Interview with Xose Casal
#1 Please introduce yourself
My name is Xose Casal, I´m a 39 years old fine art photographer living in Girona, Catalunya ( North-east of Spain).
#2 How did you get interested in photography?
I became interested in photography as a teenager, by then I arranged with my father a black and white lab in the bathroom, and started to explore the magic of analog photography. My personal life and professional career distanced me from photography, but I returned a few years ago and started again the activity with the Digital era, now focussed on landscapes and long exposure photography.
#3 Do you have an artistic/photographic background?
I studied Photography and History of Art at high school but I’m basically self-taught.
#4 Which artist/photographer inspired your art?
I really like the concept of negative space used in oriental art and somehow I try to apply it to my images. I have also been influenced by many photographers, from close friends to acclaimed artits, to name them all would be impossible, but I really like the work of Michael Kenna Josef Hoflehner, and Michael Levin.
#5 How much preparation do you put into taking a photograph?
It depends, sometimes I start to work on some idea much before taking the photo, then I must mature the idea, look and search for the appropiate place, or just I must wait till the weather conditions are the right ones.
Some other times it´s just luck, because I find a great new location at the appropiate moment and condition.
#6 Which places have been your favourite shooting sites so far and why?
Almost all of my photos are taken in an area of 2-3 hours from where I live, I look for weather conditions that allow me to photograph at the first hours in the morning until lastin the evening . I haven´t too much time to travel so I preffer closer spots. I usually go to south-east French coast where there are a lot of lakes (from Perpignan to Marseille).
#7 Photographs with such long exposure make the world look really desolate and lonely. Why have you chosen to present your works in such a form?
I like the idea of seeking a dialogue between the real and the unreal, easily recognizable objects in an ethereal atmosphere as a result of the long exposure, I like simple compositions , easy to read, that invite the viewer to contemplation and free interpretation.
#8 What do you do in your life besides photography?
I´m a proud father of two Children (7 and 3) besides photography I spend my time with family tattoos and rock ´n´roll music.
#9 What future plans do you have? What projects would you like to accomplish?
I dont wanna to think too much about future, just still enjoiyng life and photography.
Website: www.xosecasal.com