Edited by Odeta Catana, photography editor
Could you please tell us a little more about yourself.
Where do you live?
Well, my name is Emmanuel Rosario, I am 24 years old and I live in Harlem, New York.
How did you start taking pictures? Usually there is always the old story of the boy who finds his grandfather’s camera, did that happen to you as well or not?
I started photography 2 years ago because of depression. I felt lost in the city of New York. Growing up in Harlem in the 90’s was not easy, I could not go out and play with friends, I had little to no social life with kids my age. I was a kid who was always home chatting with people on the internet and eventually made a French pen pal who introduced me to a photographer that changed my life. Ever since she showed me Theo Gosselin’s photographs my perspective on life changed. I decided to change my way of life and take more risk and do things, which I always wanted to do, you know actually live and enjoy what is around me.
Where does your inspiration comes from?
It comes from everywhere! I love going through tumblr and flickr and seeing what other people are up to, it is fascinating to me to see others have fun.
In a portrait, what is important for you?
I think portraits are strong when the background can say a little about the person. I mean yes some people go crazy about what lighting they use on a portrait but to me the background is just as important as the lighting. I like backgrounds that say a little about the person personal life. Placing someone in a comfortable location will bring the best in him or her and that will show in the photograph, especially in something so personal as a portrait of some one.
What kind of relationship do you have with your subject when you shoot?
Well all my subjects are my friends.
Do you think it’s important to follow a school to learn how to shoot?
I don’t think it is important to follow school to learn how to shoot, although I do think it is important to go to school for photography in general. Why? Well simple, you get to meet others who share your same passion and possibly collaborate and learn something from each other. School is not a place where you go to just to learn from your professors, you also learn a lot from your peers
What’s the photo you want to take and you never did?
Well I always wanted to travel around in a tour and document the life of the bank Mumford and Sons.
What’s your photo-mission?
My photo-mission is simply to inspire and motivate! Photography allowed me to be who I am now, being able to be a source of inspiration for some and to hear that my work empowers them to try something new and explore, make me a happy person at the end of the day.
