Stark portraits from Spain's Amaia Gomez

What else do you do besides photography?

I started a Bachelors in Fine Arts program at the University of Barcelona, and I finished two months ago in the Massachusetts College of Art and Design in Boston. I spend most of my time studying and analyzing different movements of the modern age, and the differences between them, especially in painting and photography. I’m also interested in psychology, mostly in Freud’s theories of the subconscious and automatic writing. I used to employ this knowledge in my own work.

What does beauty mean to you?

Art in general, and photography in particular, is a method for discovering my own thoughts and feelings. Whenever I photograph someone’s expression out in the street or in the studio, there are times I don’t acknowledge things that are happening in these photographs. Only after I develop them do I realize that they are the sum of all parts that make who I am. And when I see this, I feel like I’m getting to know myself better. Photography is not decoration, it is something much more emotional. So the meaning of beauty to me is the truth in discovering myself a tiny bit each day.

What movies and books come closest to representing your point of view?

Any movie by the Cohen Brothers. From Blood Simple to Burn After Reading. But the movie that comes closest to representing my outlook on life is probably Jules et Jim by Francois Truffaut. As for books, maybe Jack Kerouac’s or Allen Ginsberg’s poetry.

What music are you listening to these days?

Just before I came to Boston I felt my life needed a change, I knew my work needed to develop and focus in a drastically different way. So I decided to take a road trip with a friend to increase my familiarity and firsthand knowledge of the American life, and to take pictures on the streets. He introduced me to lots of amazing music while driving to California. Music from bands like Why?, Islands, The Helio Sequence, The Notwist, The Unicorns,  Megapuss, etc. He also reminded me of bands that I hadn't been listening to as much as before, like Animal Collective and Lady of the Sunshine. In general, I spend hours listening to music that I've known ever since I can remember, like The Smiths, Yardbirds, The McCoys, Joy Division, New Order, Devo.

Where do you live and how does that affect your work?

I’m currently in Barcelona but I lived in Boston for 6 months. I’m planning to go back to continue working on my photography. I learned a lot in Barcelona but I was dry of ideas. Being in Boston gave me instant inspiration and I started taking my camera everywhere. Almost all the people I photographed in Barcelona were done in my school’s studio. But following in the steps of photographers like Robert Frank, Lissete Model, Bruce Davidson, Gary Winogrand, etc. (to name a few) I arrived in USA with the intention of photographing on the streets, to take pictures of moments that I identified with. So that’s what I’m doing now.

How often do you photograph?

Whenever I’m not studying art or working to save money to buy film rolls and photographic paper!