Francisco Gonzalez Camacho

Francisco Gonzalez Camacho (b. 1990) is a Spanish visual artist based in Helsinki. He is currently studying a Masters' degree in Photography at Aalto University. His practice can be described as contemporary photography with focus on themes such as family, mortality and the connectedness between landscape and self. The aesthetics of Gonzalez Camacho’s latest work reaches – in some parts – towards pictorialism and poetic narration. It proposes a contemplation over the photographic image and the ways it may convey its narrative, by interwinding together mix techniques, namely infrared photography, bookmaking and the reproduction of the photographic image using analog processes and a variety of materials – such as wood.

1. Hi Francisco, tell us about your background. How and when did you first start to photography?

Since I was a kid, I always showed interest on the video and still cameras of my father. It wasn’t until I was 21 when I started my studies in photography in an art school of my hometown in Spain.

2. What is your process like, and how do you begin?

My creative process is always rooted in intuition, observation and mostly aimlessness. I don’t like to work within a specific concept in mind, but rather make my way through experimentation and gut feeling.

3. Your work centers around themes such as family, mortality, and the relationship between landscape and self. How do you approach these subjects through your photography?

My previous work, Ouroboros, was directly connected with the death of my older brother. A very intimate and personal project which I approached working with a combination of family archive, objects, and my own photographs. On my current ongoing work, Elsewhere, I use a combination of infrared photography and different printing techniques I am currently experimenting with. I find myself at the crossroads towards being more experimental and conceptual on my approach photography.

4. Your photographs often depict landscapes and natural settings. How do you use these elements to explore your themes?

Even there is an obvious reference to the landscape, I see them more as constructed landscapes, as a medium to convey certain and emotions and not just a mere formal representation.

5. Can you discuss your creative process for capturing your images? How do you decide on your compositions and settings?

I do a lot of walking and exploring, looking around. There is not really a rational background process of how and why I might decide to take a picture or how to compose it. I like to approach it in a playful way and just photograph whatever caught my attention. There is a lot of previsualization and imagination, you have to trust the process.

6. Your photographs often feature human subjects in several cities and countries, such as Morocco, Cuba, and Spain. How do you approach photographing people and capturing their emotions?

I don’t follow any specific script. I just try to communicate directly and be honest about my intentions. Might be minor nuances depending of the culture and the individual, but overall just being polite and clear is good enough. And just ask! People are usually willing to collaborate.

7. How do you want viewers to engage with your photographs, and what emotions or ideas do you hope to evoke?

The viewer is not usually on my mind when creating work. Is an intimate process allowing me to explore certain emotions and internal processes. I am not trying to be prescriptive, the feelings or emotions evoked on the viewers is something beyond my control. Some people will like the work and resonate with it, and others won’t, and that is totally okay.

8. Are there any specific photographers or artists who have influenced your work or approach to photography?

I have felt particularly close to pictorialism and Japanese photography. Just to mention some big influences: Bill Brandt, Alfred Stieglitz, Yamamoto Masao, Albarran Cabrera, Jungjin Lee, Paul Cupido…

9. How has the city you are living and working in influenced you and the art you make?

Not as much the city, but the country, Finland, had a very big impact. I moved here almost 3 years ago. Is a culture very different compared to Spain. I think the vast presence of nature, the low population and its overall minimalism has been very influential and its obvious on my last work.

10. Finally, what projects are you currently working on, and how are they building upon your previous work?

I keep working on my most recent project, currently participating in some group exhibitions. The focus is now on experimenting, trying different printing techniques, keep travelling and taking more pictures.

Francisco Gonzalez Camacho

Daniel Freaker