PHOTOGRAPHY AS ART—EARLY WORKS BY ARMIN RASO

Documentary arts practice with traditional photographic methods (1998-2005).

In early 1998, my journey as an artist took an inspiring turn when becoming a «Resident Artist» at the International Arts Center in Tucson. During this transformative period, I had the privilege of enrolling in classes of documentary art photography at the University of Arizona, taught by José Galvez. My time under his guidance not only reshaped my perspective but also profoundly influenced the course of my artistic path. Like many black and white photographers, I embraced the documentary photography tradition early in my career and over the course of twenty-five years, my vision develops to a persisting exploration of the human continuum.

José Galvez instilled in me a deep appreciation for the power of visual storytelling and encouraged me to seek out and capture the nuances of culture and identity, pushing the boundaries of creativity. His support from a place of deep experience and expertise were instrumental in setting me on a path towards exploring my own voice and perspective, to find the stories that resonated with me on a personal level.

I discovered a new way of seeing the world, one that continues to inspire and inform my work as a documentary photographer today, serving the importance of empathy, authenticity and dedication, qualities that are essential in this field. Conveying nostalgia and raising reminiscence have since become my manifest and my signature is emphasized by a strong sense of character and personality.