GVivanco
1. Can you introduce yourself and talk about how you got into photography?
My name is Carlos Guevara but I mostly go by GVivanco and I am a Chilean photographer that specialises in Nature and Landscapes. By profession, I am a Computer Engineer with a MBA in Finance from the University of Chile. With more than 45 years of activity as a mountaineer, my photographic projects include expeditions throughout Chile from Lauca in the extreme north to Antarctica.
From a very young age, I felt the need to transmit through images the emotions that I felt when observing the landscapes that amazed and provoked a sense of great appreciation. For many years I dreamed of being able to develop my talent as a photographer, today I feel that I still have an infinite path to travel, because one never stops learning and improving, however, the path already exists and it has begun. When one feels a passion for something it is impossible to stop, photography occupies a very important place in my life and it is really a passion and I want to live it as such.
2. Where did you study photography?
I am generally self-taught, but I graduated from the NEW YORK INSTITUTE OF PHOTOGRAPHY (NYIP)
3. Do you remember your first shot? What was it?
I really don't remember it because I started doing photography around the age of 12 in my first outings to the Andes Mountains. He always carried a small film camera with him. What I can say is that my first photos were of the Andes mountain range.
4. What equipment do you use?
I have migrated from Nikon to Sony. Currently I use a small A6000, an A7RM2 and an A7RM4. My lenses are almost all from the GM series from the 16-35mm to the 200-600. My preferred lens is the 100-400 GM
5. What do you hope to achieve?
It's a difficult question, but I think the main thing is "I want to do people good by generating images that arouse inspiring emotions."
6. What compliment inspired/touched you the most?
In general, what inspires me the most is when my viewers tell me that one of my images has moved them and made them experience special feelings.
7. What inspires your unique storytelling?
Nature inspires me, we can learn a lot from it, I firmly believe that through it we can become better people. It is an infinite source of knowledge and inspiration and it is all around us, we just have to know how to connect with it.
8. What THREE (3) words describe your photography style?
Passion, connection, admiration
9. Congratulations! As the winner of the European Photography Awards, what does it mean for you and your team to receive this distinction?
It is always important to be recognized in work that one passionately embraces. It is an injection of optimism, vitality and support to continue growing in my passion.
10. Can you explain a bit about the winning work you entered into the 2023 European Photography Awards, and why you chose to enter this project?
In February 2023 I fulfilled one of my most cherished dreams, reaching Antarctica by sailboat. A dream that was born when in 2016 I also sailed Cape Horn. We set sail on February 5 from Puerto Williams in Chile and after 6 days of navigation, where almost 4 were crossing the Drake Sea, we arrived in Antarctica. What started as a photographic trip turned into a valuable life experience. The photo "The portal of dreams" was taken on the 4th day of navigation in Antarctica, when we were sailing from the Chilean base Presidente Gabriel González Videla towards Lockroy Bay.
11. How has winning an award developed your career?
As I already mentioned, international acknowledgments are always important because, in addition to being an injection of energy and encouragement, they give visibility and that is greatly appreciated.
12. Name 1-3 photographers who have inspired you.
many, but I highlight Ansel Adams, Gallen Rowell, Ian Plant, Guy Tal
13. What was the best piece of advice you were given starting out, by a mentor or your role model?
I think that one piece of advice that was very useful to me was that the first thing to think about when taking a photo was the composition, what I wanted to convey, the message. The teams are important without a doubt, but it is better a photograph with technical deficiencies that transmits something to a technically perfect one that says nothing. Do you recognize the phrase right? hahaha
14. What advice would you give someone who would like to become a photographer today?
There is something that makes a lot of sense to me and that is that photography is not a path from the outside in, it is the opposite, a process from the inside out. As a landscape photographer I must first be able to photograph my inner landscape before photographing the exterior.
15. What is your key to success? Any parting words of wisdom?
For me the key is to be true to nature. When I started in digital photography I became obsessed with editing, I think it's a path that we all follow in one way or another, but today my editing process is very simple, I try to do more of my work in the field looking for those key elements that can make that the viewer ends up connecting with the work.
16. How do you stay in that space of being receptive to new information and knowledge?
I am always studying, always open to new forms of expression. I firmly believe in the phrase that says that success is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration
17. Anything else you would like to add to the interview?
It only remains for me to thank you for the award received
