\u00c1ngel J. S\u00e1nchez from the University of the Basque Country is an avid photographer who has always deemed his life linked to photography in one way or another. Thanks to various experiences with several advertising agencies, \u00c1ngel had many opportunities to collaborate with esteemed fashion and advertising photographers. With an interest in photography going back to his childhood, he now strives to capture masterpieces to display to the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<p>I have a Bachelor\u2019s Degree in ICTs and Advertising from the UPV-EHU, University of the Basque Country. My life has always been linked to photography in one way or another.<\/p>
<p>Thanks to my work for several advertising agencies, I have had the opportunity of collaborating with great fashion and advertising photographers such as Alejandro Cabrera, Michael Wray, Michael Shelley, Paco Navarro, Toni Riera, etc. from whom I have learned a great deal and kept feeding my passion.<\/p>
<p>But my interest in photography dates back further into the past. Going back to my childhood, I still recall how I used to play to capture snapshots by simply fixing images on my mind by quickly closing my eyes to retain a moment in memory, taking advantage of the effect of retinal persistence.<\/p>
<p>From 1980 to 1982, I attended courses in analogical photography at the Cultural Association \u201cEl Desv\u00e1n\u201d in Bilbao, while completing my university studies.<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n
From 1980 to 1982, I attended courses in analogical photography at the Cultural Association \u201cEl Desv\u00e1n\u201d in Bilbao, while completing my university studies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q3. Do you remember your first shot? What was it?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I remember my first photo with a Kodak Instamatic, which was given to me during my First Communion celebration. During the event, a very popular person at the time approached, and I took my first photograph of them. However, I didn’t wind the film properly, resulting in a very interesting double exposure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Q4. What equipment do you use?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I work with Nikon cameras, a D7100 for travel and a D800, with different lenses among which I would highlight the Sigma Art 35mm, the Nikkor 50mm f1.4, and the Tamron SP 85mm. I have also managed to adapt several Mamiya lenses to my camera, which give a very special atmosphere to certain types of images.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <p>For me, photography is above all an escape valve and a way to communicate what I feel. Shifting the focus from advertising objectives and urgent demands to go out and look at things differently, to discover the beauty, what moves me, or what stirs me.<\/p> <p>That’s why I like to work in series that form a narrative, and ideas, to communicate with images and stir and confront the viewer to discover what they feel when they see my images and to establish a dialogue through them.<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n Q6. What compliment inspired\/touched you the most?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A person I saw crying in front of one of my images at an exhibition in the Salon d’Automne in Paris, of which I am an honourary member. My French is not very good, but we understood each other and talked for hours about what I wanted to convey and what he interpreted. It was a truly enriching moment<\/p>\n\n\n\n Q7. What inspires your unique storytelling?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Portraying yourself and baring my soul with my photographs, to discover myself<\/p>\n\n\n\n Q8. What THREE (3) words describe your photography style?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Emotion, conexi\u00f3n, expresi\u00f3n<\/p>\n\n\n\n <p>Every award and every recognition encourages me to continue telling stories with images, revealing what moves me. It connects me with people who see my photography. This award gives meaning and purpose to the work I’ve done.<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n Presenting an X-ray of a society devoid of humanity.<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n Towers and buildings of technology, science, religion, and politics. Monuments of culture, finance, or the greatest glory of public administration and media. Empty hives from where our loneliness feeds, and where critical thinking is flattened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Q11. How has winning an award developed your career?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Winning an award is discovering that what you do reaches people, communicates, and conveys a message. It reduces the uncertainty you always have about whether your work has any meaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Q12. Name 1-3 photographers who have inspired you.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Only 3? Sebasti\u00e3o Salgado for the message, Cartier Bresson for the moment, Ansel Adams for the invisible technique!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Look at many photographs but above all a lot of paintings. Seek the light but knowing that it is the shadow that creates it, one without the other is nothing. And importantly practice, practice, practice until you find yourself. For me, the key is passion, giving meaning and purpose to what you want to show. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Q15. How do you stay in that space of being receptive to new information and knowledge?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I believe, to photograph, one must hunger for photography as to tell stories. When not photographing, I look at countless photographs and read about the great photographers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00c1ngel J. S\u00e1nchez<\/strong><\/strong> from the University of the Basque Country is an avid photographer who has always deemed his life linked to photography in one way or another. Thanks to various experiences with several advertising agencies, \u00c1ngel had many opportunities to collaborate with esteemed fashion and advertising photographers. With an interest in photography going back to his childhood, he now strives to capture masterpieces to display to the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\nQ5. What do you hope to achieve?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Q9. Congratulations! As the winner of the London Photography Awards, what does it mean for you and your team to receive this distinction?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Q14. What is your key to success? Any parting words of wisdom?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\u00c1ngel J. S\u00e1nchez<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n