Iván Macías

TIFA 2023 Interview with Iván Macías
1st Place winner in Editorial, Professional, “Acapulco After The Passage of Hurricane Otis.”

Q: Can you briefly tell us about your background and what inspired you to pursue photography?

I started in the world of photography by chance 8 years ago, and since then, I haven’t let it go. Photography has become a form of expression for me. I take photos when I’m happy or when I’m sad. Being able to tell and create stories through my lens, through my camera, has become a way of life and inspiration for me.

Q: What drove you to submit your work to the TIFA competition and your thoughts on how winning this competition impacted your artistic journey?

It’s the second year that I participate in TIFA, the first year my work was selected by the jury, but it didn’t win. I was left with that thorn, wanting to try again with a more meaningful piece. Winning this important competition is a very interesting turning point for me that motivates me to keep moving forward, seeking more stories to tell through my lens and giving them a voice.

Q: Could you describe any challenges you faced while capturing this moment (winning image/s)?

Creating these images was emotionally challenging, because it is a place I had known for a long time and had a certain affection for. Knowing that there were many people, including several people I know, who suffered the impact of the hurricane was hard. Walking through those same streets that I had walked before, now destroyed, and meeting people who had experienced it and lost their loved ones were some of the most difficult things to process while I was taking those photos.

Q: What, in your opinion, are the most important factors in creating great images?

For me, the most important thing has always been passion and perseverance. Conceiving what you want and carrying it out, although it sounds simple, many times that process can be long and tedious, if it is not something that you are passionate about.

Q: What do you find to be the most challenging aspect of photography?

One of the biggest challenges, at least for me, is inspiration, finding that spark that tells you, this is what I want to do and this is what I want to achieve.

Q: What motivates and drives your photography?

In general, photography for me is the main reason, I don’t know if it’s right, but I think almost all my life in terms of photography, if I go down the street I look for interesting paintings and people to portray, even when I don’t have the camera. Photography itself has become one of my reasons for life.

Q: What’s next for you in your career as a photographer?

To continue looking for stories to tell, I am passionate about being able to do so, and winning this award encourages me to continue with this path that I have chosen.