EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH JUAN AIZPURU
Károly Nagy speaks to BIKE Magazine photography contest winner, Juan Aizpuru, about his life, loves and inspirations
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BIKE Magazine is dedicated to presenting various artworks, articles, pictures, reviews, and stories for the readers and cycling community worldwide. Within this is the BIKE Magazine photography contest for which we have now created wider concepts and more categories.
In the previous contest Juan Aizpuru (juanaizpuru.com) won the Sport category with his breathtaking pictures and this time he will join us as a Judge. Let’s find out more about him!
Q: Please tell me a couple of things about yourself?
A: I am a Spanish photographer who travels and lives in any snow-covered part of the world. I am currently living in Zermatt, in the heart of the Swiss Alps. I have previously lived in the Pyrenees, the French Alps, Swiss Alps, Chile, Argentina, and Japan.
I am fascinated by action sports photography because I get involved in the action myself and that really keeps me going. As of late, I have mostly worked around winter sports and I am starting to see the results of my work on the main Spanish magazines and some international web magazines. I also write some stories, as it is necessary to add some words to go along with the images!
Q: Can you tell me about your achievements?
A: My achievements are not what is important, what is important for me is to create, to bring to light new ideas, to try to get off the beaten track, at the moment it is very difficult, but little-bylittle I am achieving it.
Q: You won the Sport category in the previous contest. Please tell me the story behind the picture?
A: This picture is inspired by the special place where I live, Zermatt, where the importance that this mountain has here, is incomparable. We always try to go out in ‘golden’ or ‘blue’ hours, where the lights of nature do the most important thing, then we try to play with flashes to create something different.
Q: Why did you choose this contest?
A: It was sent to me by a friend who knew the magazine.
Q: Are you fascinated by the ‘extreme’, in terms of themes or more?
A: It’s what I really like the most, but I don’t call it extreme, ‘extreme’ is a word that often doesn’t make sense in my vocabulary, because extreme, in my opinion, is when you don’t control the environment in which you move. I together with my colleagues, we always try to control our environment, and extreme is only reflected in photography, at no time I like to risk my life, and that can be extreme.
Q: How would you describe your lifestyle?
A: A bit chaotic, to be honest. Slowly, I’m settling down in Switzerland, but I’ve always been on the move, from Argentina to Japan, passing through half of Europe, until I finally found a place where I like to be, I’ve found my people and I have everything I like around me.
Q: Do you have a project that you would like to share?
A: I still don’t think it can be shared, as there are several brands involved that don’t want it to be published ahead of time, but yes, soon! Let’s hope it’s something big!
Q: What is the best advice you have received?
A: Be yourself!
Q: What or who inspires you?
A: Nature and its lights.
Q: What has been your biggest challenge in life?
A: I don’t know, but just this year I had to pull a good friend out from under an avalanche, where luckily, thanks to our skills, we were able to get him out in time, safe and sound.
Q: Talent or practice? And why?
A: Both, but practice makes talent easier to develop.
Q: What is your favorite sport?
A: Snowboarding and paragliding.
Q: What is the secret of a perfect photo?
A: Place, moment, technique, but luck is always a very important factor. But there is no such thing as a perfect photo!
Q: What is the best thing you have seen in the last 5 years?
A: I’m not sure, maybe the ascent of
Mount Rishiri, a 1700m volcano on a small Japanese island of 15km in diameter, wherefrom the summit, you can see Hokkaido and Russia at the same time, and you have a 360 panoramic view that I’ve never seen before.
Q: What is your most rewarding experience?
A: Following my instincts, being myself, and not following the beaten track.
Q: What did you learn from your biggest mistake?
A: I don’t think I’ve made it yet, there will always be a bigger one to make.
Q: How do you maintain a healthy mentality?
A: That’s not possible, a photographer’s mind can never be healthy, otherwise, it wouldn’t be able to create, hahaha.
Q: Yeah creative people kind of like to push the boundaries! Do you have a motto?
A: Life is good!
Q: What is your goal with this art form?
A: To enjoy it to the fullest.
Q: Please give some advice to the readers.
A: Go out in nature, enjoy it, you are sure to have good times, they will come out on their own, just wait for them and enjoy the people around you.
Q: What kind of elements will you look for in the Contest as a Judge?
A: I am very fond of the natural lights and the new creative ideas, so I will look for those especially. I can’t wait to see the pictures. It’s very exciting.
We are very excited too and hope you will enjoy the Contest as a Judge this time. We have been receiving lots of beautiful pictures and the Contest is still open. As Juan said: “Place, moment, technique, and luck” are the ingredients of the perfect picture.
So, submit your photo and win!
For more information about on BIKE Magazine Photography Contest 2022, visit: bike-mag.com/photography-contest-2022