Photographer: Emmanuel Castañeda

1. What significant life experiences or events have influenced and shaped your artistic vision?

Determining the boundaries of our artistic preferences is, I believe, one of the challenges facing us as Gen Z photographers. With the accessibility of different social media platforms, we are currently able to access a variety of fashion moments and media formats, but it can be challenging to prioritize the aesthetics that most resonate to you. Nonetheless, taking part in workshops like Alejandro Salinas' Editorial Photography and Rebeca Saray's Fine Art Photography have greatly influenced my work as a photographer.

2. Collaboration often sparks fresh creativity. Can you share an example of a collaboration that led to an unexpected and exciting artistic outcome?

I worked with a local fashion reality competition program on schedule. One of the challenges was drag fashion, and once I posted the photos on social media, it went pretty well for me. I currently work with drag queens who compete in Ru Paul Drag Race Mexico since they are one of my primary customers. I'm grateful of the fact that I get to work on so many artistic projects and that my creations help them express the overall idea of how their art is meant to be experienced.

3. Walk us through a specific project that challenged your creative boundaries. How did you approach it, and what did you learn from the experience?

There was a picture competition with the theme Latin American Stories for a large magazine, so I decided it was worth trying to step outside of my comfort zone. I contacted queer and indigenous activist Jobis Shosho to see if they would be willing to join and provide some context for this project. We got an amazing photo series, however, we didn't get selected, but despite that, I really appreciate the aperture that Jobis had with me. It helped me realize that my prior work was more focused on creating a narrative based on my imagination, whereas this project were more about listening and expanding my understanding of people who live in the same country as me but have different life experiences. I learned about Wixárika culture and traditions; the subjects for this project chose to portray themselves in non-confirmative gender roles and integrate it into their cultural background; also we faced the struggles to shoot inside a cave with bats It was definitely a fun ride.

4. In the ever-evolving art world, what do you believe sets your work apart and makes it unique or groundbreaking?

What distinguishes my work is the diverse approach I take to my tasks. In addition to being a photographer, I am also a 3D artist who uses AI techniques for the final touches. As contemporary creatives, we are engaged in a continuous discourse about how to use these technologies. On one side, there are photographic purists who refuse to use Photoshop, while on the other, there are people who present AI-generated photographs as art. Both approaches have an audience and are valid ways of expression. Personally, I'm looking at all options, focusing on lighting throughout the production and incorporating things into post-production that enhance my narrative. These tools enable me to experiment and explore my journey as a creative director while I try to get the recourses and opportunities needed for larger-scale projects that require complete staging.

5. As you reflect on your journey, are there any specific goals or milestones you've set for your artistic career in the coming years?

To be more consistent with my work, I have interrupted my career several times over the years due the feeling of not being enough, or comparing myself to other photographers from my age or that has the same years in the industry as I do. Now a days I’m more focus on doing my own thing, celebrate my goals and the goals of others in my creative community, and providing younger creatives with the knowledge they need to continue pursuing their passion. Right now I’m also sharing what I know on TikTok and the support and enthusiasm from other photographers has been amazing.

6. How did you discover Mob and what made you choose us?

It is not my first time publishing for Mob; I have known about the magazine for years when I was scrolling thought Instagram. I just believe that this magazine honors creative quality by all means required, and as a result, I believe they have partnered with many outstanding photographers who share their vision.