Sebastian Troncoso

“I think that being a photographer is pretty similar to being in a band. Every editorial is a new song” Sebastian Troncoso is a young and talented fashion photographer from Barcelona who doesn´t care about rules. Photography is his passion and we had the pleasure that he has done some edgy work for our C-Heads Issues. In our interview he tells us about his inspirations and if there are any new trends within the fashion photographer scene.

What does photography mean to you?

Photography is my life, my passion, my escape and my freedom. I could never work in an 8 to 6 job, I think I´d go a bit crazy, I had one before and I hated it. I´m always thinking about photography and I have a lot of time to create. For me photography is an opportunity to live a life that isn´t neccesarily politically correct like the system implies. Being a photographer makes me whole and if I didn´t have it I really don´t know where I would be right now.

Who or what inspires you?

Film, music…. above all music. I think that being a photographer is pretty similar to being in a band. Every editorial is a new song – I relate my style to that of the Ramones in a sense that theirs was distinct, and they were loyal to it. I also like to experiment. Charles Bukowski is one of my main sources of inspiration, more than image, than editorials and covers, it’s a way of life. Breaking rules inspires me and you have to make some essential sacrifices in order to stay in this business. I’ve been doing this for four years which isn’t a lot of time, but I’m proud that apart from all the hardships I’m still here. C’mon, I can pay the rent, eat, dress myself, and buy my weed hahahaha.

How would you describe your own style?

I don’t think my style is that different from other photographers – my photos are always very simple, I don’t use big props or really cool lighting, I always try and make the clothing the protagonist, and then the models. Everything is already done in a sense and if I really do end up having a personal style it will most likely be seen as the years go by. Even so, I always try and add messages that I feel passionate about into my images. In that same sense, and in reference to my style, as long as I’m getting paid, I’ll get the models to pose and act how I want them to, in order to get the image that I want.

I have recently seen your work on a lot of covers. On which cover do you want to see your work in the future?

I would love to do a cover for Dazed and Confused, Esquire, Arena Homme, or Another Man. But I would also really like to do covers for people like Client, Neo2, or Fiasco. Anything related to Condé Nast is fantastic! Dapper Dan is fucking awesome!

You are working most of the time with male models – is there a difference between working with female ones?

I think that when you take photos of male models you spare yourself a lot of problems. I love taking photos of women, I love women, but sometimes it can be a lot more complicated having a female model on the set instead of a male. Mostly because of elements like make-up and the fashion editing, etc.
Also, I have more access to male models – however, I hope that changes soon :)

Do you see any kind of trends at the moment within the fashion-photography scene?

Of course, right now in my city, Barcelona – there are various really good photographers who are doing big things and setting trends – I think that we all come up with something very similar in the end – I love what Sebastian Sabal, Antia Pagant and Alejandro Brito are doing at the moment – Especially Alejandro Brito who has a very distinct style.

Tell us any funny story you remember while having a photoshoot!

I have quite a few, given that right now the 080 is going on, I can remember one from last year’s fashion week in Barcelona…
I was doing an editorial for Fiasco, of the guys from 080 and they had to come to the studio so I could take their portraits. The studio was really close to where the fashion shows were also going on and the guys were coming in one by one or in groups. At the end I thought it would be a good idea to go take a walk around the shows, and obviously when I arrived there was a ton of beer and mojitos… I was there just an hour and I ended up completely drunk and I still had one model to finish the editorial. I headed back to the studio and I started to get worried that they would realize the state I was in.  Right as I got there I started the portrait and after having a little chat with the model it turned out he was waaayy more drunk than me!

Where do you see yourself in 5 Years?
I hope to be doing good editorials, good covers, with good models, and with a good team of people behind me. The team I have now is marvelous! I hope that in 5 years we are still doing the same things but on a much higher level. I hope that in 5 years I still have work as a photographer and to be able to pay my rent, pay for my clothes and my weed. Really I just hope to stick with this until I die.

The most important thing in life is?
Occupy the majority of your time doing what you are truly passionate about.

The best thing about Barcelona?
You can always find something new in Barcelona, maybe people, a bar, quality of life everywhere.

web: www.sebastian-troncoso.blogspot.com
www.goldenstudiobarcelona.com