Photographer - Oscar
Coffee Shop - Strange Matter
City - Lansing, MI
Date - November 1, 2023
Q - What camera did you use for Cameras and Coffee?
A. -What camera did you use: Sony a7IV with a 35mmGM.
Q. How long have you been taking photos?
A. I have been taking photos since 2018 when my first kid was born.
Q. Why did you start photography?
A. I started taking street portraits in 2020 as a way to curb my intense social anxiety. Once I became more comfortable around strangers I fell in love with meeting new people and collecting images of the people that I meet.
Q. Why did you start photography?
A. I picked up a camera intending to photograph my kids and family trips originally. Shortly after I fell in love with it and started going on walks to photograph my city (Lansing) other cities, vacations etc. Eventually, people started asking me if I would photograph them as well and the love for it just keeps growing.
Q. What motivates you when it comes to photography?
A. Currently what motivates me is to keep getting better every time I pick up my camera. I don’t feel like I have even scratched the surface of “good” I can be at it yet and I am constantly trying to learn something new or even learning a different style of photography.
Q. Describe your photography style.
A. ADHD - I don’t have one and I don’t think I ever want to have one. Photography is the only creative thing I have ever been remotely good at. Couldn’t even draw stick figures growing up but with a camera in my hand I feel like I can express myself and how I am feeling on any given day based on what and how I photograph or even how I decide to edit an image. My brain is always coming up with random things I want to bring to life and I hope that never ends.
Q. Explain your Instagram name.
A. I wanted to use my name but it was already taken so I figured the next best thing was to incorporate my kids into it since they are the reason I picked up a camera in the first place. 2018 and 2020 are the years they were born so 1820 and the reason for spelling fotography with an F is an ode to my Cuban heritage.
Q. What are your photo goals for the next year?
A. Continue to create images that make me happy and that will mean something to me and hopefully others in the future. Maybe showcase some of my work in print and sell them. I think printing your images is invaluable and way better than just looking at them on your phone and having someone hang something you created on their wall is the ultimate compliment.
