All images by Clara Garrido. Used with permission.
The level of patience and technique that goes into light painting fascinates me. My creative brain makes my eyes become glued to the colors, shape and story. The same is true for Colombian photographer Clara Garrido. Though, unlike me, she also creates her own mesmerizing light painting images that offer satisfying patterns and otherworldly locations.
Clara Garrido.
Look at her works long enough and you almost feel a subtle vibration running through your body. This becomes even more apparent when combining her work with some music playing in your ears.
I’m hypnotized by the reflection in her frames, and the vibrancy throughout makes me equally at peace and alert. Garrido is no stranger to placing herself in some of her shots, leading to some very dynamic self portraits that are fully energized.
In an attempt to learn more about how – and why – she creates, I reached out to secure an interview. She was more than happy to oblige…
Them Frames: Hey Clara! Please can you tell us a little bit about your early life and how the creative part of you began to develop?
Clara Garrido: My childhood was wild and adventurous. I grew up between a big city and a very rural ranch. My siblings are 10 and 12 years older than me; both were passionate about video and photography, and I was always part of their ideas.
I didn’t really think of myself as a creative person until much later, when I realised I had this constant urge to create. I think I also discovered this part of myself when my nephews were born, because I was the kind of auntie who was always playing with them.
Them Frames: How did you get into lightpainting photography and what is it about this style that motivates you?
Clara Garrido: The very first time I did something related to light painting was when I wanted to entertain my nephews with sparklers during Christmas in 2019. After that, I became curious about steel wool and started practicing with it in 2020–2021, with someone I was with at the time.
In 2022, while I was trying to shoot steel wool in Florida, I ended up meeting someone who had a massive LED light and asked if I wanted to try light painting with him. World of Illusion started after that shoot, once I realised I could continue on my own.
Them Frames: The locations you shoot in are beautiful, truly natural wonders. How do you tend to scout your locations and what do you look for in an environment to make you feel it’s right for the shoot?
Clara Garrido: I chose the very first location because I had been there 10 years earlier, so I could focus on experimenting with light painting without worrying about an unfamiliar place. I did some research to see how many photographers had shot there before. I didn’t find many, but I did find Ruben Wu, who is incredibly inspiring.
I felt that what I was going to do would be absolutely terrible in comparison, but I still had to try. I wasn’t going to compare myself or stop because of that. I knew I would find my own style, and I wanted the experience even if I didn’t know whether I would get any results.
After that, I chose Death Valley because my best friend had died, my parents had already passed away some time before, and there were other losses as well. I felt it was a sign and that I needed to shoot there to honor them. I had never been there before, and since I usually travel on a budget, I had to be quick and decisive: arrive early, find a spot, and shoot. Whatever I got, I got.
The location in Australia was a lucky coincidence, and my most recent location felt almost like destiny. In general, I spend time browsing locations online and imagining what might be possible, while also considering what I can realistically afford and plan to reach.
Them Frames: You had an exhibition last summer at the Experimental Photo Festival in Barcelona. Are you able to share some of the preparation for the exhibition and how you feel about it?
Clara Garrido: The festival team took care of most of the preparation, which was amazing. I only had to send the images I wanted to exhibit for approval, along with some information. I felt great about it. Last year was a really good year for me, and being selected was one of many positive things that happened.
Them Frames: Do you draw your concepts in your mind, paper, iPad? Or do you create on location?
Clara Garrido: I never draw anything. I never really know what I’m going to get, and there’s no way to predict the final result. Everything is very unpredictable. I do have ideas in my mind, but they evolve on location. Sometimes I also play with AI by describing what I have in my head, just as a way to explore possibilities.
Them Frames: Reading your bio, I noticed “…and long exposures without AI”. It’s a strange time we live in for the creative world. Do you feel you have to defend your authenticity more and more as generative AI grows? How does that feel?
Clara Garrido: I love AI. I think it’s a great tool if it’s used correctly. I added that line to my bio because most people think my photos are AI-generated, so I started giving more importance to documenting the behind-the-scenes process. There is a lot of work behind creating just one image.
I don’t think it makes much sense anymore to say there is zero AI involved, because even Photoshop now has AI integrated to make editing more practical. I would actually like to integrate AI more in the future without losing the human-made element.
I love experimenting, and AI is fun to play with. That said, I will never stop traveling and shooting on location, because I have too much fun doing what I love. Even if I didn’t get good results, I’d still enjoy the trip, although, of course, it’s much better when the photography works out.
Them Frames: We love music here. If you could partner your body of work with a song or album, which would it be and why?
Clara Garrido: Gesaffelstein was very important for the creation of Season 2 because his music reminded me of my best friend who passed away, Rossina Bossio, who was an amazing artist.
That project was a way of honoring her. I would choose him because of that connection. There were also other artists that were important for my projects, such as Tzusing, Die Antwoord and Belief Defect, who would definitely be on my list as well.
Them Frames: Finally, please finish this sentence: I need photography in my life because…
Clara Garrido: I couldn’t live without playing, exploring, and making ideas real.
You can enjoy more work by Clara Garrido by visiting her website and Instagram.
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