Of course! I remember this like it was yesterday. Right at the end of 2020 when we were in the middle of the pandemic and quarantine, I was finishing my university studies. Not being able to leave the house, I was looking for a creative hobby and decided to edit photos I had taken with my phone in Lightroom. It was at this moment that I fell in love with being able to create and change photographs to my liking, creating worlds through them. It was then later in 2021 when the quarantine ended that I went out for the first time with a camera to take photos for the first time. I began to share them on my social media without ever expecting anything in return and from that moment on, many people connected with them and with my way of seeing the world. Since that moment I have not been able to stop crating art and I see myself doing this forever. I feel that photography completely changed my life and my way of experiencing it.

Web3 quite literally changed my life since day 1. From artistically and professionally, to financially and personally. I remember that it was in March 2021 that I first heard about NFTs and Ethereum and it was all thanks to the community that I was part of on Twitter. Since the launch of my first photo collection, the impact has already been gigantic. I was able to pay my debts and those of my parents thanks to my photographs and the emotion I felt is still difficult to explain.

As time went by, I continued to experiment and started to form my style and what I wanted to do with this medium. At the same time it was also thanks to all the people who from the first moment supported my vision since 2021. It was then in January 2022 that I decided leave my office job and give a chance to this experience that NFTs and WEB3 offered me. It was a moment of radical change, at this time very few people knew about this world and especially for my family it was something very difficult to understand. However, despite the doubts I decided to do it, and since then I have been a full-time photographer, I have sold collections, I have moved countries, helped my family, learned about myself, I have done exhibitions around the world, auctions at Christie's and I have formed an incredible community among friends, collectors and others artists where we support each other.

Absolutely, I feel that the title of this exhibition adequately encompasses what I have done these last few years with my art. Reality, taking into account the process with which it begins: going out to spaces to connect with nature, and with myself. It all starts with a camera, and the place I am. I feel that my art has always been intimately related to feelings and that also influences the way I capture the photo. The compositions depend a lot on what I want to say through them. Then comes the imaginative part, where I get carried away by various things. Fantasy, surrealism, feelings and narrative play a part in editing the photo. I let myself go without any pretext of how that reality in the photo ``should be'' and I focus more on what the photo tells me, and what I want to say to it. I see it as a conversation between what I have inside and how it naturally comes out when expressed in art.

In this way, the result you see in my photographs is then a combination between reality and imagination.

Impressionist painters have always inspired me. Monet’s ability to create a sense of atmosphere and mood in his paintings is something I strive to achieve in my photos. While studying artists like him and Sorolla, for example, I have learned that the magic of their work lies somewhere between color and atmosphere. This is why I pay close attention to the tones and colors in my images, working to create a harmonious and pleasing palette that draws me in. This often involves adjustments to ensure that the colors are rich, and the contrasts are well-balanced, playing a lot with how the highlights and shadows behave in the photo.

I have found a great similarity between what I strive to do with photography and what painters from this movement achieved with their works: focusing on the beauty in the ordinary and using light and color to enhance the emotional impact of the work.

I have always felt that art is like a conversation with ourselves. I have found more about me, what I like and feel thanks to creating art and I think it’s the most beautiful process. You can see my growth since I started taking photos until today, from the way I edited, to the way I was composing my photographs and also the way I felt about them. Everything has changed over time and with the maturity I am gaining each day. If I feel a certain way, I am going to see things a certain way. If I am happy, sad, excited or going through stress I approach art differently. By looking at each image I can perfectly tell you what I was going through in the moment, and that is the most special gift behind every piece of art.

Since I started editing photos, I feel that the possibilities to create are almost endless, like there is always a new way you can do certain results. Depending on the program I use, I know I can achieve different effects. If I have an idea and I don’t know how to create it with the programs I currently use, or with the techniques I know, I am always open to trying others. I feel that digital technology in this sense is what has helped me to be able to study ancient artists from Hokusai with his traditional Japanese techniques to Van Gogh or Monet with his impressionism. I have found a way to be inspired by these techniques and give them my own spin and feeling through technology in editing my photos.

I think that the incentive of wanting to do something different with photography also comes from the fact that I never had anyone tell me exactly how things should be done, and I have let myself be guided by my intuition rather than by technicalities. I'm always drawn to art that makes me think and leaves me a little confused. My references are not limited only to photographers, I study any type of art that can connect with me. Most of the time I opt for painters and how they achieved their colors and combinations and that is why Claude Monet is so present in my work. Ancient Japanese art has also been a great reference for me because of the way in which these artists create their compositions. If you look at a landscape of Ukiyo-e painters you will be able to see that they are not the typical realistic landscape painting, nor is it abstract or very detailed. They are flat, with bold colors and perspectives that your eye cannot see normally. They are visuals that make you think and see things differently and appreciate everyday life and tradition in a more poetic way.

If I can achieve this 'I don't really know what I'm seeing but I like it' feeling, then I know that the piece connects with me.

I really enjoy leaving my work open for interpretation. But if I have to put words to it, there is a balance between what reality is and how I personally feel it. I start with genuine moments and scenes, then use techniques like lighting, color, and composition to add a layer of artistic interpretation. This approach allows me to stay true to the essence of the subject while also infusing my personal vision, creating images that are both authentic and imaginative. I love to create worlds, stories behind just one image, different interpretations, and also to create this forward thinking, that maybe what you are looking at is not exactly what you think it is.

In the digital age, the future of photographic art is incredibly exciting and full of possibilities. I feel that with advancements in technology, photographers have more tools than ever to create stunning and imaginative works. Post-production editing, for instance, allows artists to deepen details and emotions that they want to achieve. This means that the creative process doesn't stop after the photo is taken; it continues in the digital darkroom where the artist can refine their vision.

On the other hand, I also believe that photography as an art form is also becoming more inclusive and diverse. With more access to cameras, editing software, and overall freedom of creativity, more people can express themselves through photography, leading to a broader range of styles and stories being told. This democratization of photography is enriching the art form, making it more reflective of different perspectives and experiences. And I really hope it continues being this way.

In my exhibition, I hope viewers will see the power and potential of modern photography. I want them to appreciate how technology can elevate artistic expression and how post-production can transform an image but keeping the intention, emotionality and storytelling behind it. More importantly, I really hope they feel a connection to the stories and emotions captured in the photos, understanding that each image is a blend of reality and artistic vision, so there is no limit in the way you can connect with them. I want to continue representing photography as a dynamic and evolving art form that continues to push boundaries and can inspire and create feelings like any other art medium.