We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Clara Alvarez-Alonso . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Clara below.

Clara, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s the best or worst investment you’ve made (either in terms of time or money)? (Note, these responses are only intended as entertainment and shouldn’t be construed as investment advice)

Following an artistic path often means big economic investments. I’ve invested quite a bit of money into cameras, lenses, drones and underwater housings for the camera. However, my best creative investment was not economic, it was time and experience. In February of this year, I decided to go to Costa Rica by myself for 2 months to pursue my art, immerse myself in lifestyle surf and nature photography, and create a portfolio. I didn’t feel inspired in the city where I live and I found that there were too many distractions and excuses there to be able to immerse myself to the extent that I felt I needed. I was also going through my last semester of college online but took the chance anyway.

I went there with a vague idea of what I wanted to come back home with but the result was much more than what I could have expected. I decided that my time there would consist of me saying “yes” to nearly every photo/video opportunity that came my way and that I would do projects regardless of the pay (or even if there was no pay). I learned that I wasn’t cut out for every type of photo, that I didn’t enjoy shooting everything and that it was important for me to value the time and effort that went into my work so others would value it as well. I also learned a lot of interesting technical things through trial and error, found what style of photos I was strongest at and realized the importance of having creative control on projects.

I left with a portfolio that was more diverse and colorful than I ever expected but more than anything, I realized what an asset a camera and a positive attitude was for me. Through photo and video shoots I formed incredible connections and friendships with people and found an artistic community that I fit into. I came as an aspiring creative and left as a confident artist hungry for new projects and experiences.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m Clara, a photographer and videographer originally from Spain that has been living in Miami for most of her life. I’ve always been inclined towards the arts in the forms of music, writing and through a lens and have found that it’s through creative expression that I feel the most in tune with society, nature and myself. I got into this industry in my early teenage years as a hobby, finding inspiration in a few people within my close circle that I considered accomplished photographers. One of them and perhaps the most influential was my best friend’s mom, Kuti Martinez, a Spanish photographer whose Cuba street and lifestyle pieces I still consider to be some of my favorite compositions.

Right now, I mainly focus on lifestyle and in-water surf photography and event/sports videography. My best creative self comes out when I’m able to build a personal relationship or connection with whoever’s behind the lens and when I work with people with an understanding of artistic concepts. I’m someone that loves to connect with people and understand their journey and visual art is a great tool to express that. The photoshoots I’ve enjoyed the most have been with friends who are artists themselves and who feel comfortable with me as much as I do with them.

I feel that one of the qualities that sets me apart is that I’m very good at capturing organic moments and have trained my eye to frame these moments in a way where the audience experiences what I’ve felt behind the lens. What I often hear from those that see my photos is that they feel like they were there, watching that sunset, at that party, listening to that guitar or feeling what that person’s going through. To know that a photo I’ve taken has the capacity to transport someone to a moment that they haven’t lived, moves me.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Art, for me, has always been about using a canvas to express myself with the objective of understanding myself better and capturing the elements, moments and people that keep shaping me into who I am. When I write, my objective is to philosophize about my journey and help others feel seen through my experiences. When I photograph, it is often with the goal of helping others see how much beauty surrounds them and gifting them and myself with a memory to look back at. So that’s my mission- to help others see the glass half full. To see memories of themselves where they were happy, present, ambitious and be able to look back with a smile. Because like Guillermo del Toro said in an interview, in a time of so much doubt and pain and loss and confusion, “positivity is the radical choice” and I want people to see that.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

I think the biggest divide between creatives and non-creatives is understanding deliberate artistic choices and appreciating effort. I’ve shot with both kinds of people and the difference is staggering. Creatives give you control but after a discussion to make sure both of you have a similar idea of the concept. Non-creatives are more controlling and less understanding of deliberate creative choices because they are less likely to imagine the possible outcome or art behind an idea. It has happened to me in photoshoots where I use motion blur deliberately, mess with the rule of thirds or have my own take on shade and color where I’ve found that people that are less creative struggle to appreciate or understand the choices I make. But at the end of the day art is left to interpretation and everyone can get something different (or nothing at all) from it and that’s where the beauty lies.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @shotbyclaraaa
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/claraalvarezalonso99
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcZ-kP0-RQlCS85CJt6IDRA

Image Credits
I have rights and credits to all images.