The Eye Behind the Camera
I’m Santiago Amo, originally from Ferrol in Galicia, and an adopted son of both Zaragoza and Granada. My relationship with photography began with my father and the slides we used to project at home: I was fascinated by their light and colour.
I taught myself, learning through experimentation and by taking photographs. The arrival of digital photography opened up new possibilities and became the step that led me to broaden the areas I worked in and eventually pursue photography professionally.
From Nature to People
I started out photographing landscapes and animals, experimenting with different techniques and lenses. This image of a sparrow feeding its chick is one of the memories from those early days: being in the right place at the right time is also part of making a photograph.
Then came panoramic photography, travel and my growing interest in architecture. The Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, the River Ebro and Zaragoza’s Stone Bridge are the subjects of one of my favourite panoramic images.
When I began photographing people, I discovered how much preparation can contribute to an image: styling, make-up, lighting and the relationship with the person in front of the camera. Fashion photography allowed me to develop this side of my work and combine it with my passion for travel.
That combination led to my series of photographs featuring models at landmark, a way of bringing places and people together in a single image.
The Magic of Weddings
In 2008, I photographed a wedding for the first time, for friends of friends. I discovered a field that brings together many of the skills and techniques I had been developing and that demands attention, speed and sensitivity.
At a wedding, you cannot repeat the moment. You have to understand the light, anticipate what is about to happen and be there for people throughout a day full of emotion. I like to approach every wedding with enthusiasm and give each one the attention it deserves.
Photography and Sharing
I work across different areas of photography because each one brings something valuable to the others. That experience also forms the basis of my courses and workshops: teaching you how to see, understand light and prepare a photograph before thinking about editing it.
If you’d like me to photograph your story or help you take your photography further, get in touch and tell me what you have in mind.