"The Domestic Camera" at KBr Barcelona Through the Eyes of Alejandro Losada

A few months ago, we organized an Open Call around an exhibition at the Spanish KBr Barcelona Photo Center, part of FundaciónMAPFRE Cultura. Drawing inspiration from the KBr photo exhibition The domestic camera on amateur photographic culture in Catalonia between 1880 and 1936, we invited the photographers to rediscover the more amateur side of analogue photography and to document the most special moments of their daily life.

Each of the five photographers selected developed their own special project on films and cameras provided by Lomography. Today we dive into the "domestic project" by Alejandro Losada, shot with La Sardina on Lady Grey B&W 35 mm.

Hi Alejandro, welcome to our magazine! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?

Hi, I'm Alejandro, I'm 31 years old and I'm from Lugo, a small city in the northwest of Spain. I am currently living in Madrid, where I have been working as a logistic analyst for 5 years.

How did you start your journey in the world of photography? When did film photography start to be part of it?

Since I was a child I have loved the visual arts. Our father painted and used to take my brother and me to his studio, where we could see how his creative process was, and begin to form our own. Always very marked by abstract art, years later I left painting and I turned fully into studies, until 2016 when I moved to London, where I took with me my old Polaroid camera from the 90s. I used to take pictures with it of everything I did day by day, the streets, my friends, travels, etc. I started taking pictures on film when I was given La Sardina, and I saw that the films were much more affordable than the cartridges for the Polaroid, although the results were not so immediate. After learning to use it, I bought a Nikon F100, with which I could allow myself to continue delving deeper into the world of experimental photography, reconnecting with the abstract part I mentioned at the beginning.

Was this your first time participating in this kind of Open Call? Why did you apply?

Yes, this is my first Open Call, I have never participated in one before! I'm always late or I just don't hear about it. In this case, as I saw the topic, the photo I sent came straight to my head and I thought, "I have to send it, they have to see it".

Can you tell us about the idea behind your project?

I usually focus more on portraits and experimental photography, playing with double exposures, etc. In this case, I have tried to do something more spontaneous, less meditated, taking my camera with me on long walks around Madrid, to meetings with friends, observing the environment and trying to capture the elements that seemed most striking, without leaving aside the more experimental part, which is what I most identify with.

In which way were you inspired by the exhibition "La Cámara Doméstica" at KBr?

"La Cámara Doméstica" has given me an insight into how people of another era lived and enjoyed themselves. Nowadays we take photography too seriously, we meditate on every shot. The exhibition has reminded me of the most important thing of all, which is the fun and enjoyment part of taking pictures.

Which camera and film did you use? What features did you enjoy?

I used La Sardina, with Lady Grey film. I already knew the camera, since it was my first analogue camera, and it was nice to get back to it after so many years. I love the possibility of being able to make multiple exposures, as well as the bulb mode, which allows you to make long exposures and get very funny effects.

Do you have any interesting projects or collaborations planned?

My biggest project is to go back to taking pictures as I used to, since due to personal circumstances I have been quite still for the last year and a half. I am working together with a friend who makes collage and we would like to make an exhibition in a few months in one of the bars in the neighborhood.

Check out KBr current exhibitions and don't forget to follow Alejandro on Instagram!

written by ludovicazen on 2024-09-04 #culture #people #collaboration #spain #la-sardina #lady-grey #open-call #kbr-barcelona