A Conversation with Daniel Garcia ~ Denver based film photographer
Introduce yourself, where you’re from/located and what type of photography you primarily shoot.
Hey, I am Daniel Garcia. I'm originally from Mexico City but am currently based at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Denver, CO. I like to think that I simply love to shoot. I will try any type of photography; portrait, landscape, fashion, street, etc. However, I do think I have a strong bias towards landscape photography as that is how I got started. I've always been drawn to the mountains, and now that they are so close to me, I try to go out and shoot them whenever I get the chance.
How did you get into your chosen medium? Do you remember the catalyst that influenced your decision to begin your journey?
I never thought of myself as an artistic person. Maybe creative, but definitely not artistic. During high school, I decided to replace all my Fine Arts graduation requirements with Computer Science classes. However, at the end of my senior year, I became curious about stop motion videos. I started making them with a cheap webcam and Lego minifigs just for fun. While experimenting and playing around with it, I found out about a contest to create a stop motion ad for Lego. It was then that I saved up to buy what I thought was the most professional camera ever, a refurbished Canon T2i. Hooked it up to my old desktop, installed a bootlegged copy of Dragon Frame Stop Motion and started snapping away. Spent a couple of weeks creating the video nonstop. I didn’t realize the scale of the project I took on and ended up not entering the contest as I wasn’t able to finish the video in time. At this point, however, I was already hooked with the technical aspect of photography and wanted to keep learning as much as possible about it. From there, the next iteration of stop motion videos was time lapse photography. Thanks to Denver’s proximity to the mountains, I started taking my camera up to the mountains and applying what I had learned about stop motion videos to landscape time lapse photography. Haven’t done any time-lapse nor stop motion videos for a while now but they are definitely what got me into photography and getting out there to see new places.
Do you have any photographers or artists who have influenced your creative style when composing or editing your photos?
When I started out with landscape photography, someone I looked up to was Michael Shainblum. He did amazing landscape time lapse photography of the country’s natural surroundings. Lately, I feel like it’s not just one or a few photographers that influence my creative style, rather it’s the film community as a whole. Seeing everybody’s work is so inspiring. I get excited seeing so much variety in styles and how people get different results even with the same film stocks.
You’ve mentioned in the past that you have a slight obsession with thrifting film cameras in your local area. What’s your best find so far?
Can’t remember exactly but I think a Nishika 4000 would be the best find so far as well as a couple of Olympus Stylus point and shoots. Not a camera but I also found a Nikon Coolscan scanner once.
Do you have a favourite film camera and film stock that you’re normally drawn to when out taking photographs? Can you share why?
A Contax G1, paired with CineStill 50D (whenever I can get my hands on some), are my go-to shooting combo. I love the ease of use the Contax offers. Load up some film, look through the viewfinder, half press to focus, let it choose the shutter speed for me, and shoot. It’s just so easy to get going with it and eliminates a few variables that might prevent me from getting the shot. Being able to swap lenses, as opposed to a point and shoot, is also a game changer. Switching between 45mm and 90mm has been so much fun. Still can’t decide which focal length/lens I like more. Film stock wise, I’ve really been enjoying CineStill 50D. It renders cooler tones and seems to have a higher dynamic range and added sharpness(?).
As a self proclaimed fan of architecture, how does the experience of photographing architecture differ between Denver and Mexico City? Do you have a preference?
I am by no means an architecture expert nor an architecture photographer for that matter, but I feel like growing up in Mexico City (or rather less than an hour away from it), I was immersed in a variety of architectural styles on the daily. So much that I didn’t notice nor fully appreciate it while living there. It wasn’t until I came to the US/Denver that I noticed the richness in architecture that we have in Mexico City and Mexico in general. From ruins ranging from pre colonial times, to the most modern and whimsical styles present in contemporary buildings. Once I noticed the architectural richness and diversity present in Mexico City, I felt like architecture in Denver could not compare and found myself in the same position as I was in Mexico where I didn’t fully appreciate the architecture that surrounded me.
Later, I understood that if I ever wanted to improve at photographing architecture in Mexico City, I would have to practice with what was around me. It was thanks to this realization that I started noticing and appreciating Denver’s architecture. So much that I have fallen in love with photographing and documenting it. Especially older buildings that incorporate art deco elements, whether big or small. Sometimes the smallest garage shops have the most inspired architectural details. Going back to Mexico City, it is definitely a different shooting experience. I now feel a bit overwhelmed with how many details buildings have over there, especially colonial era buildings. I have to get used to seeing so many styles crowded in a few blocks, but once I do, it feels like an endless playground to photograph architecture. It is also a challenge as everything is so close together. 100% worth it, though. I feel like lately, I also go back with a different perspective. Before I used to only appreciate the most “grandiose” buildings, now, I can also appreciate the beauty in “plain” buildings that I wouldn’t have afforded a second glance.
For many creatives, social media plays a large role in their careers, whether positive or negative. How would you describe its impact on your creativity?
I think it has had a huge impact on it. If it wasn’t for social media, we wouldn’t have connected. It’s an amazing tool. I have also always been inspired by what others share on their accounts/profiles and have tried new things because of them. I have always looked for inspiration online. Sometimes I try to emulate certain elements of photos I enjoy. I see it as a sort of challenge or way to push myself to keep things fresh. This is not to say that it does also have some negative aspects to it. I can easily, and often, find myself comparing my work to that of other creatives. Due to this, I sometimes feel like I should be creating certain things in a certain way instead of what I really want or have in mind. Or also sometimes think that I should be at x point in my creative career instead of where I am at today.
Do you have any other creative hobbies you’re interested in that people don’t see shared on social media?Mentioned a bit about it above, I love making time-lapses. The process of staying at one spot, taking in the scene while the camera shoots away, and putting everything together to create a short video that sometimes took hours to make is so rewarding and forces you to slow down. I haven’t done them in a while, but I find the process extremely rewarding and satisfying. I also enjoy filmmaking. I have thought about starting a YT channel just to have an excuse to make videos. It’s a lot of work and time, but maybe soon, though.
Do you have anything creative you’re working on or excited about for the future?
I have a few things in mind. I currently scan my own film but am planning to soon self-develop as well. I have greatly enjoyed learning about each step of processing film. Been also considering moving back to Mexico City so that I can once again be immersed in that environment and document the city with a pair of fresh eyes. On film of course haha. This is an ambitious project but something that I would love to do as my roots are from there and love every single time I go back to visit. Another smaller project I have in mind is photographing Denver’s historical landmarks on medium format. Recently bought a 40+ year old book with pictures of them as well as a brief caption with their history. I think it would be cool to recreate those photos with how those buildings look today.
Having never thought that I would ever find myself being considered a creative, I still find it amazing that I fell in love with photography. Always thought of myself as a creative but never in this way. This goes to prove that keeping an open mind can lead you to paths that you may had never even remotely considered but that will be extremely rewarding and form a part of who you are. I am grateful to have found photography along with its community. Although my main career is not exactly art related, yet still creative, I feel like photography is a passion that I will keep developing for the rest of my life. At the end of the day we are all creatives, we just have to find our medium.
