Alvaro Arteche

“The analog process makes me enjoy more the moment while taking photos and after that, the time I have to wait for the scans makes me value a lot more the images once I receive them from the lab.”

Intercru: Where are you from? Where do you live/work now?

Alvaro: I was born in Barcelona, Spain and it is here where I live and work.

How did you first get into photography?

I think I started to take it more seriously about 6 years ago when I started to travel with my girlfriend. It was then that I bought my first “pro camera” and I began to shoot a lot, especially while traveling.

My father has always been passionate about photography. I remember our trips growing up, he was always shooting and waiting for the perfect picture, even if he had to make us wait for 30 minutes straight to take a photo of a very crowded spot, so he could capture it without people.

What is the feeling you like to express with your creative work?

That’s a tough question. I’m constantly trying new things and making sure to not get stuck with one type of photography. I think that’s really important in order to become a better photographer and to be more capable of expressing yourself. I really enjoy the photographic process, whether it’s a personal portrait, a fashion editorial, or any other kind of photography. In the end, I think that in my photos I’m reflecting not only my evolution and taste as a photographer but also as a human being.

What inspires you?

I must confess that I consume a lot of Instagram and YouTube content, but I also should say that I’ve learnt a lot through these platforms. Lately I’m trying to disconnect a bit from that and focus more for example on movies. This last year I’ve watched a lot of films that are constantly inspiring me. I’m also trying to start reading more about other forms of artistic expression such as music, cinema, painting… I think that’s also a beautiful way to get inspired.

What’s your favorite part about photography and going on photoshoots?

As I’m currently shooting almost everything on film, I’m enjoying the process the most. I know it sounds cliché, but it’s true. The analog process makes me enjoy more the moment while taking photos and after that, the time I have to wait for the scans makes me value a lot more the images once I receive them from the lab.

This year I have also met a lot of new people in photoshoots and that’s also a really nice part of this.

I consider myself an introverted person, and through photography I’m working on becoming more outgoing.

What is the hardest part about photography?

For me personally, the thing that I’m currently struggling with the most is to find a long term project to work on, investigate, get motivated for… I want to build something that is rewarding in every possible way.