GeekyPornyGirl™ Erotic Art & Porn Photography

Amber Jam: Could you tell us a little about your background?
Mateo De La Rioja: I am originally from Spain, but I have lived in different parts of South America and North America in the past 15 years. Like many, I have no formal training in photography but have learned by trial and error.

AJ: You write like you shoot with great sensitivity and poetry .Sensitivity and sensuality seem to be important ingredients in nude/erotic photography today. Would you agree?
MDLR: Thank you! I think the Internet and the so-called democratization of the medium have opened the door for alternative forms of expression. Artistic communities have begun to evolve around certain websites that have developed their own sense of aesthetics. The tumblr community, in particular, has embraced a more honest approach to eroticism; one where the organic aspect of the body takes precedence over the sterilized environment portrayed by traditional erotic media. Ultimately, I believe that kind of honesty is what allows people to relate to your work.

AJ: Your work has the same artistic sensitivity and eroticism as Cafe Glow, Kimberly Gillett, or Romolo Giulio Milito …Why don’t you also make videos?
MDLR: Video is a fantastic medium, but it is not one that I have really explored. My short attention span is probably to blame for that. I like the instant gratification of photography; I like being transported to a scene with the glance of an image. I like the empty spaces that an image leaves in the narrative for the viewer to fill in with their own desires and fantasies. Video, on the other hand, often entails a more defined storyline; it’s a different approach in terms of the story that one wants to convey. But who knows; perhaps one day I’ll take the plunge.

AJ: When did you decided to become a photographer?
MDLR: One of the first things that I recall putting on my Christmas wish-list was a camera. My parents got me one of those blue fisher-price cameras that were popular at the time. I still remember the feeling of anticipation when I finished the first roll and I had to wait until the prints came back from the lab. From that moment onwards, I have been hooked.

AJ: What inspires or influences you?
MDLR: There are many amazing photographers that have influenced and inspired me. However, Clayton Cubitt played a decisive role in sparking my interest in the genre. The work he did for Nerve in his “Daily Siege” blog completely changed my perspective on erotic photography. Until then, I had never seen anyone produce sexually explicit photos with such depth and artistic quality. When I saw his work, it became clear to me that I wanted to try to achieve something similar with my photography.

AJ: Are you working full time as a photographer?
MDLR: No, I work on my photography during my spare time. However, I would love to be able to make a living from it. I have a great deal of admiration for those who work as full-time photographers.

AJ: What’s your favourite camera and why?
MDLR: Whichever one I have with me! I shoot with my cellphone, my point-and-shoot and my DSLR. I like how each of them changes my perspective and makes me adapt to the scene. I am a big believer in working with what you have. For example, people are often surprised when they find out that I do a lot of my post-processing on a netbook that is only capable of 1024 by 600 resolution. I think constraints can sometimes spark creativity.

AJ: Can you tell us something about your future projects?
MDLR: “Bestiary”, the project that I am currently working on, is an exploration of my relationship with my partner. At some point, once I feel like I have properly documented it, I would like to work with other models and explore the fine art nude genre a bit more. I would also like to work with more elaborate settings.

AJ: Your photographs focuses on nude/erotic fine art…How do you make your choice of subjects?
MDLR: Erotic photography is a tricky genre. If you take a nude picture of a beautiful woman, regardless of how original or well executed the photograph is, for the most part, people are going to like it. The challenge, therefore, is producing something that will convey something beyond beauty or eroticism. My favorite photographs are those that engage me on a more psychological level. It’s the images that make me reflect upon my desires and fantasies that I find more rewarding. That is what I strive to achieve when I shoot, although I can’t say that I always succeed (I cringe when I look at some of my images).

AJ: Do you have something to tell us? A last word?
MDLR: Thank you for the interview! I would just like to invite everyone to visit me on tumblr and flickr. I love hearing from people, so feel free to drop me a line.

Thank you very much for your confidence Mateo, I am pleased to announce our collaboration for this first interview.

Amber Jam