Today we’d like to introduce you to Santiago Pinzon.
Santiago, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I stumbled upon photography almost by accident. A few years ago, my family and I were planning a trip, so I decided to learn how my new camera phone worked. As I fell into the photography tutorial wormhole, I found myself deeply interested in how everything worked, and once I began taking photos on my travels, I began to love photography as an art form. I worked on my craft by looking to the greats: Steve McCurry, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Platon, etc. In those days of starting out, I never could have imagined the whirlwind of events that would occur in the next couple of years. From working with Houston-based Latin jazz singer Raquel Cepeda as her photographer to being featured in an exhibition at Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, to earning several statewide awards and recognitions, the ride has certainly been wild. However, it has been the joys and lessons along the way that are particularly special to me. Photography has taught me how to observe, ask questions, and explore what makes us human.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It certainly hasn’t been smooth the whole way. I had to learn the hard way that you have to be bad at what you do the majority of the time in order to be skilled. If you take a look at my unedited files, you’ll see that 99 percent of the photos I take can be pretty underwhelming. That sobering fact affected me for a while and can still catch me off-guard every now and then. However, there has also been a great reward with this process; though you may take 99 bad photos for every 100, nothing compares to the feeling of capturing that one gem.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
My trade is mainly a passion project, but one that comes from great contemplation. My work seeks to celebrate how complex, joyous, frightening, and strange it can be to be human. I specialize in street photography and portraiture, but I try to avoid using many bells and whistles. I work simply, which allows my subjects and messages to come to the foreground.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
My family has been my group of cheerleaders as they are with all of my endeavors. They are always willing to put up with my projects, even if it means setting up a makeshift studio in our house or allowing me to wander busy city squares. Additionally, Raquel Cepeda helped me learn about photography as a form of work.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @santiagopinzonphotos
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