Interview: Photographer Liam Dotz (Italy)

Tell us something about yourself.

I am only a dreamers like many people, not only in photography world. I studied engineering and I found my work as quality manager in a rolling stock market company, leaved it after 6 years. It were not my life, no possibility to really express myself. I'm working in Milan as freelance in loss adjusting (insurance market) and starting from 2016 February I worked one year in my studio as freelance photographer.

What does photography mean to you?

Photography is my life, my soul, my flesh, my bones. It grows with me every day, helps me to see the humans for what they are and what they are not. It changes in me, as everything change, but sometime too quickly. For that reason, what today I think it's good, within two week could be out of my taste. I think it's quite normal, only a positive reaction, I don't seeing it in a negative key.

How and when did you get into photography?

At the age of twenty I bought an old analog reflex Richo for pleasure and study. After two years of shooting and developing black and white films I leaved my hobby, also due to attend university courses. At the age of thirty I attended a photography course with Angelo Tondini in Milan, a former student of one of the most visionary American photographer, Art Kane. At the age of thirty-two I began taking photos with a digital Fuji SLR 6Mp. From that moment the photography would never be out of my life. Afterwards I began to seriously study the authors, the masters of the past and present. Today my interest is focused on boudoir and alternative/trash photography.

Please briefly describe your photography style for our readers.

My aim is to communicate a message, a feeling, a concept that creates emotions. Good or bad, sweet or bitter, soft or hard always with a little touch of madness. Naked in my shots is often a provocation, but it's never a sexual purpose. I have nothing against pornography, It is a part of our life, but till today it didn't plays my chords and it didn't take a part of my photography.

Where do you get inspiration from?

There is not a photographer in particular who inspires me more or less then another. Newton, Avedon, Kane, Olaf, Halsman, Klein, Mapplethorpe. There are a lot of great photographers who nobody can forget or ignore. After that you have to express yourself, showing what you have inside, explain with your style an with your words, in three words "in your way".

Think you in advance what you want in the picture?

I usually start from an idea, but I hate thinking too much in what I have to do to realize my pictures. Most of models I usually work with are not “models”, but common people, sometimes they have never been involved in a shooting in their life. Concerning my photography, for me it is not important the location. What is really important is speak a lot with models, feel what they feel, think what they think.

Studio, on location or both?

I have worked every day for one year in studio, but I don't like it a lot. It's too distant from the reality, I love tell stories. My prefer location is indoor, using natural light or outdoor during the night using showcases and luminous insignia, flashed or leds light.

Would you consider yourself a hobbyist or a paid professional?

I have never think in me as a photographer, but only someone who loves to live and to tell stories. I know just some professional photographers and when we meet for discussing about our life, most of them told to me: “It's a pity, I have no time to express myself, I work six days on seven for my clients ”. If you do it as a work, the requirements of the clients are priority, you can not act as you would.

What has been your most memorable session and why?

There is not a particularly memorable shooting. Every session is different from the other, I met different people, I saw the reality with other eyes. For me every shooting is unforgettable.

What has been the biggest source of inspiration in your work?

Bukowsky said “People are the best show in the world. And you don't event pay for the ticket”. I really agree with him. Watching people in different moments of their life and imagine what they feel is my biggest source of inspiration. Internet and good magazines are useful interesting sources.

Nikon or Canon? Favorite lens?

Nikon and Fuji are my cameras, from 35mm to 105 mm are my lents, I use 50mm mainly, but there isn't the best camera or the best lents of the world. If someone has nothing to communicate there are no cameras or lents, If something come out from your soul, maybe a smartphone is more than enough.

What is one piece of advice you would like to offer a new photographer looking to start their own business?

I am sorry, I really cannot help any new photographer to start with business photography career, since I am not any more in a photography business, maybe I really never felt a part of in this world.

What do you think of our new magazine?

Modellen-lands is a beautiful magazine where the work of photographers and models are valorized as it should always be. I am honored to be a part of it.

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