Respect the Shooter Interview with Wilmer Martinez
Wilmer Martinez
Where are you from?
I was born and raised in New York City and in the Dominican Republic. It was a bit difficult since I would have to keep switching schools every year until I entered High School.
How did you get into photography/videography?
i’ve always liked taking photos on my phone but never had a real DSLR camera until about 1 and a half years ago. Even looking back at the mobile shots I would take, I always felt that I had a bit of understand of what a “photo” should look like. Growing up I admire people who were good at taking photographs and could navigate the menus of their camera like the back of their hands. One of those people was my Uncle. He had a knack for taking landscapes and street photos with is Canon AE-1 Film camera.
Right before he passed away, it was given to me as a gift and I’ve kept it ever since as a reminder to never stop exploring and to keep being creative when it comes to taking photos.
What did you first use to take photos?
I first started with my iPhone 6, but eventually I saved enough money to buy my first DSLR camera which is the Canon t6i. I’ve been using this camera for about a year and a half now and I truly love everything about it. Like everything in life it has its pros and cons, but once you learn proper composition and exposure, you would then be able to use the cameras to it’s best capabilities.
@Jessica__saldana
Where did you go to school? Do you have any formal training/self taught?
I have a technical background and went to school for computer science. A lot of my photography training/knowledge is all self taught. I like to practice what I study and sort of go at my own pace. I use a lot of reference videos from youtube and look at online courses such as Lynda.
Practicing different techniques at different hours of the day is a huge part of my training. I set goals and challenges for myself each time I go out shooting. Example for one day I may only look for a specific shape, color, pattern and only shoot that for the entire day. Some days I challenge myself to shoot in the day time which is out of my comfort zone.
Do you have any nicknames? How did you get that name?
As of recently my friends have started to call me the "Cyberpunk Kid", since most of my inspiration comes from Cyberpunk films, books, and art work. I’m forever building reference boards on Pinterest, so they always catch me looking at Cyberpunk images.
If you could take photos of any 3 people who would it be?
- Harrison Ford
- Ryan Gosling
- Ana De Armas
These are the cast members to my favorite film Blade Runner 2049. Everything about that film is perfect to me. The story line, the music, and the cinematography are all masterpieces.
If you could take photos of any 3 people that are no longer living who would they be?
-Chris Farley
Growing up I used to watch a lot of films by Chris Farley and his SNL skits are something you could never truly forget. If I could have photographed him as the lunch lady, I would have been happy for the rest of my life.
- Satoshi Kon
Satoshi Kon is the creator of one of my most favorite animated movies called Paprika. It’s visually stunning and the story is very thought provoking.
-Steve Jobs
Who wouldn’t want to take photograph of Steve Jobs?
@muah_lay
If you could take photos in any 3 cities what would they be?
- Guangzhou, China
- Macau, China
- Kobe, Japan
These 3 cities are what my childhood dreams are all about. Busy streets, Neon heaven, and tall buildings. I would be most excited to take photos in Kobe since it was the inspiration behind Ghost in the Shell.
What is your goal when you capture photos of someone?
My main goal is to make sure that the person is completely comfortable and relaxed. Secondly I aim to capture something that has a fantasy element but that can at the same time be very realistic.
What music do you listen to when you edit photos?
I mainly listen to Vaporwave, Synthwave, Lo-fi, and chill step when I am editing or trying to think of new concepts that would work well with my photos.
What's your favorite app on your phone?
That’s a tough one. Lightroom Mobile would be my favorite app…but my most used is Instagram and Reddit lol.
Neo Times Square
What is your dream as a photographer?
To be able to travel and take the types of photos I love around the world. Continue to collaborate with amazing artist from all walks of life.
What is some advice you would give to someone with a dream to be a photographer/videographer?
Don’t pay too much attention to the negative comments/remarks people may say to you when you first start out. As you continue to practice, with time you will improve and you will find your own style. Don’t let ANYONE ever tell you that the photos you take is not real photography. What I love most about photography is that, YOU can bring YOUR vision to life. Wether it be fantasy or reality.
Where can people find you? (social media, website, etc)