Bruno Baw is a photographer based in Vigo, Spain who caught our attention on Instagram with his raw portrait style that captures an alternative yet natural side to unique characters. We had a quick chat with him about his influences, fighting censorship on social media & shooting analog versus digital.
How would you define your style as an artist?
Well, I’m not sure if I’m a artist, I just do what I like. I think I’m a immediate person; I love or hate very fast haha. I think in a pose or photo or melody or rhythm (I’m a musician too, I’ve been playing the guitar and producing electronic music since forever!) I try to recreate it very fast, and if I can’t, I feel bad.
What inspires you?
Small things in life, sometimes just a walk or watching my cat playing. My wife inspires me a lot, my friends too. Some weeks I don’t even touch a camera or an instrument and the next week I make 10000 photos (literally!), or I write 50 songs. Good and creative people inspire me, the people I try to have in my life right now.
Most of your models are very unique. Where do you find your subjects to shoot?
Thank you so much. Most of them are friends, even with jobs for brands. Sometimes I ask someone I find on internet to pose, sometimes I’m asked to photograph someone. Sometimes I even ask on the street, but I’m too shy and I don’t like to do this! Most people I ask to pose they don’t, and most of times it’s a complex process. One of the best things that happens after taking photos is that the model says she/he feels great and prettier/cooler/more comfortable with her/himself. It’s great for me to repeat with the models, as it’s so much better the second photo session than the first one, and the third than the second and so on…
What are your views on censorship on social media?
Well, it’s complicated. I think when you’re on a platform you have to follow their rules (it’s like going to a restaurant who requests that you wear a tie – if you don’t like it, don’t go to that restaurant), but sometimes those rules become a bit stupid. There is a lot of free weird content on the internet to consider showing a nipple on a photo as being dangerous to anyone.
Do you prefer shooting on analog or digital?
Depends on the situation. If I have to shoot for a brand, I prefer digital, at a party/night/snapshot, I prefer analog by far, and if I want to give a present to the model I take an instant photo. The real problem is developing analog is very expensive here and not very good. If it wasn’t, I would definitely prefer doing much more analog 🙁
If you could collaborate with anyone, who would it be?
I don’t know, I always work in very small teams or even no team (just me and the model), but I have had very good experiences with make-up artists and stylists in the past and it would be great to repeat soon. I think I am easy to work with, I’m very open minded and always ask the models if they are good and want to do this or that, or if they had any ideas on styling. It’s very important to me that the people I photograph have a good time doing this and feel comfortable (and want to repeat!). I also do collabs with clothing/glasses/jewellery brands, and it’s cool!!
CREDITS
Photography: Bruno Baw – Instagram: @bbbaaawww Website: www.bbbaaawww.com
Model: Africa @africavaenbata
Clothes: Vintage pieces owned by the model
Interview: Sara Nicolette
Great interview Sara Nicolette. I would love to see Subvrtmag do a collaboration with the photographer and his models.
Amazing