The Last Remains Of Intimacy

Award-Winning composer and writer, min Kahng talks about how he created musical ‘four immigrants’

- Min Kahng

Juan Pablo Ramirez began using photography to explore the behavior of light and its ability to define physical space. By focusing on the natural light available in shooting locations he gained a deeper understanding of low light situations and the power of darkness within his images. His currently untitled, conceptual portrait series is an attempt to access the storytelling potential of a cinematic aesthetic in still photography. His tools in doing so are translucent materials, available light, shadows, reflections and surreal settings.

You work primarily as a cinematographer, what role does photography play in both your professional and private life?

At first still photography was just a tool for me as a cinematographer: a way to help me study shooting locations, determine the look of and the textures of a place, the way the light would fall. But when I began to use analogue format cameras, photography took on its own meaning outside of my job as a DP. I began to see still photography as an art form that could open up a new world for me, including the way I look at daily life. Taking pictures has made me pay close attention to how people move, the dynamism of backgrounds and the way light behaves. Today I never go anywhere without a camera on me. I am always ready to shoot because, in truth, there are photos that happen every moment and I want to be ready. This growing passion has led me to become a small collector of cameras and lenses – each one with its own personality and spirit.

Which photographers or cinematographers have inspired you and influenced your style?