1. Can you please tell us a few words about yourself, where are you from.
My name is Raimondas. I am from Lithuania, currently living in the capital Vilnius. Last year, I graduated in Journalism at Vilnius university. And I guess I am just this tall, skinny guy that carries a film camera everywhere.
2. What is your photography story, how did you start? How did you get where you are now?
I started taking pictures roughly 4 years ago. At the time I was quite interested in it because of my brother who was taking pictures for quite some time at this point. I thought it’s a very cool thing. But for me personally it really began after I was going on a trip to Romania. I wanted to capture memories and moments during the trip so I borrowed a film camera from my brother and since then I got hooked up.
3. What’s your favourite gear to use (camera, lens, film) ?
I took most of my pictures with my Canon Ae-1 (the same I borrowed from my brother for the trip to Romania and later bought for myself). Although, recently I shoot mostly 120mm film with my Kiev 60 camera.
4. What do you enjoy shooting the most? And Why?
Street photography, documenting my surroundings, people. Also, I like to take portraits. I like to try to capture the moments that a lot of time we miss and show them in the way I was able to see.
5. How do you educate yourself to take better photos?
Reading books, informing myself about the world and current events. I think it’s very important to try to understand why they are happening and how they affect all of us. Only this way you can understand the surroundings that you are trying to capture. Also looking for photography books and other photographers and photojournalists work. There are plenty of platforms on Youtube and Instagram that share a lot of fascinating work from all around the world that in any other way I couldn’t see. Talking about photography with other people helps a lot too.
6. Have you ever doubted yourself? And what helped you to overcome that?
Of course. And I don’t think I overcame it because I still doubt myself quite a lot. But what helps is always trying to enjoy the moment of taking pictures. Just trying to do what you like and doing it your own way and not thinking too much about anything else. Also, I am not sure if I ever want to fully stop doubting myself. I think I want to be able to have a balance between confidence and questioning myself. I want to be able to be realistic about what and for what reason I am doing, the meaning and consequences.
7. What is the most rewarding part of being a photographer for you?
Looking for and finding moments, different angles, trying to show different people.
8. Among your works, which one is your favourite? Tell us the story behind it.
It’s hard to choose one. I don’t think I have a favorite, but one of the pictures that explains what I am searching for in photography is a picture of an old man standing on a beach with his two dogs. I took this picture last January, almost exactly a year to this day casually walking on the beach with my family. It was just a moment of a man standing on the beach. But I think it creates this story and looking at the picture I just keep wondering about this man’s life and his experiences, how he got to the place where he is now.
9.What gives you inspiration?
Seeing great work of other photographers and photojournalists.
10. Exactly what it is you want to say with your photographs?
Small moments are beautiful and they can tell us more than we understand about it while seeing it.
You can follow @raimondas.l on Instagram 🙂
