I believe that art reaches our sensibilities and can touch invisible strings in our soul. So many people have an artistic vein and many are not fully aware of it! I met William Martinez Bosch (see the beautiful model in the previous post!), through work, a couple of years ago. After following him on Instagram, I was delighted to discover and admire his travel and street photography shots. I find he is incredibly talented! I like the sense of geometry, shapes and curves that you can find in his images. I decided to ask him a few questions about his personal and photographic journey, as an amateur, and he kindly accepted!
William has two Instagram accounts, you can find the first one by clicking here whilst the second one is there!
– Tell me a bit about yourself and your story…
I grew up and lived most of my life in the Netherlands. Lost my father after I turned 18 which brought the family closer together and since I came out to my family during this time as well, I started becoming my own person more and more. After high school I started studying law but gave that up very quickly because I didn’t feel like I belonged there. I ended up doing a degree in North American Studies for which I spent some time in New Orleans. That was the first time I was away from my family for an extended period, and it allowed me to gain a greater understanding of the world. After my return, the feeling I’ve always had of not belonging in the Netherlands grew stronger and upon finishing my degree I started looking for another master’s degree abroad. After almost a year of deciding where to go and withdrawing my enrolments from Universities in the US and Australia, I was made aware of Edinburgh by a friend whom I met during my time in New Orleans. I decided to apply here and was accepted. I always feel that though my first degree didn’t provide me with excellent job opportunities, it did lead me to where I am now, and I am very happy it did.
– When and how did you take up photography?
I can’t really tell you the moment I took up photography as I always had an interest in it. As soon as smartphones started to have decent cameras, I played around with it. I didn’t have a proper camera till I turned 25 which I first used it on my travels through the United States. It was after this that I actively started to take photograph and develop my Instagram.
– From your portfolio, I can see mainly travel, street photography and architectural images: do you have any preference?
I don’t really have a preference as it often depends on the situation, I find myself in and the mood. Photography, for me, is very instinctive, you could say. It has to feel right for me. Especially when it comes to my Instagram account, the decision to upload a picture is based on how much I feel the photo matches the aesthetic of the rest of my portfolio. If I had to pick one, I would go for street photography because I really love candid and unposed photos. Relying on the moment and the photographer’s ability to capture it.
– Do you prefer using your mobile or camera?
For convenience’s sake I’ll have to say mobile. Capturing photos, editing, and posting can all be done on the same device which makes it very useful when you’re out and about and you want to share it straight away. Quality wise, though my iPhone does have a very good camera, I have to go with a proper camera.
– You have a strong sense for geometric shapes and form. Have you previously studied art or architecture?
I can’t say I properly studied art or architecture, but in high school I did study art and art history was part of that. Despite that, I was never really good at drawing or painting realism. I often reverted to the abstract which included geometric shapes. Architecture would have been my other choice of degree if I didn’t pursue my current one. Ever since I was a little kid, I used to draw houses and was interested in architecture so I guess you can see that come back in my photography.
– What does photography mean to you?
For me it is a form of artistic expression that enables me to portray objects/people/scenery in a different light. It also allows the viewer to stop and take in/appreciate the beauty of things.
– Do you think you manage to express a part of yourself through your shots?
Not sure about this one. I don’t really feel that I’ve found my true self in photography yet. I feel that I’m still figuring out what it is that makes my photographs inherently me or what makers my photographs stand out. I also believe that I need to delve into photography more. Read and study about it and take up some photography courses as soon as life returns back to normal.
Elena Arvasi Portrait Photographer 