ALFREDO SANCHEZ

The portraitist of the extraordinary

Perfect art is therefore inaccessible, but the path to perfection is the one we should appreciate

ALFREDO SANCHEZ

Alfredo Sanchez was not predestined for photography. Born in Mexico in 1954, he studied law and took up a career in the private sector. “My free time was spent playing tennis, horse riding, and let’s not forget my favourite pastime: photography,” he says. Much later, towards the end of the 1990s, he made a radical professional change. He abandoned his career to devote himself to his passion: photography. At the start of the digital era, Alfredo Sanchez undertook intensive and complete training in digital photography. He participated in the workshops of master photographers – Luis Caballo, Cuitlahuac Correa (Mexico), Jorge Salgado (Madrid), Antonio Leanza (London), and Flor Acosta (Mexico) – taking part in seminars in the four corners of the globe. Today, he exhibits his work internationally and has won numerous awards. Alfredo Sanchez dedicates himself to his art to offer us an extraordinary vision of the world around us. Bewitching, his portraits are meticulously thought out to create moments of pure utopia. Like a choreographer, he composes each of his shots like a dance, full of colours, textures, and beauty. His goal? To draw attention to the wonders of the world, highlighting the extraordinary element residing in each ordinary life. ... See more See less

References

Exhibitions

• 2007 Digital Photography Exhibition, in collaboration with Mr. Julio Velasco Corazones Gallery. Guanajuato, Guanajuato, Mexico. • 2008 Photographic Exposition in Expo Fresas Irapuato. Irapuato, Guanajuato. Mexico • 2005 - 2010 Photographic Exposition “El Vitral “. Irapuato, Guanajuato. Mexico • 2009 Speaker at Photography Projection Conference. Quetzacóatl University Auditorium. Irapuato, Guanajuato. Mexico. • 2008-2010 Photograph Exposition and Conference Quetzacóatl University Auditorium. Irapuato, Guanajuato. Mexico. • 2014 Photographic Exposition “Joyas de Panamá” Habitante Gallery, Panama, Panama. • 2016 Exposition at A, Sanchez Gallery, Cancun, Quintana Roo. Mexico. • 2017 Exposition at Artifact, New York, U.S.A. • 2017 Solo Exposition in Nahualli Gallery, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. • 2017 “Beauty and Art” Exposition at A, Sanchez Gallery, Cancun, Quintana Roo. Mexico. • 2017 Art Expo, New York, U.SA. • 2017 Art Santa Fe, Santa Fe, U.S.A • 2017 Cube Art Fair, Brussels, Belgium. • 2017 “Retatros” Exposition at A. Sanchez Gallery, Cancun, Quintana Roo. • 2017 “Spectrum” Exposition Miami, Miami, Florida, U.S.A • 2018 “Intervenidas Collection” (in collaboration with other recognized artists), Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico. • 2018 “Mayas Collection”, Solo Exposition, Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico. • 2018 Photographic Exposition, Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico.

Awards

• 2005-until now Active Member of the “National Association of Photoshop Professional” (NAPP). • 2009 Photoshop World Conference & Expo. Las Vegas, Nevada. U.S.A. • 2011-until now Active Member of 1x.com site, contributing with many pictures for the site. • 2014 Photographic Publication for “Photo Magazine”. • 2016 IPA “International Photography Awards” 2nd. Place in “Fashion” category • 2016 IPA “International Photography Awards” 5 honorable mentions in “Nature” category. • 2016 Article Publication for “Digital Camera Magazine”, London, England, UK. • 2016 Article Publication about Fine Art Artistic Photography for Arab PX. • 2016 Article & Photography Publication for “Digital Camera Magazine”, London, England, UK. • 2016 Interview for “1X.COM” site, the biggest European gallery for online pictures around the world, which has professional curators.

Interview

1. Why photography?

I was born in Mexico City in 1954; I studied law with an International Commerce Specialization. About 15 years ago, I started in the photography world. I am drawn by Portrait Photography because of the interaction I have with persons. I am a firm believer that good portraits are about making people look great. In my own process of thought, I am not trying to please or impress my family, my friends or the judges of any competition. My first step to consider a portrait is to please myself with the work I have done. There is a quote of Michael Orton, “Creativity is a personal and individual journey that is often appreciated and savored by the creator alone”; do not expect everybody to understand your photographs, be creative and express yourself for your own sake, there is no greater validation for your photographs.

2. Your inspiration?

Every day you have experiences, which form your own vision in photography. Those small experiences build me up to be the photographer that I am today. There was a famous Latin American writer Mr. Eduardo Galeano, who was once asked in a conference... “What is utopia?” and the answer was the best I have ever heard “Utopia is like the horizon... any time that you want to reach it, it goes farther away and you will never get there.” So perfect art is not reachable, but the path to perfection is the one that we should enjoy.

3. What is unique in your photographs?

Each collection is different but there is something in common that makes them special. - All my collections are based on a designed and developed idea. - Every photo session has a support story. - I previously define the goals I would like to achieve and cover. - Though a schedule I’m able to plan the shooting stages - I have a team involved in every session: o Make artists o Costume Designers o Coordinator o General Assistants

4. The context of creation of your new series

For me, the mood and story of my shooting are very important. I prepare the scene and the whole concept, exploring the story behind my idea and the scenario that I need to present. On the other hand, I like to prepare the technical aspect carefully. I measure every light and try to control every aspect of the scene. I always work with a team and the process normally goes on this way: One or 2 weeks before the shooting I prepare the concept, when it is clear for me, I have a meeting with my assistants and the makeup team to discuss the project and review what other ideas could we add. At that moment in time, we schedule the shooting day and depending on the concept we define I request the purchase of the outfits and extra items that will be involved, we also start searching the model that could give us the proper look.

5. Any anecdote for us?

A memorable experience was with a photographer, his name is Luis Caballo. We went together to Puerto Vallarta, a place where we normally spent Christmas and New Year’s Eve; but for this time, we arranged a photo shooting in different scenarios. I had the chance of admiring those wonderful places in a different way, now it was through my camera lens, for the last part of the shooting we ended up admiring an amazing landscape and I witnessed one of the best sunsets of my life. Then I realized that I had been there for many years and I never took the time for admiring such a beautiful moment.

6. The picture you would have loved to shoot?

Jingna Zhana - Motherland Chronicles Collection

7. The latest prizes / awards / prides you got?

Publications & Awards • 2005-until now Active Member of the “National Association of Photoshop Professional” (NAPP). • 2009 Photoshop World Conference & Expo. Las Vegas, Nevada. U.S.A. • 2011-until now Active Member of 1x.com site, contributing with many pictures for the site. • 2014 Photographic Publication for “Photo Magazine”. • 2016 IPA “International Photography Awards” 2nd. Place in “Fashion” category • 2016 IPA “International Photography Awards” 5 honorable mentions in “Nature” category. • 2016 Article Publication for “Digital Camera Magazine”, London, England, UK. • 2016 Article Publication about Fine Art Artistic Photography for Arab PX. • 2016 Article & Photography Publication for “Digital Camera Magazine”, London, England, UK. • 2016 Interview for “1X.COM” site, the biggest European gallery for online pictures around the world, which has professional curators. • 2019 Interview for “Shades of Color Magazine”, an online photography magazine, dedicated to discover and promote new talents.

8. Your next projects?

I’m planning to make some changes and explore new concepts, in my previous projects I designed and worked based on Mayan Goddesses represented by animals of the region. But now, in this second stage I want to capture scenes in which many characters can be shown at the same time. For example: The relationship between “La Malinche – Moctezuma – Hernan Cortes” supported with an historical base and recreating a key moment in Mexico History which was “The conquest”.

9. Any crush on a YK picture?

I have many, but I really admire Damien Dufresne pictures.

WHY PHOTOGRPAHY?

I love portraits because of the interaction I have with people. I firmly believe that good portraits are about making people look great. In my own process of thought, I do not try to please or impress my family, friends or the judges of a competition.

WHAT MAKES YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS UNIQUE?

Each series is different but there is something in common that makes them special. All of my photographs are based on a conceived and developed idea. Each photography session has a story behind it. I define in advance the objectives I wish to achieve and cover.

WHAT IS THE CONTEXT FOR THE CREATION OF YOUR SERIES?

For me, the atmosphere and the story of my photographs are very important. I prepare the whole concept, exploring the story behind my idea and the script that I have to present. I love to prepare the technical aspect.

WHY PHOTOGRPAHY?

WHAT MAKES YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS UNIQUE?

WHAT IS THE CONTEXT FOR THE CREATION OF YOUR SERIES?

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