PhotoDonuts -Hi Isaac. Where are you from?
Isaac Joel Torres -I am based out of the great city of Chicago. Been in this area my whole life.

-Since when do you do photography?
I like to think I always loved photography yet never took it seriously enough to think I’d be working in it.
I started getting into it about 2 years ago. Started off like everyone does, taking pictures of my dogs, garden etc.



-Are you working as a professional photographer or amateur?
I don’t consider myself a professional by far but I don’t think I’m an amateur either. I learn new things in every project. I started doing photography full time since about 9 months ago, September 2010 and so far its looking promising. I’ve had the privilege to be published in Front Magazine UK and INKed Magazine which will be printed in July.

-What cameras do you use?
I shoot with a Contax T2, Nikon FM2, Mamiya C330, Lomo LC-A, and a Canon 5D Mark II. Hopefully a Leica or Voigtlander some day.

-What gives you inspiration?
What inspires me the most are other fellow photographers and artists. I need to look at a photography book, blog(PhotoDonuts) or a zine magazine to get pumped up before I start a project. All that and Massive Attack or Hip Hop.



-Have you completed training or have you learned by yourself?
I started a photography class in college way back when, yet dropped out after the second day since it was way too expensive and I couldn’t cover all the costs at the time. Everything I have learned has been by trial and error, how to books, youtube videos and just plain guessing.

-What environment do you like for your shootings?
I really try to pay attention to my environments. Its one of my biggest things I look at first. I look for something as intriguing or pleasing as my subject. I also look for color, even though I am indeed colorblind. I like to try different locations and I vouched never to photograph at cliché touristy city locations (at least here in Chicago). I’m currently working on trying to change my style a bit and go for the more casual and photojournalistic approach (public places, at the subjects home etc). I always find those photographs to be very interesting and visually arousing. There is something about seeing something so not « high fashion » and just casual and normal. An idea that I think Terry Richardson really expanded on and created. Its the fact that everyone can relate to a normal picture. I think its the subject matter, emotion, and location that is more important and that people respond to well. I want to try shooting more of that.


-A song you choose for a slideshow of your photographs?
The song I’d like played for a slideshow of my images would have to be hmmm. This is tough for me. I have so many favs. I’ll cheat and say I like « Grounds for Divorce by Elbow », and « Dissolved Girl by Massive Attack ». There’s many others but I’ll leave it at those for now.

Thank very much Isaac, we wish you the best for the futur!

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