Page 10 - Adelante Magazine May 2021
P. 10

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                   By: Al Ballesteros










        10 YEARS OF PHOTOGRAPHER


        JOSÉ AGUILAR




        This month, Jose Aguilar marks his 10-year  originally from?          Adelante cover models?
        anniversary shooting models for the covers of  I was born and raised in Santa Ana, California  Photographing an Adelante cover model is not
        Adelante.  We  hope  you  concur  that  his  and my parents were born in Mexico.  Iʼm a  hard at all.   Sometimes I may have to photo-
        dedication  to  his  craft  has  resulted  in  first generation Mexican American.   graph a model that fits the concept or theme
        numerous  covers  that  stand  out  as                                of the month, which can be a challenge. The
        memorable  in  the  history  of  the  magazine.  Adelante:    When  youʼre  doing  a  photo  models are easy to work with and they are
        We  spoke  to  Jose  about  his  photographic  session, what inspires you?   usually excited to do the shoot.  Most are very
        style and his motivations behind the work.    When I photograph a model, its' always about  happy and the majority very humble to be on
                                           the way Iʼm feeling in the moment.  I always  the cover of the magazine. The models are
        Adelante:    At  what  age  did  you  start  try to find an expression or a frame that is  different.  You have some who just want to
        getting into photography?          about   what   I'm
        At 15 when I was a sophomore in high school.  feeling at the time.  I
        I took photography as an elective.  I actually  try  to  portray  that
        did it because I thought it would be an easy  feeling in the photo
        class  for  me.  I  thought  this  because  I  was  while  at  the  same
        always  the  one  taking  pictures  of  family  time  try  to  find
        gatherings and events.  So, I thought since I  some   type   of
        was already doing “photography” it would be  chemistry  with  the
        an easy class.                     model.    But  itʼs
                                           really  me  regis-
        Adelante:  Was it?                 tering   my   own
        No.  I got a D minus on my first test.  I was  feelings through the
        upset because I thought it was going to be an  model.
        easy A.
                                           Adelante:    Is  it
        So, I had to do better for the next assignment.  always like this?
         At that time, I was a Madonna fan and the  I  kind  of  think  itʼs
        video of Oh Father had come out.  I loved the  cocky to say, but it
        cinematography  in  that  video.    The  really  is  about  the
        assignment was to do a Portrait picture and I  person   who   is
        photographed a very beautiful friend based on  writing  the  story
        the Oh Father video theme.  I turned it in and  than  the  person  at
        got an A+.  Once I got that A+ I realized this  hand.  For instance,
        was  my  calling.  I  felt  so  connected  to  the  Iʼm  a  huge  Linda
        Madonna video and the art itself and from that  Ronstadt fan.  She
        point forward I realized photography would be  used  to  always  do
        part of the rest of my life.       her own covers and
                                           she made it seem it
        As a portrait photographer one must capture  was all about her all
        facial expressions.  Itʼs like a view into the soul  the time.
        of the person through the eyes of the model
        I'm photographing.                 Adelante:    How
                                           hard is it to photo-
        Adelante:  Where are you and your family  graph   the

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