Rafael Torres on Fstoppers

Artee Photography

A little over three years ago, I bought a camera for an Arts class. The class was about image series. Each could choose their own medium. Some painted, others went with drawing, there was a sculptor, so, as a somewhat competent graphic designer, I thought digital arts was the way to go, but I needed stock material. So, I decided to buy a cheap Rebel T3 to take my own stock images. Took the photos I needed through the class and tossed it to the corner.

A year after that class, I picked up the camera one day and gave it a try, not because I needed pictures, but just for the fun of it. As bad as I was, something about taking a picture just for the sake of the picture, just clicked (no pun intended). I started experimenting with different genres, going back and forth between landscape and street until, one day, I took THE PICTURE. With this I mean the one picture, I'm sure many of you have it, that made you say "I can do this".

After this, it was all practice, winning, failing, failing even worse, wanting to quit. You know, the usual. One day, I was faced with a choice: I could play it safe, keep my regular job, photography on the side, or taking a leap of faith and really pursuing it as what it is: my passion.

So, I did.

Hi, my name is Rafael Torres, and I'm a puertorrican photographer currently living in beautiful Alaska.