Nacho Ormaechea Background of the photographer: Nacho Ormaechea is an Artist and Spanish Graphic Designer who’s been working in Paris since 2001. He explores the narrative of his subjects and himself through a digital composite of photography and graphic montage. He mixes the principles of both fields to drive his camera. Every piece is a new concept as the unknown individual reflects a new message to Nacho. It is all a bit of technique and improvisation. It is all a little of today and a lot of yesterday. He has collaborated with several cultural organizations and important French and foreign institutions.

He says: ‘My days, and I guess some of yours too, are full of overflowing information invading my computer: clients mails, briefs, social-networking and too much visual material meant to "nourish our inspiration". Sometimes we feel we just need to stop, take a deep breath and think. Looking for creative freedom without specifications or deadlines or budgets, only a strong desire to create for the need to express. Each picture comes from a feeling, an idea that aims at provoking a reaction within the spectator's mind. This reaction is likely to be different from my own, nourishing itself from different backgrounds and personal stories. My characters, anonymous people from the street, are mirrors reflecting my state of mind as well as yours.’

Exhibitions (In Paris)

Académie des Beaux-arts, Paris - Ambassade de Colombie - Paris, Ambassade d’Espagne - Paris - Ambassade de Norvège, Paris - Atelier d'Architecture Autogérée, Paris - Dr. Julio Moran, Gijon (Spain) - Cave La Franceze, Narbonne - Compagnie C(h)aracteres, Paris - Château de Versailles - Château de Langeais - Coubetage Tees, Bilbao (Spain) - Dites-le ! Agency, Paris - Fondation Danielle Mitterrand, Paris - Galerie 1900-2000, Paris - Galerie Briobox, Paris - Gobierno Vasco, Bilbao (Spain) - Goethe Institut, Paris, Nancy, Toulouse - Institut de France, Paris - Instituto Cervantes, Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux, Toulouse - Institut Finlandais, Paris - Institut du Mexique, Paris - IFE. Internships in Francophone Europe, Paris, Bruxelles, Strasbourg - Musée Marmottan, Paris - Les Porteurs d'Eau, Paris - Renta Corporacion, Paris - Restaurant Lou Castel, Narbonne - Sciences Po, Paris - Union Latina, Paris - Université de Paris - La Sorbonne

What is the mood of the work? You could question the moods created each photo that Ormaechea makes Is the story that is told Nacho's or the unknown individual’s who is captured? We don't quite know but what we do know is that the transformation of the body and the internal graphic narrative creates a provocative connection that familiar to a bit of us all. The overall mood created in this picture is a poignant one, because of the abundance of things going on and the bright, vivid colours in the photo making it an eye full to look at.

What techniques has the photographer used to create this mood? The photographer has used Photoshop and graphic design to a T. He has taken a picture of someone on the street (perhaps an old lady because of the way the photo’s cut out on top) but then blocked her out with another photo of, which looks like childrens toys all pilled on top of each other and fitted it precisely to the womans every detail so you can somewhat see what the photo would of looked like. The photographer has also chosen an image that contrasts with the rather dull background, making it stand out and be the central focus point.

Why have you selected the images? What are your opinions about the image? I selected this image because when I looked at it, I could think of the message straight away. This picture say’s to me that it’s quite a mature woman, probably in her 50’s because of her attire and shopping bags, and the reason why Ormaechea has decided to block her out with toy blocks could be because it is a representation of what she does now – buy things for her grand children, look after her grand chhildrin etc.

Content: A lady sitting on a wooden bench. Could be a busy road because of how big it looks and the car going by.

Compostion: The woman is placed center left of the photo, surrounded by, what looks like the city life because of the big main roads, benches, shops and cars. The background is out of focus, which emphasizes the woman sitting on the bench as the main attention for this photo.

Lighting: The lighting is natural because you can see that it’s daylight outside. The lighting looks as if it’s coming from the left hand side because of the shadows and highlights seen on the bench, the woman is obviously blocking the light from continuing to the right hand side because it is lighter on one side. The light is very bright making everything very positive and upbeat.

Colour: The background doesn’t contain much colour, and probably contains a low saturation because it isn’t black and white and the colour is faded. The photographer has also chosen the make the picture that blocks out the woman, colourful, vivid toys which contrasts highly with the background making the lady very apparent. Pattern/Texture: Texture is created through the outside objects in this image. The bench looks pretty timeworn, which you can tell by the curving edges that are suppose to be straight, and the paint slightly coming off, creating quite a rough and corse texture. Also, because the toys in the source are all piled on top of each other, this gives an almost overwhelming feeling.