New York Fashion Week 2010 from Bell Soto on Vimeo.

Blood Brothers ROUGH CUT from Bell Soto on Vimeo.

"For me the natural transition as a photographer is create moving images, the results are so unexpected with film and video. I think that is why i like it so much, also it allows me to express more about my taste and personality. I want to travel more to Southamerica this year. Hopefully Brasil , never been there".

I was born in Lima , Peru. When i was a teenager there was the explosion of the supermodel and everyone wanted to do fashion. In early 90s i started to take pics of my friends and a magazine decided to publish them and that is how it started. I went to college for Communications in Lima and later did some photography studies in New York and assisted for a little while. When I started, the industry was really different. In Southamerica or NY was more about creativity and having fun with the work. It was not so much about competition, the online phenomenon was not so developed. In a way, I think it was good for me , since my inspiration was more personal. I think my influences in photography have been nurtured and developed over the years. I love european cinema, from Nikita Mikhalkov to Ingmar Bergmann. As photographers i admire very much Irving Penn, Helmut Newton, Mario Testino, Steven Meisel, Guy Bourdin

The digital era and living in NY

The digital era definitelly has been a great impact for the industry. On the positve side, it made more accesible to new people to become photographers. Now, anyone can pick up a camera and point and shoot, and with the right connections become popular or even succesful. However, I believe in the quality of work. Although Fashion is about 'now' and fresh, to me, the most important images are the ones that survive trends and create an statement because of its creativity and quality. I appreciate long careers. Technology should not be the most important part of an image. An image is created to provoke a reaction , to estimulate the sensibility.

I live in NY now, and i have seen how the market has changed in the last few years . Due to the economical changes and the technological advances of digital photography, the fashion market became a lot more conventional. On the other hand, many creative people are still finding ways to express themselves using that technology. In terms of photography , in the future ,I think you will see a more of film and fashion video. Just simply because the new media for fashion magazines are online magazines.

Special moments and helping models to develop their portfolios

The special moment in front of the camera is something that keeps me excited and optimistic about my work. the moment you feel that something great is happening in front of your eyes and that you are there being part of the creation and just lucky enough to be able to capture it!. Makes me really happy everytime and reminds me why i am doing what i do. The most special moments as a photographer happen everytime i get an amazing image, it makes me fall in love with my art again and again.

It is very gratifying to see a young inexperienced boy or girl to arrive in a city like New York and to be part of his/her story. I have been lucky to contribute on the blossoming and the development of the careers of some of them. I think it is great. I always remind myself that what we do is not saving lives or creating the cures for mayor diseases , some people in fashion forget that. However, I like the idea of my work as an inspiration and motivation for people, as i was inspired by others to work hard and move to NY and create the life that now is mine, but it was build on dreams and inspirations from other talented people.

Backstages moments: Cintia in the cold!

Too many backstages moments. i did a shoot and film in New York with the beautiful Cintia Dicker. it was really cold and she, of course, was only wearing lingerie. The story is about a solitary woman meeting with strangers in the search of love. The rest of the cast were 5 male models. Cintia was the only one who stayed up and walking on the streets at night as if it was Spring. She was working so hard in the cold, while the guys were in the location van covering themselves with all the clothes available. It was really funny. i love Cintia. She is amazing.

Cool places for a shooting and IMAGE worth a THOUSAND WORDS?

1. New york, because i have lived in Ny for a while and it is very familiar to me
2. LA , i love the natural light on west coast
3. I love Paris too. just the environment makes you feel part of the history
4. I want to travel more to Southamerica this year. Hopefully Brasil , never been there

I think you can create a strong statement with images and say a lot and even change lifes. But i think people are getting over exposed so much to all types of imagery that it is hard to get the attention to detail. I would say moving images are the next step. Everything will have the ilusion of moving in the future. the walls, the floor, the bulidings, the advertising. It is already happening and i think our eye will become addicted to more stimulation

The Projects

I am working on several projects at this moment. Many of them include video projects. I have made some videos for Vmagazine, Contributing editor, Schon, VisualTales. The internet has openned a new posibility of expresion on the blogs and online magazines. For me the natural transition as a photographer is create moving images, the results are so unexpected with film and video. I think that is why i like it so much, also it allows me to express more about my taste and personality.

Recently I went to Paris for Fashion week and did 3 fashion stories and a short film. All in 5 days. Also, right after I went to Sundance Festival to starta production for more film projects.

Contact info
http://www.bellsotostudio.com