Hermano Lobo’s photos are spectacular, visions focused on drama and metaphor, in a monochrome atmosphere. "I take photos to build my memory, as a means of expression and constant search", says Hermano.
Hello, Hermano,
Firstly, I would like to thank you for taking the time to tell us about you and your work in this interview.
To begin, where are you from? Please tell us about yourself and your passions.
Thank you very much for this interview. I live in A Coruña, in Galicia (SP). For many years I have been interacting with photography in its different disciplines, from landscape, street, portraits, even astronomical photography, which is another of my great hobbies. I am also a biker so I love to travel aimlessly and with a small camera to capture what I find.
What does photography mean to you? How did this journey began?
For me, photography is a way of life, it gives me friends, helps me enjoy great moments and encourages me to travel and see new places. What more can I ask for?
How would you characterize your photographic genre? What inspires you?
Good question. My genre is... my way of seeing life, nothing more, nothing less, it is what I like and what fulfills me, what makes me feel alive and faithful to my principles and beliefs. I am inspired by sensations, by moments that I see and with which a link is established... For me, genre or style is life..
The viewer's eyes linger on your works. What do you think is the main attention-grabbing ingredient?
In my photos I think that what draws the most attention is what is not there, what is hidden or not expected. My photos are not necessarily kind, they are feelings, sensations with honest intentions.
In any case, it is a personal interpretation, and then each person approaches the work and discovers other different worlds, which makes me extremely happy.
Please share with us what photographic equipment you use.
Equipment? I like cameras and I have several old Nikon reflex cameras, a small Ricoh GR and another Fuji GFX. It depends on each one for each moment, but if I have to stick with one it would be the Ricoh that always accompanies me everywhere.
Technique or emotion in photography?
I don't like technique at all, I go down the path of passion, emotion. A photograph without emotion or passion is a postcard without soul.
Black and white or color ? Why?
Because I don't know how to handle the color although I would like to.
Can you give us some details about the "Mask" project? What do you want to convey to those looking at these images?
In Galicia there is a lot of tradition of masks and for that reason I like to go to corners where the Entroidos (ancestral mask festivals) are as authentic as possible, and sometimes I succeed. It is a very intense and sincere experience, which I hope to continue attending in the coming years.
What can you tell us about this image?
Well, in this image I see Cinderella returning home after a party, I also see a young woman trying to jump into the void or it could also be a young woman imprisoned in her tower from which she cannot escape. In any case, I like the uncertainty, the doubt, in a certain way the restlessness to be breathed into my photos... everything else is already provided by the viewer.
And about this one?
That image is a trial in which an entourage of invisible hooded men try to frighten the young woman, but she baffles them by pointing out her movements as if they were the hands of the clock deciding her timing.
I found this article on Olloatlantico photography group.
https://olloatlantico.com/2022/04/26/sin-salida/
Please tell us a few words about your work here and these group.
OlloAtlantico (olloatlantico.com) is a collective of photographers who focus our work on projects such as "On The Road" or “Donde habita el silencio". It all started as a group of friends meeting for coffee and suddenly cameras began to appear... from then until today.
Do you have a favorite photographer that you appreciate and who has influenced your photographic journey?
I have dozens of favorite photographers; I love reading their work to get ideas and then develop them. Vari Caramés, J.M. Navia, Bernard Plossu and everything that may come after them, which are many ... Larrain, R. Frank, L. Friedlander, F. Woodman, Saul Leiter and many more.
Do you have any photography projects for the future? How do you imagine the evolution of your artistic work?
I admit that the "projects" choke me up. I go out to take photos, just like that, I shoot what catches my attention and then I review at home, often large quantities of photos.
Sometime later, when reviewing, "connections" appear that lead to things... a small project can begin there.
As a biker that I am, I do have a job on the road that I hope will accompany me until the end of my days.
I love the idea of traveling permanently. Maybe one day I can take a long photographic trip without a marked direction... maybe...