Capturing the Duality of New York City with Alexandro Pelaez

1

UK-based photographer Alexandro Pelaez has an eye for composing the perfect double exposure. Balancing colors, perspectives, and subjects, Pelaez provides a visual trip into the future with his work.

A few years back, he shared with us his surreal perspective double exposures taken with the Lomo LC-A+. Now, he's here to take us on another visual journey—this time to New York City.

© Alexandro Pelaez

Hello Alexandro, welcome back to Lomography Magazine. It has been a long time since we last spoke. Can you briefly introduce yourself to readers who may not be familiar with your work?

Hello and thank you for having me again. I am a photographer based in London who studied and worked as a graphic designer for Advertising Agencies in the USA back in the 90s. I then moved to London in 2001 where I did my second BA at Central Saint Martins and a Masters at London College of Communication - University of the Arts London. After my studies I decided to focus and work in photography which has always been my passion and I have been very fortunate to work in London on different photography projects in sports and fashion, as well as in portraits and corporate photography and in several projects with different clients around the world.

How has your creative life been treating you these days?

My creative life to be honest has been quite a ride in the good sense. The photography world is very challenging, especially when you live in a city like London where it never stops and where there is a lot of competition. At the same time is very fulfilling because you get the opportunity to see and appreciate the work of so many artists from all around the world and compete against the best.

© Alexandro Pelaez

The Lomo LC-A cameras have stuck by your side. How has your relationship with these cameras evolved?

My relationship with the Lomo LC-A has been fascinating since day one, we have developed a great partnership to the point that I always carry with me two Lomo L-CA 35mm and one Lomo L-CA 120. I started using the Lomo LC-A 35mm back in 2016 when I needed a small camera to carry with me on my way to my photography studio and pretty much everywhere in order to be able to take pictures in the street. Back in the day most of my portrait work was multiple exposure and the Lomo LC-A allowed me to do the same but with film. So, I then started using it every day and everywhere which later on I had so much material that it transformed into my Eclectic series.

What did you think of your trip to New York City?

I had been a couple of times to New York with my parents when I was a kid but in October 2019 I went to NY to the International Photography Awards Gala because my Eclectic series received the 2nd Place Award in the category of Analog/Film. During that trip I had the chance to experience and explore the streets of NY on my own like a lone wolf and appreciate the energy that this city offers. I managed to return in 2022 and participate at the NY Art Expo and to take a week for myself to photograph this chaotic and energetic city. As we say in London: “New York is London but on steroids”.

© Alexandro Pelaez

What feelings do you wish to evoke with these double exposures?

When I am shooting in double exposure with my 35mm and 120mm film cameras, in a way and style, I am trying to capture the true essence of a city or an area. What I want to convey is my perspective of “what you see is what you get” by capturing those unique moments when I catch an image. The double exposure allows me to capture all that but can take my images to a different level where I can be more creative by holding double-layered scenarios that will give the viewer a magical, almost surreal, perspective and sense of unnatural futurism.

Can you tell us the story behind taking one of these photos?

I can actually tell you the story of three photos that were taken at the same location in two different years. The first two: “Times Square 1 and 2” back in 2019 and “Times Square 3” in 2022. I have always been fascinated and attracted by the chaos, the lightning of the advertising ads, traffic and sea of people in Times Square. It doesn’t matter if the pictures were taken before or after Covid, TS remained the same iconic and energetic area of NYC. There are so many elements that I wanted to capture in order to show what TS is, at least the way I see it; such as the river of people, the yellow cabs, the NYPD cars, the tall buildings, movie and TV posters, the American flag, the subway and so on. I believe that applying the double exposure technique helped even more convey that sense of chaos and energy that Time Square is all about.

© Alexandro Pelaez | From left to right: Times Square 1, 2, 3

For anyone looking to try out an LC-A camera, what would you say to them?

To anyone who wants to try out an LC-A camera, first, I would say, it has been an ally in the development of my creativity in photography. Second, give it ago and carry it with you at all times. Take advantage that it has a system in order to take multiple exposure photographs and experiment with it because you will be surprised by the end result. There will be a lot of hits and misses but when you start getting it right you will enjoy it to the fullest.

Do you have any upcoming projects?

Yes, I will be participating at this year’s START Art Fair at the Saatchi Gallery in London in October. I will be showing my ECLECTIC series which is a seven-year series of double exposure photographs of Street Environments of different cities, countryside and beaches from around the world. Where each city has its own personality, liveliness or calmness, colours and all the elements that makes them unique. All pictures were taken with the 35mm and 120mm LC-A cameras.

© Alexandro Pelaez

Anything else you would like to add?

The only thing I can say to anyone who loves multiple exposure and wants to start trying this technique with a film camera is: Even though it is such a technical process, you will always make mistakes, especially at the beginning. Don’t let that put you down, just keep taking pictures until you learn and master the process. But most importantly, have fun with it, sometimes those mistakes or what I call “happy mistakes” can turn out to be one of your best and favourite photos.


Thank you Alexandro for your story. Find more of his work on his Instagram and website.

Curious about our Lomo LC-A cameras? Check out the Lomo LC-A+ 35 mm Film Camera and Lomo LC-A 120.

written by kaylalew on 2023-03-27 #gear #places #new-york-city #double-exposures #lomo-lc-a #lomo-lc-a-120

Mentioned Product

Lomo LC-A 120

Lomo LC-A 120

The Phoblographer Editor's Choice Award Winner "The best street photography camera: film or digital. Pretty much nothing will beat this."

More Interesting Articles