Fernando Landin: A Photographer In a Digital Age

By: Ma. Fernanda Soria @mafersoria

We interviewed Fernando Landin, a young photographer from Guayaquil (Ecuador) who has merged his passion for photography with the facilities of exposure that the internet offers.

Fernando always had artistic skill; in his teens he began to collect records of his favorite bands “the first record I bought was Depeche Mode’s, and when I saw the picture of the cover, I decided I wanted to be a photographer.” Anton Corbijn, photographer and art director of famous bands like Depeche Mode became one of Fernando’s greatest influences. Fernando began using black and white technique in his pictures “because it’s dramatic, I like contrasts,” he said.

At the age of 17, Fernando started working in television as a production assistant and later as a screenwriter, “Since then I began to relate to people from the media.”

He attended Universidad Casa Grande, where he studied Communications, he was a photography student, but lost enthusiasm because classes were “very technical”, then when he received audiovisual communication classes, he fell in love with short-filming, and directing.

Later, Fernando also ventured into the journalism world, he worked at a newspaper in the music section, having photographers around made him remember his passion.Then he worked with his father in a family business, but “things were complicated because working with the family is complicated,” and he wanted to photograph.

“I decided to just go with it, I invested in a professional camera and attended Chantal Fontaine, where I studied three years.” Fernando started to cover events with Chantal Fontaine, he worked on websites, but realized he did not like to meet schedules set by others “I became a freelance photographer, covering events followed.”

Fernando had the opportunity to work on the “Explorer” cruise ship , “I was called by the Explorer, I did try to be a freelance photographer and go to the Galapagos islands, they liked the fact that I had a college degree and that I am bilingual, so they gave me the opportunity.” So Fernando went to the Galapagos and had the opportunity to improve his technique with sunlight for outdoor photography “I took many pictures of nature, especially birds.”

During his stay in the ship, Fernando decided to set up a website (www.fernandolandin.com) to be in contact with the world, that way all the people who knew him could communicate with him.

“I was one of the first local photographers to have their own Internet site.” “A very cool experience was that two of my photos were published in National Geographic, every Saturday we made a stop in Puerto Seymour Island, where they had boobies but once I saw a green legged one, not blue, green… and I immediately grabbed my camera and captured it before it flew away, I sent it to National Geographic via internet and it got published. “

Fernando decided to invest the profits he had earned from his work at the cruise and went to specialize in Chile, where he attended Estudio Diez. Back in Ecuador, Fernando had his own website running, equipment for working and an enthusiastic attitude.

Having worked in television and newspaper opened doors to Fernando. Soon, local celebrities worked with the young photographer, and he gradually established his own studio in his apartment. Between freelance work and events, Fernando built himself a reputation.

Marine nature captured through the lens of Fernando was featured in a book called “Aquaculture” sponsored by the Ministry of Culture of Ecuador.

Nowadays, Internet and social networks are the tools most used by Fernando “You could say I grew up with the internet,” says the photographer who handles his communication on Facebook, Twitter and Flickr. “Social networks give me the advantage of spreading my work freely,” he adds.