Can you introduce yourself a bit more and tell what you do in life?

Hi, I’m Kevin Rodriguez and I’m from Bogotá – Colombia, I work as a software engineer and my hobby is to go outside and take photos of things that attract me.

How and when did you get into street photography?

I have always loved photography, but I couldn’t get a camera because I did not have the resources to buy one (4 years ago), so I took a lot of photos with my phone. I started to take photos with a very minimalist approach. Then the pandemic came to our lives, my financial situation improved and I started to have a lot of free time (working from home), so I decided to get a camera and take photography more seriously.

Why street photography, I think that is the best way to practice and improve your creativity because you take a lot photos in a wild environment, sometimes with no light, sometimes raining, sometimes people arguing with you… even if you are a portrait photographer or fashion photographer, street photography is a nice exercise for your eyes.

What does street photography mean to you?

Street photography is a very important part of life, it is like to go to the gym, you put everything in your being to get a good picture, I love to walk, be aware of my surroundings, know people from around the world and share thoughts them meanwhile we are drink a beer/coffee, it’s priceless and it makes me a better human being.

Where is the most interesting place you have taken pictures at?

Seville – Spain, beautiful light, shadows, colors and subjects, i recommend checking out the work by Antonio E. Ojeda and Joseba Castaño.

How did you discover Estonian street photography forum/blog?

I joined the group because I wanted to know the street photography environment in Estonia, I think it is an interesting place to live.

What are your impressions on the pictures you’ve seen in the blog?

Nice shots!, the silhouettes work by Lembe Aasorg is amazing and generally, you can find nice compositions and candid shots, good place to get inspiration.

What is the biggest difference in street photography between Estonia and where you live?

You are shy people! We are always trying to get closer to our subjects when we are working. I think that it’s a big cultural difference.

What inspires you?

Movies, photo books, paintings, Instagram accounts, Facebook groups, almost everything.

Do you have any favourite photographers?

I have a lot of favourite photographers but I will name some 5 unconventional contemporaries.

– Sarah Van Rij
– Sam Bohórquez
– Rodrigo Roher
– Dante Sisofo
– Juan Cristóbal Cobo

and 5 classics:
– Saul Leiter
– Martin Parr
– Ernst Haas
– René Burri
– William Klein

What are your plans for the future?

Keep trying to find my photographic language, it will be a long path and I would like to create a solid street photography collective to share some amazing talent from my country.

Interviewed by Katriin Kents.