Artist Interviews - Victor Lax
One look at the WBWP portfolio of Victor Lax and you know he’s at the top of the game. With artwork that is compelling, surprising, emotional, and often mind-blowing, he brings you back to the moment and helps you see life in a whole new way.
We’re grateful today for his insights and the chance to share them with you. Read on to learn more about one of the greatest artists in wedding photography today.
Q: Hey Victor, I remember watching your slide show at SILK Inspire in Bangalore and the hush that came over the crowd as they watched you show one incredible photo after another. While sitting there I wondered, what do you feel when you look through the camera?
A: It’s wonderful for me to see the world unfolding through that little window and stop it just for a second. I try to interpret everything in front of me as it is, then give it back to the world from my own perspective.
Q: I am a huge fan of well-toned black and white photography. Your black and whites are stunning! Did you start out as a film photographer, or did you learn to see tonality in the digital darkroom?
A: I started photography as a press photographer. Then I transitioned from the film to digital. I spent many hours in the dark room, but I have to be honest and say I found my preference for editing through the digital process. I love contrast, shadows, and hard light and my black and white photographs are the result of choices of style.
Q: With so many great shots from each wedding, I assume you come prepared. Can you tell me what you do to get ready for a wedding day?
A: Erika and I work really hard every wedding. We analyze in depth who the couple is, where and how they are going to get married, with whom they are going to celebrate, what elements are going to make their wedding really special, what moments are going to be the most important of the day, and how we are going to capture and interpret them until we give them that spark of pepper that we love so much, hahaha!
Q: What advice would you give to a photographer who is just starting out?
A: Work, work, work.
C: I couldn’t agree more! I can always tell how hard someone works from their portfolio. Obviously, you never stop giving it your all.
Q: What do you admire most in another artist?
A: Humility and honesty with themselves. That helps everyone to never stop reaching.
A: I love painting. Without a doubt, one of my favorite painters is Caravaggio. I love the technique called Tenebrism with its intense contrasts between light and dark. The way accomplished painters play with light is indescribable, and shows off their true genius. There are other painters within this same style such as Velazquez or Zurbarán whom I adore just as much. And I can't stop talking about one of my favorite Spanish painters; Joaquin Sorolla. His way of working the light and the costumbrist situations he captures of the Mediterranean area are simply wonderful.Castell de Tamarit, ( Spain, 2018)
Q: On a more personal note, what books would you recommend to lovers of art, photography, and literature?
Psychology of Colour; Eva Heller
The Shadow of the Wind; Carlos Ruiz Zafón
Masterpieces of Chema Madoz A Masterpiece about the language of photography.
Q: And what 3 favorite songs have been stuck in your head lately?
Through the walls / Who made Who
The Flute song / Paul Kalkbrenner
Thank you so much for generously sharing your time and talent with me! Knowing more about you makes me admire your work even more.
All the best,
Blair