Photographer Gael

By Esteban Rodriguez (Contributor)

In recent years, the arts have become overshadowed, and many people have forgotten what makes us uniquely human. I spoke with photographer Gael about his experiences at UTRGV, the factors that contributed to his growth, and his journey as a photographer.   

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What was your journey with photography? What brought you to this specific art form? 

  (One of Gael’s photos that manipulates lighting)  

At first photography seemed simple. I recall using an iPhone 5 in elementary school to take pictures of random things. When I took my first photography class, I learned how to operate a camera. Those years of using my phone had helped me develop an eye for framing, and all I needed was the technical knowledge to capture higher quality images. Last semester was instrumental in my growth as a photographer.   

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Can you tell me the approach in photography to frame an aesthetic?  

Many would say I stick to the foundation of photography. Light plays a crucial role in my work, and most of the pictures in my portfolio are created with artificial lighting. I always carry around my own light source, and the time of day has a significant impact on the results. It's essential not to rely on a light source that's too overpowering. Having the perfect conditions, including the right light, location, and subject, is key to creating a successful shot.   

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As A student at UTRGV, how does school affect your photography?  

It has really helped me find my sense of style. As I'm taking all these art classes, I’m actively working to define my own style, and spending hours studying photography has been crucial in helping me find it.   

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Do you have any inspirations from other sources that you are trying to capture yourself?  

Social media is both my biggest source of inspiration and my biggest source of insecurity. The quality of other photos looks 100 times better than mine on social media, but it also pushes me try to find my unique approach. Even if I don’t have the same equipment as others, I still strive to showcase my style in   my own way.      

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What are your goals and aspirations as a photographer?  

My major is graphic design with a focus in photography, and I believe they go hand in hand. I don’t want to rely on stock images; I want to take my own photos and incorporate every element of graphic design. I aim to own every part that goes into it and make it really my own.  

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What do you do to overcome things like artist's block?  

Artistic block is a real challenge for me. After each project, I feel the pressure to do better, and when I don’t perform as expected, it affects me in the long run, leading to procrastination. My advice is to step back and explore different ideas. I faced this problem last semester while working on this project. I was told to step back and sleep on it, and when I returned, I ended up taking amazing pictures. I try to incorporate that now when I'm taking new classes. Whenever my pictures aren't going my way, I take a step back, and the next day, I come back with a fresh perspective.  

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Are you working on any projects right now?   

Right now, I’m working on my main portfolio. Focusing on improving my weak points, which are portraits and landscape photos. In the future, I want my portfolio to showcase a variety of subjects and demonstrate my skills in each area.  

Gael truly embodies what photography does best. He freezes not only the moment in time but also the lessons he learns through each shot. UTRGV played a key role in helping him discover what he wanted from photography while supporting him in earning his degree. His creativity and appreciation for life are evident on campus, and the courses, professors, and people he met pushed him to become better and more skilled behind a camera. Still, I don’t think that it is limited to just photography. When Gael and I met up, we could see people discussing new ideas, helping each other out, and enjoying their lives and all the simple moments, which Gael is able to capture daily through his own personal projects and through his class project as well.