Antonio Castles

Cocuy: A Quest For Snow Under The Tropics

Colombia | Monday, December 31, 2012 | 5 photos

I have been interested in photography since I first saw my mother's camera, hidden in a drawer. I immediately fell in love with its weight, simplicity and precision.I learned from the beginning to shoot b/w film, with full manual control. I've made photography a language of my own, as I have ventured through different formats like 35mm, 6x6 and 4x5. When I get asked why I put myself through the pain of carrying all that weight, I answer its the way I like it . Photography is a way to approach a subject, keeping in mind that reality won't fit into any picture. It is an interpretation from reality rather than its realistic depiction.

The camera is a faithful companion that should not be blamed for one's mistakes. A conscious approach to an image is something that the digital era is threatening, for convenience and immediacy have turned images mostly into something ephemeral, overabundant and empty. This life changing opportunity would be my chance to learn and improve in order to translate my skills and ideas into a digital workflow. Travel photography is the only way I could think of making a living out of my passion without destroying it.

Antonio Castles
21 year old art student.