Photographing the Beauty in the Details With Natalia GW
Photographing the Beauty in the Details With Natalia GW
Delsey Paris x VISUALPLEASURE
NEW HORIZONS - WORLD TOUR 2024
Colombian Artist of the week - Natalia GW
Name:
Delsey Paris x VISUALPLEASURE
NEW HORIZONS - WORLD TOUR 2024
COLOMBIAN Artist of the week - Natalia GW
Photography:
Natalia GW
Words:
Erica Nichols
There are many ways of seeing and living life in Bogota, says fashion photographer Natalia GW. Those complexities directly influence her work, allowing her to peel back the layers to uncover the “maximum expression of beauty” in whatever she’s capturing. We went deep with the photographer to discover how her background in architectural photography helped her develop her approach to fashion, and also talked about what she created for our DELSEY Paris collaboration. Read on for our conversation below.
What came first: a love for fashion or photography?
My approach to photography went through many paths before coming to fashion. After studying photography and having an inclination towards architecture and minimalism. I was lucky enough to take part in a portrait and fashion photography workshop with the greatest exponent of Colombian photography, Ruven Afanador. That experience gave purpose to my profession and it was there that my path in fashion began, applying my vision and previous style that I had in architectural photography, but in fashion photography where I saw that a garment, the body, the art within fashion are equally structures and you can tell a story of beauty through the simple.
How do you balance your creative identity with commercial projects?
I am fortunate to work on my hobby and my passion, so my premise when working has always been that my work is also my personal project. As in every area: makeup, styling, fashion design, over the years and the set of qualities we have as artists result in a signature, a style of our own that develops unconsciously. So I think there will always be a trace of that identity in any work you do. You have to know that when doing a commercial project the priority is always to show the product in order to sell it, so as long as that part is covered and under control, creativity and ideas can flow. The advantage of having a more solid portfolio over the years is that your clients will come to you because they want the result of their photos in your way.
What do you hope your photography expresses to people?
I am always in search of representing that beauty that I like to see in everything, in the simple, in color, in light, in shapes, in people... I would like my work to be a scenario where we do not fail to see something real, but in its maximum expression of beauty, making it seem surreal, although it is not.
How do you continue to push yourself as an artist? Any new themes or ideas that excite you?
I believe that motivation and inspiration are ephemeral things that always go away and will always come back. Just as in human relationships, for you to have something long term requires much more than passion, and that is commitment and discipline. An artist without discipline will not reach the full potential of his talent. So my drive to continue is always, ideally to feel inspired by the work and to work, but when not, to work to do something that inspires and motivates me again.
What elements guide your vision the most (light, composition, color, etc.) and why?
Color and its light. All my compositions start from color, and a very important quality of color is the light it has in it. Painting has been an area that has fascinated me since I was a child, everything we see has volume, has texture and has color because there is a light that illuminates it. Painting is painting light, photography is painting with light.
How do you overcome creative blocks? Any local places that inspire you?
The result of us as artists is the expression of everything we see, what we hear, what we eat, what we read, what we speak, how we relate, how we understand the world, our political, social vision, etc... So when there is a creative block it is easy to overcome it if we keep stimulating our mind with any expression of art, movies, music, a book, going out to observe... The source of inspiration comes also from the simplest things.
“ I would like my work to be a scenario where we do not fail to see something real, but in its maximum expression of beauty, making it seem surreal, although it is not.”
What do you love most about Bogota and how does it impact you/your artistry?
I love Bogota because it is where the country is concentrated, where many cultures from other parts of Colombia mix, many ways of seeing life and living it, they say it is a city of no one. As a capital there are many opportunities, commerce, it is a hard working city that is never still. That rhythm inevitably sets you in motion to always be doing something.
How does travel influence your work and world view as an artist?
Traveling opens your mind to new sceneries, landscapes, buildings, foods, ways of dressing, a whole spectrum of different and beautiful people and as I mentioned before. I like to see the beauty in everything, so traveling is one of the most important sources of inspiration. A trip that marked my vision was to visit Italy which is one of the cradles of art, to see the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums, to be in front of a painting or a sculpture is a very stimulating experience and motivates me to create more and more pictorial images.
Talk to us about what you’re creating DELSEY.
The concept will be to travel in time, with the main inspiration being the book 'The Little
Prince', the location will be in studio but with backings of two places that represent that
freedom that your home is wherever you are.
What’s in your DELSEY?
Camera: to capture forever what we want to remember of the places where we go and with whom we are.
Suitcase or bag: to keep souvenirs or memories of each place.
Comfortable shoes and clothes: to be able to travel and visit while being comfortable.
