Camila López Díaz: Connect with what's in front of you
"I always say that we, photographers build a “new reality”."
Tell us about yourself.
I’m Camila, I’m 24 years old and I’m from Buenos Aires, Argentina. I studied advertising and photography and currently I’m working at an audiovisual production.
Canon AE-1-Kodak Ektar
When and how did the film journey begin for you?
When I realized that “digital world” was killing our sensibility little by little. I always said that photography’s essence comes from working with film.
The Digital Age teaches us how to compose based on looking over and over again at the picture on a screen. However, working on film makes you a patient person, who cares and thinks about the scene, feels it and has a sense for composition.
Canon Rebel 2000- Kodak ultra 400
What Could we always find in your gear bag?
My precious girls and my little boy (my cellphone). My Canon AE-1 with a 50mm lens and my Canon Rebel 2000 for certain situations. One or two 35mm films, in general I use Kodak Portra, Ektar or Ultra for color and Ilford 400 for Black&White, I really like their textures and contrast.
And sometimes when I see some situation on the street and I have to capture it immediately I shoot with my cellphone, it always saves me from losing special moments.
Canon AE-1-Kodak ultra
What camera makes you click?
My Canon AE-1. On one hand, I really like the blur that the 50mm lens has and its focus mode and on the other hand, I love its aesthetic, it’s beautiful.
Canon AE1-Ilford 400
What do you focus on when shooting film? What catches your eye?
Every time I stop to take a picture, I like to take my time to connect with what’s happening in front of me. Mainly, I’m interested in conveying some kind of message, provoke some emotions. They say that good art it’s supposed to make you feel something. I always say that we, photographers build a “new reality”. We build over what’s already there, we chose to take a fraction of reality, re-shape it and make something new over and over again.
Canon Rebel 2000- Kodak Proimage 100
What inspires you most?
Life.
Everything has its magic, the secret is to be available to see it in every corner.
I also find inspiration in walking around; you can always find something interesting to shoot. When you learn photography, you become a great observer and composer with the little things.
Reading books and seeing another colleague’s works help a lot to nourish your eye.
Do you have any advice for film photographers out there?
Don’t be a prisoner of your anxiety. Maybe you'll feel disappointed because the photographs are not what you expected but you never have to give up, ever. Becoming a good photographer takes time, patience and dedication. The best way to become one is never stop shooting. So, go outside and let it be.
Canon AE1-Ilford 400
Canon Rebel 2000-Kodak ultra
Canon Rebel 2000- Kodak Portra 160
Canon Rebel 2000- Kodak ultra 400
Canon Rebel 2000- Kodak Portra
You can find Camila López Díaz here: