AN INTERVIEW WITH EMILIANO CUADRADO RODRÍGUEZ

Emiliano Cuadrado Rodríguez won 1st Prize in our recent Urban Life competition with a multi-layered street shot that judge Angela Connor praised for the way it “transforms me from a passive viewer into an active participant.”

Keen to know more about the image, Emiliano’s route into street photography, and what makes him tick, we put some questions to him…

Emiliano, congratulations on winning our Urban Life competition (after having had a 2nd prize in 2021)! Where do we find you in the world? Please introduce yourself in a few words…

Thanks! And yes, back in 2021 I got 2nd prize in Urban Life too. What are the odds, right? I’m Spanish, but I’ve been living in Toulouse, France, for about five years now. I’m a chemist by training and moved here for work in the pharmaceutical industry. Photography has always been part of my life, but it wasn’t until a few years ago that it really became my passion.

Can you tell us a little more about your winning image and the circumstances behind it?

This photo was taken in Málaga, Spain, during the “Feria de Málaga”, one of its most iconic festivals. It’s a time when people dance, celebrate, and just have a great time, it’s a big day for the locals. That day, a couple of friends and I went out to enjoy the festivities in our own way, camera in hand, of course.

What initially caught my eye was the hand resting on the railing in the background and the hand on the advertising poster. I thought they might work together in an interesting way for a photo. I took several shots of the scene from different angles because I liked how the three individuals in the frame interacted with the billboard. Then, by luck, a man walked in front of the frame, adding that extra ingredient to complete the final composition.

Where did your interest in street photography come from? Was there a moment when it really started to click and become a passion for you?

Photography is something that’s always interested me, it’s always been there in some way throughout my life. But it wasn’t until I discovered street photography, about 5 or 6 years ago, that it really clicked for me and became almost an obsession. I was so blown away by the images I was seeing that I couldn’t wait to hit the streets and try to capture something similar myself.

Before that, I’d only pick up my camera for specific events, trips, or special occasions. But now, I try to have it with me all the time. It’s become my main hobby and, honestly, one of the most lasting ones I’ve had so far.

Tell us a little bit about your photographic approach. Do you have particular techniques, processes, philosophies that you follow when out on the streets? And is your winning image indicative of this?

I don’t think I have a specific approach or maybe I do, but I wouldn’t know how to define it. When I go out with my camera, the most important thing for me is to enjoy the moment, whether I come back with a good photo or not.

Your mood isn’t always the same when you’re out shooting, and sometimes luck just isn’t on your side, so when that happens, I try to imagine the photos I’d like to take and then I take the shot, even if all the elements I’m envisioning aren’t there. I say to myself that it’s like a practice run for when everything does line up. And thinking about it, I guess my winning image came out of this process. This time the elements aligned, and I ended up with an interesting photo. If that hadn’t happened, we probably wouldn’t be having this conversation!

What’s the difference between a great street shot and an average one?

Good question! I’d love to know the answer to that myself! Some images just work better than others, and often it’s hard to know exactly why, at least that’s how it feels to me. I think your subconscious plays a big role in this. It somehow knows when a photo works or not, even if you can’t fully explain it.

In your series Cybernetic City you find moments where humans combine with the manmade world in unexpected ways – where, as you put it so well, “the distinction between organic and artificial blurs in a dance of innovation and strangeness”. Is this slightly more conceptual approach appealing to you? Are there other conceptual avenues you’re following?

Cybernetic City is still a work in progress. While I don’t usually take a conceptual approach in my photography, it felt fitting for this series, and I wanted to explore something different. I think experimenting and trying new directions is an important part of my evolution as a photographer. And yes, I’m definitely open to exploring similar ideas if they come up.

Do you have a particular favourite shot? Can you talk us through it?

I have a lot of photos that I feel especially attached to, whether it’s because of the place where I took them or how I felt at the time. But if I had to pick one, it would be a shot I took near my hometown in Spain. It’s of an older man walking near the bullring, and he just happened to stop in the most perfectly symmetrical spot in the composition.

As in many other cases, I already had the location and the framing in mind, I was just waiting for an interesting character to step into the scene. This time, everything aligned perfectly, and I captured the shot. Every time I look at it, it brings back a sense of melancholy, maybe because of the feeling of solitude and stillness it evokes.

You’ve shot in your home city of Toulouse, in Tokyo, the Philippines, Berlin… do you have a dream destination?

While any place is a good place for street photography, there are definitely some destinations that catch your attention more than others. For me, Istanbul is one of those places. It seems like an ideal destination for street photography, probably because of its diversity and the friendliness of its people? I’m not sure about it… I really hope to visit it soon.

New York is another spot I’m interested in. I’d love to go this year, though I’m not sure if now is the right time. So many great photographers have done incredible work in that city, it would be amazing to experience it myself

Who or what inspires you, inside and outside of photography?

I find inspiration in many photographers! From the great masters to other photographers I interact with daily. Many of them inspire me; some through their work, others through their support and encouragement.

Music is also a big source of inspiration for me!. It helps me get through the day and has always been present in every moment of my life. Even when I’m out photographing, music often helps me stay focused and find new ideas.

What has been your best photographic experience to date?

All the trips you mentioned earlier were amazing photographic experiences. But if I had to choose one, it would be my last trip to Japan. It was essentially a photography trip since I already knew Japan, so the idea was to focus entirely on taking pictures without any other distractions. I travelled with a photographer friend, and I learned a lot from him and his way of seeing photography. I also got to reconnect with an old friend in Osaka, whom I hadn’t seen in a long time.

And, of course, winning this award! It’s the first time I’ve ever won a photography competition, and it’s been such an exciting moment for me.

What’s the best piece of advice you’d pass on to your younger self if you could?

Always carry a camera with you, go out and shoot even if you don’t feel like it, and get inspired by looking at the work of the great photographers.

And finally, what will we see from you and what do you hope for in 2025?

Well, I hope you’ll see some excellent photos from me! But realistically, since 99.9% of the shots I take will probably be ‘average ones’, I’d be happy if just a few fall into that magical 0.1% and that my subconscious helps me recognize them. I also hope to keep enjoying photography as much as I do now and continue learning from this amazing street photography community.