BEHIND THE LENS
WITH
ALAN BRAGANTE
~~~
METZ, FRANCE
ALAN BRAGANTE
~~~
METZ, FRANCE
METAL PULP AND PAPER: Hello Alan. Thank you for taking the time to answer some questions for Metal Pulp And Paper’s feature called Behind The Lens. We appreciate it.
Before we go any further, let’s first tell everyone what Behind The Lens is all about. This feature is about the person that’s behind the camera lens. It's all about that individual that captures that perfect fiery orange of the setting sun, finds a child jumping in a mud puddle in the pouring rain, or catches the moons glow in the water next to some snowcapped mountains. Or even captures a rock guitarist jumping into the air during mid solo. It’s about finding that beauty in something that some might not take notice of in their everyday busy lifestyles. Behind The Lens will be a way to get to know a little more about the photographer and the work that they bring to everyone. A full 360 degrees around the camera.
So, let’s take off the lens cap, and go behind the click of the shutter and get to know more about you and your photography, shall we?
How long have you been a photographer and taking pictures?
ALAN BRAGANTE: I’m unprofessional and I started taking pictures five years ago.
MPAP: What attracted you? Was there an inspiration to take the camera and start this journey in the art of photography?
ALAN: I started to practice Urbex before taking pictures. I visited some abandoned places; old manor, psychiatric hospital, old factories, and military remains of 2nd World War. I thought these places should be seen like I discovered them. In fact, I decided to buy my first camera and try to take pictures of theses incredible places.
MPAP: Now that you’ve been doing it for a while, what interests you the most about it? Is there a passion behind it for you at all?
ALAN: Now I’m more comfortable with my camera. I’m back to the essential, the black and white, because I like to manage lights to have a picture with beautiful contrasts.
MPAP: Can you describe that moment, the experience, or even the emotion you felt when you knew that photography was something you just had to do?
ALAN: I got this feeling the first time a model contacted me for a shoot after seeing my landscape photos. At this time, I never took anything other than still life and architecture, that’s the way I began, fashion photo shoot. I still have this feeling nowadays, when I got published in Dark Beauty Magazine, and right now, contact by MPAP for an interview.
MPAP: What do you like to photograph the most of? Do you have a favorite setting, scene, landscape, or any items that you like to capture? Or do you like to just take pictures of people, or perhaps a live music concert now and then?
ALAN: I have a predilection for black and white scenes like street photography or artistic nudes. I’m not an event photographer. In my opinion, I think some people are perfect for this. Personally, I like to prepare my subjects or clearly stop and capture a "moment" when I see it.
MPAP: Is there anything out there that you try to avoid taking pictures of?
ALAN: I avoid doing event photography like marriages, shows, and prenatal/birth shooting.
MPAP: When picking up the camera, it obviously took some time, along with some practice, to get the feel and hang of it of what you wanted to do or go with it? Maybe even a class or two was taken to learn more about it. Tell us what were some of the challenges you’ve encountered with taking pictures? What have been some of the difficulties you’ve experienced since first began, and maybe still happens to this day?
ALAN: I started photography by myself. I started as everyone else (well...I think) in automatic mode. And with time, I started to go out of my comfort zone and this was manual mode beginning. Nowadays, we find everything we want about photo tutorials on the internet. We’re inspired by photographs that we like, and we try to get the same depiction. Currently with material evolution, lightings, we learn something every day. For me, photography is a steady learning process.
MPAP: On the other side of it having some difficulties, what are some of your favorite things about being a photographer you can tell us about? What have been some of your camera highlights so far that you can share with us also?
ALAN: Currently, I changed my cameras and I work with a hybrid camera Fujifilm XT2 and XT10. Up until now, I worked with Nikon. I changed for hybrid, cause it’s smaller and lightweight, and now I can have my camera every time with me to take lot of pictures. If I can give an advice, Start! No matter if it’s a reflex, a compact, a hybrid, an argentic or a smartphone, you must learn to listen notices to go forward. A negative notice (constructive) is more important than a "Like".
MPAP: When someone sees the picture you’ve taken for the first time, whether it’s the new bride and groom, or a family member that just had a baby, what do you want someone to get out of it? Is there ever anything you’re trying to say within your pictures, a message deep in the pixels that makes it up?
ALAN: I don’t do those types of pictures. I’m not interested in wedding pictures, I’m boring! And the new bride’s pictures are not my style. For the last question; my pictures are free to interpretation, I feel an emotion at the moment to take the picture, but I want to impress auditors. They are free to have their rendering.
MPAP: Is there an artist or another photographer out there that you admire and might have influenced you at all? What about their work do you love the most?
ALAN: Some artists inspire me! It’s the positive things on socials networks, you can see the work of others. Haris Nukem, an English photographer; I like his view of mode theme.
Rev_jake, a New Yorker; I like his colorful style and his street pictures. Benjamin Von Wong; I like his amazing architectural pics.
MPAP: Before we move on to talking about the pictures that you shared with us, are there any tips or advice that you would want to give yourself if you had to pick up the camera and start photography all over again?
ALAN: I progress when I’m doing mistakes or when I’m feeling jam. If restart, the only advice should be "hold on and continue, mistakes and notice make progress".
MPAP: Now on to the pictures that you took and have shared with us here? Take us into each one of the pictures and tell us what they are about, and which one is your most favorite and why?
ALAN: For start, one of my favorite color pictures, a vestige of my set’s period for shoot model and Urbex, it allowed a first publication on Dark Beauty Magazine and lot of souvenirs! Some months of research to find a spiral staircase, I was not sure if I can enter into the scene, and finally after scaling and contour an enclosure’s cow, I was enjoying the discovery of this amazing place.
For this picture, it was essentially an equipment testing (Fujifilm XT10). I don’t know where I gone, and I don’t know what style of picture I wanted too. I just take a moment when the model loses their emotions. That’s what I’m looking for every picture.
This picture had the same story than the last one, with new equipment (Fujifilm XT10), and a new model. It was winter, and the climatic conditions was hard. On this picture I’ve just processed the black and white, but the rest is raw sensor.
Rare’s picture realize on studio. I prefer natural lightning for my pics, but sometimes I back to my old favorite lights setup, low key, nothing’s better to underscore curves of the model.
For the last one, we change the theme. It a transition picture for me. It was a period when I lost the desire to take pictures. My old equipment was cumbersome, so, I started to make street party photography with my iPhone. Shots are taken on the moment. This is with these pictures series that I motived to take pictures again.
For close, I’ve not favorite pictures (it was hard to select these 5 pics). All my pics, the oldest and the newest are a part of me, a moment of my life. I try to invest completely on all my shots.
MPAP: Everyone has a different style or taste, whether it’s street photography, modeling, black & white, or nature, from your point of view what do you think makes a good picture?
ALAN: It’s a complicated question, a good picture is a personal opinion. If you enjoyed taking a pic, if you thought make a good feeling, an emotion that you would express, you get a great shot! There is always someone to say the opposite, but photography stays a risk taking every time. That’s my opinion.
MPAP: After the camera is put down for the moment, for the day, or for the night, whether it’s for a day or a week at a time, what else do you like to do in your free time?
ALAN: Photography is not my job. Photography is only on my free time. If I could be a photographer, I will be all the time with my equipment. I take just a break for transfer my memory cards to my computer and posted them on Instagram!
MPAP: Before we bring Behind The Lens to a close, just one last question and we’ll wrap things up and put the lens cap back on. What would you want to say to someone that’s interested in taking pictures for the very first time?
ALAN: I repeat, if you want to start, do it! If you tell yourself I’ve got no equipment, it’s just an excuse. You can start with your smartphone. Everybody has a phone, so start. But enjoy!
MPAP: On behalf of myself and Metal Pulp And Paper, I’d like to thank you, Alan, for being a part of this Behind The Lens feature. It was great getting to know you and your photos. We look forward to seeing what you will capture in the future and beyond with the camera. Please tell us where we can find your work, or your photo galleries on the internet, and also any social media that the readers can follow you on?
ALAN: Thanks to Metal Pulp And Paper, it was a pleasure and a first interview experience. You can follow my Instagram’s accounts @b.a.arts and @b.a.arts_2.
And on Facebook B.A. Arts.
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©metalpulpandpaper
Before we go any further, let’s first tell everyone what Behind The Lens is all about. This feature is about the person that’s behind the camera lens. It's all about that individual that captures that perfect fiery orange of the setting sun, finds a child jumping in a mud puddle in the pouring rain, or catches the moons glow in the water next to some snowcapped mountains. Or even captures a rock guitarist jumping into the air during mid solo. It’s about finding that beauty in something that some might not take notice of in their everyday busy lifestyles. Behind The Lens will be a way to get to know a little more about the photographer and the work that they bring to everyone. A full 360 degrees around the camera.
So, let’s take off the lens cap, and go behind the click of the shutter and get to know more about you and your photography, shall we?
How long have you been a photographer and taking pictures?
ALAN BRAGANTE: I’m unprofessional and I started taking pictures five years ago.
MPAP: What attracted you? Was there an inspiration to take the camera and start this journey in the art of photography?
ALAN: I started to practice Urbex before taking pictures. I visited some abandoned places; old manor, psychiatric hospital, old factories, and military remains of 2nd World War. I thought these places should be seen like I discovered them. In fact, I decided to buy my first camera and try to take pictures of theses incredible places.
MPAP: Now that you’ve been doing it for a while, what interests you the most about it? Is there a passion behind it for you at all?
ALAN: Now I’m more comfortable with my camera. I’m back to the essential, the black and white, because I like to manage lights to have a picture with beautiful contrasts.
MPAP: Can you describe that moment, the experience, or even the emotion you felt when you knew that photography was something you just had to do?
ALAN: I got this feeling the first time a model contacted me for a shoot after seeing my landscape photos. At this time, I never took anything other than still life and architecture, that’s the way I began, fashion photo shoot. I still have this feeling nowadays, when I got published in Dark Beauty Magazine, and right now, contact by MPAP for an interview.
MPAP: What do you like to photograph the most of? Do you have a favorite setting, scene, landscape, or any items that you like to capture? Or do you like to just take pictures of people, or perhaps a live music concert now and then?
ALAN: I have a predilection for black and white scenes like street photography or artistic nudes. I’m not an event photographer. In my opinion, I think some people are perfect for this. Personally, I like to prepare my subjects or clearly stop and capture a "moment" when I see it.
MPAP: Is there anything out there that you try to avoid taking pictures of?
ALAN: I avoid doing event photography like marriages, shows, and prenatal/birth shooting.
MPAP: When picking up the camera, it obviously took some time, along with some practice, to get the feel and hang of it of what you wanted to do or go with it? Maybe even a class or two was taken to learn more about it. Tell us what were some of the challenges you’ve encountered with taking pictures? What have been some of the difficulties you’ve experienced since first began, and maybe still happens to this day?
ALAN: I started photography by myself. I started as everyone else (well...I think) in automatic mode. And with time, I started to go out of my comfort zone and this was manual mode beginning. Nowadays, we find everything we want about photo tutorials on the internet. We’re inspired by photographs that we like, and we try to get the same depiction. Currently with material evolution, lightings, we learn something every day. For me, photography is a steady learning process.
MPAP: On the other side of it having some difficulties, what are some of your favorite things about being a photographer you can tell us about? What have been some of your camera highlights so far that you can share with us also?
ALAN: Currently, I changed my cameras and I work with a hybrid camera Fujifilm XT2 and XT10. Up until now, I worked with Nikon. I changed for hybrid, cause it’s smaller and lightweight, and now I can have my camera every time with me to take lot of pictures. If I can give an advice, Start! No matter if it’s a reflex, a compact, a hybrid, an argentic or a smartphone, you must learn to listen notices to go forward. A negative notice (constructive) is more important than a "Like".
MPAP: When someone sees the picture you’ve taken for the first time, whether it’s the new bride and groom, or a family member that just had a baby, what do you want someone to get out of it? Is there ever anything you’re trying to say within your pictures, a message deep in the pixels that makes it up?
ALAN: I don’t do those types of pictures. I’m not interested in wedding pictures, I’m boring! And the new bride’s pictures are not my style. For the last question; my pictures are free to interpretation, I feel an emotion at the moment to take the picture, but I want to impress auditors. They are free to have their rendering.
MPAP: Is there an artist or another photographer out there that you admire and might have influenced you at all? What about their work do you love the most?
ALAN: Some artists inspire me! It’s the positive things on socials networks, you can see the work of others. Haris Nukem, an English photographer; I like his view of mode theme.
Rev_jake, a New Yorker; I like his colorful style and his street pictures. Benjamin Von Wong; I like his amazing architectural pics.
MPAP: Before we move on to talking about the pictures that you shared with us, are there any tips or advice that you would want to give yourself if you had to pick up the camera and start photography all over again?
ALAN: I progress when I’m doing mistakes or when I’m feeling jam. If restart, the only advice should be "hold on and continue, mistakes and notice make progress".
MPAP: Now on to the pictures that you took and have shared with us here? Take us into each one of the pictures and tell us what they are about, and which one is your most favorite and why?
ALAN: For start, one of my favorite color pictures, a vestige of my set’s period for shoot model and Urbex, it allowed a first publication on Dark Beauty Magazine and lot of souvenirs! Some months of research to find a spiral staircase, I was not sure if I can enter into the scene, and finally after scaling and contour an enclosure’s cow, I was enjoying the discovery of this amazing place.
For this picture, it was essentially an equipment testing (Fujifilm XT10). I don’t know where I gone, and I don’t know what style of picture I wanted too. I just take a moment when the model loses their emotions. That’s what I’m looking for every picture.
This picture had the same story than the last one, with new equipment (Fujifilm XT10), and a new model. It was winter, and the climatic conditions was hard. On this picture I’ve just processed the black and white, but the rest is raw sensor.
Rare’s picture realize on studio. I prefer natural lightning for my pics, but sometimes I back to my old favorite lights setup, low key, nothing’s better to underscore curves of the model.
For the last one, we change the theme. It a transition picture for me. It was a period when I lost the desire to take pictures. My old equipment was cumbersome, so, I started to make street party photography with my iPhone. Shots are taken on the moment. This is with these pictures series that I motived to take pictures again.
For close, I’ve not favorite pictures (it was hard to select these 5 pics). All my pics, the oldest and the newest are a part of me, a moment of my life. I try to invest completely on all my shots.
MPAP: Everyone has a different style or taste, whether it’s street photography, modeling, black & white, or nature, from your point of view what do you think makes a good picture?
ALAN: It’s a complicated question, a good picture is a personal opinion. If you enjoyed taking a pic, if you thought make a good feeling, an emotion that you would express, you get a great shot! There is always someone to say the opposite, but photography stays a risk taking every time. That’s my opinion.
MPAP: After the camera is put down for the moment, for the day, or for the night, whether it’s for a day or a week at a time, what else do you like to do in your free time?
ALAN: Photography is not my job. Photography is only on my free time. If I could be a photographer, I will be all the time with my equipment. I take just a break for transfer my memory cards to my computer and posted them on Instagram!
MPAP: Before we bring Behind The Lens to a close, just one last question and we’ll wrap things up and put the lens cap back on. What would you want to say to someone that’s interested in taking pictures for the very first time?
ALAN: I repeat, if you want to start, do it! If you tell yourself I’ve got no equipment, it’s just an excuse. You can start with your smartphone. Everybody has a phone, so start. But enjoy!
MPAP: On behalf of myself and Metal Pulp And Paper, I’d like to thank you, Alan, for being a part of this Behind The Lens feature. It was great getting to know you and your photos. We look forward to seeing what you will capture in the future and beyond with the camera. Please tell us where we can find your work, or your photo galleries on the internet, and also any social media that the readers can follow you on?
ALAN: Thanks to Metal Pulp And Paper, it was a pleasure and a first interview experience. You can follow my Instagram’s accounts @b.a.arts and @b.a.arts_2.
And on Facebook B.A. Arts.
©metalpulpandpaper