My name is David Araujo Vazquez, I was born in 1976 in Barcelona and still live there to this day. I work in another field which has nothing to do with photography, specifically I work in the Vapotienda chain of shops selling electronic cigarettes to help people quit smoking.
I consider myself an amateur photographer as I is not my main source of income, but I think I put the same amount of passion into it as any professional.
How did you get started in Light Painting?
It was back in 2014 that I started with digital cameras and in manual mode to learn everything at once. When I started to see other people’s pictures of night photography, it was very clear to me that I also wanted to do something like that and with a lot of video tutorials and practice I gradually understood and got to grips with the techniques.
What is this technique for you?
Pure art and a way to show my art from my point of view, there are many techniques within light painting and I’m someone who like to dabble in all the different areas.
What style defines you? What kind of work do you usually do?
As I mentioned in the previous question, in my case I am someone who likes to try out every technique there is, therefore, there are many photos to take, techniques and tools to try!
Which photographers, light painters and/or artists in general have influenced you?
There are many – both national and international. I’m someone who doesn’t like to say a couple of names because you always leave someone out, but I can say that I like artists who innovate with new tools and techniques, those who don’t stagnate – those are the ones who have influenced me the most to create new scenes or effects.
Each artist usually has his own style, and I like to learn from everyone, good and not so good.
In terms of favourites I tend to lean towards people who do freehand drawing and their own creations, those who make their own tools, etc.
What has been your biggest photographic challenge or most difficult photo to achieve?
I think my biggest photographic challenge is yet to come. There are always photographs that are more difficult to take, either because of the technique, the difficulty of the execution or the combination of everything into a single photograph.
The photograph that I show you today was one of the most difficult to take. At first sight it seems simple and easy to recreate, but it is quite the opposite, creating atmospheres is more difficult than creating strokes or spheres.
Recreating lighting by creating shadows and textures to make it look as real as possible is one of the most difficult things to do from my point of view.
What is your favourite tool?
It’s really a torch, without it I couldn’t do most of the effects I usually do. The Ryu’s Lightworks torch offers an endless number of possibilities for lightpainters.
On the other hand I like to try all the tools that I can. Some are easier to use or handle than others, but I like all of them – each one offers something different.
Since I have been a contributor to Light Painting Paradise I have been able to try a few of their tools already and can say for sure that they are great quality and that every new tool I try I like a lot because of how well they work and how easy they make things for me
If you could only keep one photograph, which one would you choose? Why?
Without giving it a second thought I already have a clear answer. One of the last sessions that I have done was for Halloween 2021 – the photograph below brings me very good memories of a great time in good company, but above all it is because for me it is the type of photo that shows my own style, a photograph that involves a previous preparation of the same, location, props, tools and effects to use.
This photograph reflects and demonstrates a job well done by the whole team, that’s why for me I like it the most and I’m very satisfied with the final results.
Can you tell us any funny anecdotes about doing Light Painting?
There are several, I’ve been out on a few outings now, and every time there’s always something to tell.
The best moments are those ones that make you laugh with your friends, sometimes because you have fallen over like an idiot or tripped without hurting yourself, because you have said something funny and the others don’t stop laughing, those moments when you make jokes to your companions, what if the noises, what if I saw something moving, ha ha ha ha….
There are also the standard anecdotes – police who appear in places you shouldn’t be, places so ruined that your stay is in danger, people who hurt themselves in the dark, things that get lost and you realise the next day… on every occasion there is always something to tell.
What are your next projects?
My biggest project today is to formalise and be able to give workshops – at the moment my work schedule does not allow me to do so, although I am working it, I have several proposals on the table that I can’t launch because I don’t have dates yet.
I am open to any and all proposals, collaborations and new creations.
What advice do you have for new light painters?
My biggest advice is to practice, practice and practice, oh yes…and practice….
That’s what will help them the most, soak up other work and try new techniques, don’t stagnate over time and share everything you know with others.
Seeing a lot of digital art is a good source of inspiration to create new effects or recreate scenes.
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