Interview with Alex Motoc

Bio

Alex is a street and documentary photographer based in London, whose work frequently features on Unsplash’s editorial feed, which is where we first encountered it and him. 

In particular, we were drawn to an image of a girl doing her makeup at a bus-stop on a weekend night - a quintessentially London image, at once totally familiar but, under the current lockdown imposed circumstances, part of an indistinct past.

That contradiction is a thread which runs through Alex’s work, taking the known and abstracting it into something liminal - you know what it is, and you think you know where it is; but you’re not quite sure.

Whether rendering his photographs with a painterly treatment that recalls Edward Hopper, or isolating the subject in space, his work is both immediate and timeless.

You can follow Alex on Instagram @alexmotoc, check out his work on Unsplash or connect with him on www.alexmotoc.com

Interview

theblowup 

How did you first get into photography?

Alex

I actually hated taking photographs for a really long time and only did it to please my parents who wanted to see the different places I was visiting while at university. 
This can be categorised as a successful marketing operation rather than an inspirational story but I would say that the first advert for the Google Pixel sparked my initial curiosity for photography. Seeing so much praise for the quality of their cameras made me want to jump on the hype train. This was further propelled by my first taste of the big city life in London which was a completely novel experience for me.

theblowup 

Which photographers did and do you draw inspiration from? Who are your photographic heroes?

Alex

Joshua K. Jackson was the first photographer whose art really spoke to me. I remember I could not stop staring at his pictures on the day that I discovered him. Accidentally meeting him in person while out on a photo walk was definitely one of the highlights of my year.

I am also attracted to Craig Whitehead’s style and I follow Shane Taylor’s work quite closely.

theblowup

Beyond photography, where do you draw your inspiration from?

Alex

Cinematography is an important source of inspiration for me even though I don’t see myself shooting video any time soon. I try not to completely lose myself in the plot and pay more attention to the choice of composition for different scenes. It’s also interesting to see the different colour grading choices because they gives me ideas of things to experiment with in my photography.

theblowup

Which genres do you shoot?

Alex

• Street
  
• Documentary
  

theblowup

Street photography is a controversial genre, not in the least because of its increasing ubiquity, which has led to a decrease in its quality. What’s your view about its continued validity as genre?

Alex

The unexpected is what keeps this genre exciting in my opinion. People say that your next best shot may just be around the corner and I agree with that. You never know what you might witness and have to always be prepared to capture the moment. This element of unknown really attracts me.

Documenting the street life is important for historical and not just artistic reasons which is why I do not see it lose its validity any time soon. I suppose the perceived decrease in quality could be attributed to the field becoming more accessible. There are many beginners which are in the early stages of their learning journey and I don’t think they should be discouraged. However, I think that blindly following social media visual trends is not a wise idea.

theblowup

Given how ubiquitous the capture of images - whether from amateurs with smartphones, passivley by security cameras or by photographers using dedicated cameras - what role do you think documentary photography plays today? How do you set your work apart?

Alex

Documentary photography plays an important role in society and this year it was especially interesting due to the unprecedented times we found ourselves in. We will probably never get to see the busiest places on Earth completely empty at noon ever again.

In terms of setting my work apart, my main goals are being able to transfer the viewer into that particular moment in time, evoke certain emotions and make their minds wonder.

I just finished reading The Art of Doing Science and Engineering by Richard W. Hamming and came across this quote: “What you learn from others you can use to follow; what you learn for yourself you can use to lead.” which resonated with me a lot and it’s been on my mind ever since when I consider my creative journey.

theblowup

Which was your first camera?

Alex

Google Pixel 2 XL was the first camera I started using regularly. My first body which I am still currently using is the Canon EOS 200D and my only lens is the nifty fifty. I bought this entry-level combo when I knew nothing about the technical side of photography. 

You definitely don’t need expensive equipment to take good photographs. A valuable piece of advice that I received was to upgrade yourself before your gear.

theblowup

How do you think about photography equipment? For some photographers it’s merely a set of tools, a means to an end. For others, the capabilities of the equipment help define what’s possible. 

Alex

I would place myself in the camp which sees the equipment as a set of tools. It is true some cameras offer better capabilities than others but I do not think that should limit your creativity. 

At the end of the day you have to pick the camera that feels right for you. When I find myself in situations fantasising about gear I always ask this question - “will having that camera now make me take a better photo?”. Pretty much all the time the answer is no. However, I do think it’s important to experiment with different focal lengths and see what works best for the type of photography you want to do. This might help you see the world in a different way.

My aim is to reach the stage where using the camera becomes effortless - I do not have to think about the settings, messing the focus and just concentrate on observing my environment.

theblowup

What’s the main equipment you use today?

Alex

Canon EOS 200D with the 50mm f/1.8.

theblowup

Any recent photography books that you’d like to highlight?

Alex

I am still going through the process of expanding my photography culture and as of now I have only purchased one book which is Josh’s debut monograph called Sleepless in Soho.

theblowup

Lastly, what guidance would you give to people starting out with photography today? 

Alex

Do not be afraid to take bad pictures. They are the most important part of improving yourself. I always try to think why some photos did not come out as I wanted and what I could have done differently in those situations. 

Be selective with what you share - you do not have to post every single picture you’ve taken. Think about looking at someone’s portfolio, one great image creates a completely different impression than 3 mediocre ones.

Alex’s Work