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Felipe Zapata may not hale from the world renowned cultural Meccas of London or Paris but he is creating his own legacy from the lofty vantage point of Bogota. The man surveys all and spins his own unique story manipulating his camera as if it were a pen. He writes a story that is often told but seldom with an eye for capturing the eye of an alcohol fueled storm, a story about the beauty of excess and of the people who partake in such antics.
At the age of 23 many people would question Mr Zapata's qualifications for documenting such a weighty topic and dismiss his portfolio as shallow snaps of a shallow scene however when most young boys were eating dirt and chasing shadows Felipe was capturing them. The elusive combination of youthful experience has developed him into somebody who is perfectly placed to capture both the necessity and pointlessness of indulgence and the nihilistic optimism of the youth of today.
How long have you been a photographer?
Felipe Zapata: Since I was 8 or 10 I have been enamored with taking photographs, I was addicted to Polaroid, I had 4 Polaroid cameras! I think this is where my love for spontaneity came from, with digital cameras now days that spontaneity is lost since people can immediately check and delete images that they dislike and many truthful and beautiful moments are lost forever. From the age of 16 I became the unofficial photographer for all of my friends especially at parties. However, it was not until the age of 18 that I bought my first professional camera and my flirtation with the lens turned into a fully fledged affair.
Your portfolio features both rural and urban shots, which do you prefer?
Felipe Zapata: A perfect moment makes a perfect photo; the setting does not really matter to me however, if I had to choose I would pick urban locations. Cities are more frantic and fast paced which heightens the importance of improvisation and improvisation is the key. It is the reason why all those years ago I chose photography to express myself, in no other medium can you capture a moment of true emotion that tells you so much about the subject. A single picture can invokes a whole story in the mind of the audience and this is very powerful.
Do you think that cityscapes provide more emotive photos?
Felipe Zapata: I think that people are different in cities, more secretive, so it is even more special when you catch a glimpse of the real them but photos are all about the people not the setting. The location does not matter: Rural, urban, inside, outside it is the subject that creates the atmosphere and influences the scene around them.
Your photos capture intimate moments especially the ones with female models, is this intentional?
Felipe Zapata: I believe that women are more daring and more malleable especially in regards to shoes, accessories, clothes, attitude and poses. Where as men tend to be more set in their ways in regards to what they will wear and they worry about how they will be perceived. All of this combined leads to a more fluid relationship between a female model and myself which contributes to a higher quality of photo both in effect and juxtaposition.
See more of Felipe´s work at: http://www.trashscene.com/ts/Trash_Scene.html
Lauren xx
- comments
Andres SNAP HAPPY!!
Diego This is such a inspiring piece, i am of Caracas and always i worry about exposure.
Bell Love the interview