Luis Martin

“Despite the usual attention to the rules, trends, conventions and the general expected technical quality, I think that the intangibles, the irrational, and your intuition still take precedence”

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

Luis: I am a Spanish photographer living in Valladolid, a town quite close to Madrid. Due to the present circumstances, I am working mostly locally and around Spain now, but I hope to be available worldwide soon, once the pandemic situation allows it.

How did you get started in photography?

It happened by chance years ago. I was recovering from illness when I started reading a booklet collection about photography. Just after, I picked up a forgotten old camera I had at home, and bought a small digital one as well. I joined two of the first photography communities on the internet: Eyefetch and DPChallenge, where I posted some pictures. It was just the beginning of a continuous and endless formation and training.

What’s your favorite part about going on a photoshoot?

Honestly, I enjoy all the processes involved. The planning prep work like mood boards, outfits, locations, etc. are very exciting, as is the shooting itself where I always lose track of time. The postproduction part, meaning developing and scanning negatives, is very rewarding; and I also have a good time developing digital raw files.

I like the editing part, in the sense of selecting the best suitable images for a determined project, even if it is a difficult or I feel lazy when I need to face the promotional and marketing activities.

What is something that turns a portrait from ordinary to amazing?

Despite the usual attention to the rules, trends, conventions and the general expected technical quality, I think that the intangibles, the irrational, and your intuition still take precedence. We can appreciate this fact if we look back to some of the most iconic portraits and pictures already installed in our collective subconscious.

What’s your favorite movie of all time?

I could not mention a single movie, but a television series comes quickly to mind: “Northern Exposure.”

What’s your biggest fear?

I guess my biggest fear is the passing of time and what it means. I don’t think too much about it anyway, and I try to use it as an element of motivation.

What would you do if you won the lottery?

I would feel very happy for sure, and I could afford some small dreams, write off debts or help some close relatives. I don’t think it would substantially change my way of life or change the person I am anyway.