Thanks a lot for your kind words mate! And yeah, I wanted to give the interview a twist by including some of my favourite shots from other folks jajaja.

[Dave Watkins]

Thanks Federico. And to Dahlia as well for taking the “Have you met…” project on.

Thoroughly enjoyed getting to know more about you Federico. Also enjoyed every image you attached to your “bio.” As short as it was it still offered a brief glimpse of your photographic journey. And many thanks for what you do here at LS.

[Federico Alegria]

Thanks a lot Dave, after maturing these shots, it wasn’t hard to pick them through.

[Wendy P]

Thanks for sharing your passion with us, Federico. I really like the depth and tone on your black-and-whit shots. Very interesting work!

[Federico Alegria]

Thanks a lot!

[Rob Wood (Admin)]

I knew I liked this guy.

[Federico Alegria]

Jajaja, thanks mate!

[Michael]

Fascinating reading, Federico. Thank you for sharing just a bit of your life with us.

[Federico Alegria]

Thanks for your kind words mate!

[ElinL]

Thanks for sharing with us Federico. Love your work. The two colour images of yours posted above are absolutely stellar. Make me wish for more than can be seen on your web page and Instagram.

[Author]

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