Today we’d like to introduce you to Elias Arriaga.
Elias, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I have always done different types of art throughout the years, but as of 2 years ago, I started really working with film. At first, I was doing a mixture of film pictures I had scanned in and digital images and incorporating graphic design elements. I was essentially making digital collage images.
After working this way for a while I really started to enjoy the act of just taking the pictures themselves, with no real goal in mind basically doing candid shots on some expired film, which I love to shoot with. But I started to really enjoy this type of photography, the ability to capture raw emotion and special moments, people acting in their natural habitat. Being a part of the Houston art and music scene is a really beautiful thing, when you’re around the underground you see so much raw talent and amazing artists and individuals that are a part of this underground scene. I love it because it is not like anything else, it is super formal galleries or high production shows, it’s full of hustlers, people that grind, it’s very DIY, and it has those elements of urban decay and grime.
Amongst all of this, you see people from all walks of life, backgrounds, and everything just existing in the moment, enjoying a beautiful experience. This is why I love shooting films so much, I love capturing people in moments of raw emotion, beautiful moments, and just people showing their art or music and doing what they love. This is what I love to capture and this is why I love shooting film today.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
One challenge for me personally is trying to enjoy my own style of shooting. I love the way it looks and what I put out, but Houston also has some amazing photographers and I often find myself comparing my work to theirs instead of just doing my thing. Other than that nothing crazy beside the rising price of film and the occasionally broken camera and messed up film
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I do a lot but I love photography, as I said before capturing those beautiful moments of existence is one of the greatest things to do. I’m proud of everything I out, sometimes I am hyper-critical about my work, but every creative is their hardest critic you know. And as for what sets me apart from others, honestly, nothing. I have my own style and way of doing things but I am by no means better than anyone, Houston is a melting pot of amazingly talented individuals. I’m just a part of that pot.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
Honestly, that day is longer than you think, when the pandemic and lockdown first happened I found myself with a lot of free time and nothing to do. I thought I had a lot of free time before and I used it to the fullest, but I was totally wrong. It helped me realize how much you can grind throughout one day and work on your craft. It helped me really feel serious about pursuing my craft and it gave me the time to really find my style, so it was a good thing and a bad thing.
Contact Info:
Image Credits:
Elias arriaga (@strxpe_)
