SAGAR MANJARRES

THE INTERVIEW

Which place do you call home?

Right now Luxembourg… but it’s not a life-long plan.
Exploring more and more often the market in California.
The goal was and will always be to move to Los Angeles.

Are you self taught or schooled?

Got some “classical” training that only made me realize
how much I wanted it. What made a big difference for me
was to follow, meet and collaborate with some of the
biggest photographers worldwide (people I admired for
years) … learning from all their abilities, their way
to see light and slowly find my own style when I
already was capable of the technical aspect.

How did you get into photography?

My brother is an actor and a model. Seeing him, helped
to understand that this profession was much more than
just pretty people moving around and I decided it was
my “duty” to try to capture the person behind the
camera and what they have to say. It quickly became
my urge to express the artistic need of telling stories.

How long have you been a photographer?

Years and years. But developed my own style and my
vision probably around 2010.

As you look through the viewfinder, what is the most critical moment in capturing your image?

Not losing the level of energy and chemistry with the
model if shooting conditions are not easy. I mostly
shoot on location and often weather (or cold water)
do not make it easy. I still think photography is more
about capturing the feeling of the moment than the
image itself… so keeping up the mood and level of
commitment is the biggest part of the job.

We know each of us has someone or something that inspires our life and work. Can you tell us the true basis of your inspiration?

I really admire and respect female beauty, movement
and passion… do my best to capture it in an elegant
and strong way. I am lucky enough to develop a good
friendship with most of my models and then inspiration
comes from wanting to spend time creating something
beautiful together.

How would you describe your style?

Raw, straight-out-of-the-camera, story telling,
fashion and implied nudity photography. I try
to create stories and show how models are,
not just how they look.

What do you think makes a truly memorable photo?

Honesty and chemistry. Of course there are basic rules
about how the brain sees an image, there are a hundred
things to do to make people hold on and stare for few
more seconds… but the most important part of it,
is to create the feeling that the viewer really
experiences a real moment that otherwise could
not be witnessed

What does fashion mean to you?

It’s something that makes me dream and that I can
capture to make other people dream… always keeping
in mind that I use it as an excuse to shoot a model.
I still never shoot for the items she is wearing,
models and their energy are the center of my images.

What’s the craziest/funniest thing that ever happened in one of your shoots?

Well, I always have a lot of fun… one week ago
I was jumping a wired fence, destroying my pants,
to climb an unprotected ladder to a rooftop of a
building five floors up (don’t look down, don’t
look down!), only to realize there was no light
available at all. I ended up holding my phone
flashlight and shooting something really awesome.
I’ve had models hanging from a piece of tissue
attached to a tree on top of a waterfall… and
usually my “behind the scenes” are the best part
of my sessions. I am so lucky to work with models
that trust me.

What photographers from the past or present have influenced you the most?

Charles Lucima, Kesler Tran, Allen Birnbach,
Dove Shore, Russell Brand… so many.

What has been your favorite photo location or session?

There is something awesome about national parks
in the USA… Joshua Tree Park has always been my
favorite, but last month I was shooting at a
paradise-like, remote beach of Mallorca and fell
in love with the solitude of the place and the
clear water… can’t wait to go back!

What type of cameras do you shoot with?

I am shooting with a Nikon d800 for years, but
I fell in love with Sony A7 a few months ago
and since then I have not used anything else!
Love the size, image quality, electronic
viewfinder… all of it!

If you had to choose one lens which one would it be and why?

99% of my work has been done with a 55mm prime.
Zooms make me lazy… shooting with a fix focal
length forces me to move and when I do…
I see new inspiring things and new light.

What is your favorite photography accessory, other than your camera?

I never use anything else… no lights,
no accessories, so I guess the only accessory
that would count is “whatever I find on the floor”
and I can put in front of the lens to create
texture. Glass, grass, sand, papers, plastic…

How important is photoshop in your final images?

99% of my work is straight out of the camera.
Editing is only limited to B/W conversion or
color temperature correction. To me, photoshop
is an art of its own. I respect and admire
photographers who are able to create gorgeous
images through editing, but I work straight
out of the camera as an artistic decision.

How important is a website and social media for your business?

Absolutely essential. Most of my work requests
come through social media, mostly instagram
or facebook. It connects the world in a way
that almost any door is open.

Do you listen to music while doing your shooting? If so, what are you playing right now?

Yes, it sets the mood and helps a lot.
Of course unless I am shooting at a location
where I don’t want to get noticed.
I always ask the model to provide her playlist,
for me anything works.

What advice do you have for somebody who wants to pursue photography?

To study, learn and respect this form of art.
To invest less money in equipment and more money
on going to workshops, connecting with other
photographers and making the best out of each
opportunity. For sure shooting helps a lot,
but taking the time to analyze why some images
are better than others is crucial.
Understanding what makes an image memorable
is big part of the success.

What lies ahead for you?

In the near future continue shooting and
continue teaching photography workshops.
In the long run to focus more on model
development and most probably, exploring
the idea of opening a model agency…
but always having my finger on the shutter.