Meet Armando Osegueda

We were lucky to catch up with Armando Osegueda recently and have shared our conversation below.

Armando, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?

Oh man that is a good one. I wasn’t super creative growing up, so that was never really instilled in me. It wasn’t really within the last 5-7 years that i had taken a more artistic or creative interest. When it comes to my photography, I tend to get really inspired by other photographers I know. Sometimes they are doing something crazy, like putting some petroleum jelly on a thin piece of acrylic and taking photos through that. It made me realize, that we can use everyday things to shoot through. It eventually led me to using a brass guitar slide in front of my lens to catch some circular lens flares or halos during concerts. I do doodle on the side, but it is more like lettering of signs or song titles. However recently that has kinda crossed over with my photography as sometimes when I am listening to a song, i see stills of the music video or i see sections of the video.

I think questioning how to get better or enhance a foundational skill, as well as giving myself constraints is how I keep my creativity alive. Along with collaborating with others. That and some good coffee or matcha.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

So I am relatively new to photography as I did not start taking photos until 2023. I bought my first camera, a Nikon F, at the tail end of 2022.
But I think i was meant to be behind the camera in some way. I have seen old videos on VHS, where I was behind the camera recording.

Since then I have been going to photo walks to take more street photos but also be with other photographers so I can learn from them. I also have been taking my point and shoots to concerts since May of 2023.

I am focused mainly on concerts, but also have been diving into studio time.
For concerts, the main goal is to capture the artist, from where I am. As if I am the stationary fan that stand in their exact spot to enjoy the show. I enjoy the show as I am not shooting during the entire show, but there are moments where I get the feeling to take out the camera and snap some moments. It is always exciting to take photos, because in the end I am not in it make the money, but to really try to capture the feel of that small moment in time.

As for studio time, I have been working with a singer-songwriter and a great friend, Bianca Azule. Although studio time, has been minimal, I have been able to get some good photos to promote her music and her brand. I am very grateful to her for allowing me to help her in her music career through the photos.

I am always excited for concerts as well as street photography. In street photography, I usually try to limit myself in shooting in monochrome, so i can focus mainly on light and composition. It is always exciting as this lets me better hone in my style with concert photography as well. Although one new style I am trying to incorporate into all my photography is shutter drag. I have tried it and gotten good results, but still feel like it can improve, like anything.

As far as events, nothing to big. I usually attend some photo walks in Los Angeles or in Orange County, and very rarely in San Diego. So if you ever are in those areas and you hear about a photowalk, I might be there.

I am currently working on getting a website up and eventually will have some prints up in the near future. I am also working on a zine idea that crosses over with music in a way. Some ideas right now are in their infancy but I am trying to flesh it out more and more.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Oh man. I just have to choose three? Thats a bit tough since in photography there are lots of aspects that can be impactful. Though if i had to choose it would probably be understanding the exposure triangle, don’t compare and to get those reps in. These are probably the most important if not most impactful and where you can improve on. Two of these can be applied to many aspects of life though.

Let me expand on these.

1. Understanding the exposure triangle is a very crucial thing. It is how you balance a photo. Understanding ISO, shutter speed and aperture are the three things that make the triangle happen. You have to learn how to compensate for one or two setting changes. Sometimes, two of the changes stay stagnant(usually the iso and shutter speed). Understanding the triangle, will fundamentally help you improve. You can research about the triangle and then you can use a light meter to determine the perfect shot.

2. Don’t compare. This is crucial. We are our own worst critics when we get into our head. As the saying goes, “comparison is the thief of joy.” This one is simple. You can look at other artist’s work and wish that you had work like that, but you have to realize, they might have years of experience, or connections that allowed them to work on their skill set a lot more. In the end, you are on your journey and you have to look at the path you are walking. When you look at how far forward someone else is, you forget how far you have come, and that matters more. You are making strides. Comparison, just makes you forget that.

3. Get those reps in. Like any skill, you need to put in the work. Consistency is key. But, you have to have good fundamentals. It is similar to the phrase, “practice makes perfect.” I no longer see it that way. Practice doesn’t make perfect, but it make permanent. You want to get good reps in. You want a good consistency. In the end, getting reps in to better understand light, shutter speed, aperture, iso, thirds and especially composition. These are all things that need reps for you to better understand. Take your camera on a bus ride, a train ride, to the beach, to a walk, to a hike and so much more to get those reps. Do it when you can. Sometimes those reps, bring a lucky moment to catch some special photos.

If you knew you only had a decade of life left, how would you spend that decade?

Oh man. This question feels kinda dark, but knowing when you are going to leave this world would be some sort of comfort.
You have the finite time and you can better plan things.

I would definitely not tell anyone. However, Ithink some people would possibly catch on. I would maybe change some habits. I would spend my time honing my craft so much more and not be reckless about it. Because in the end, the legacy I leave will be in the memories of the people that I love, in the zines that I make, the prints that I would like to sell.

I would definitely spend so much more time with my family and friends and take more photos of those moments and print them so they can have them. Those moments with family and friends are so precious.

I would probably try to travel a lot more and take more photos around the world. Maybe if I can go to different concerts and take photos of concerts around the world, that would definitely be a plus.

In the end, I think I just want to be remembers as a good son and friend. I just hope all those around me live a life they love, because i whole heartedly believe in their success as much as my own.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/armangophotos/

Image Credits

Personal Photo: Taken by Steven Segunial (Segs_ on instagram)

Photo 1: Bianca Azule, Musician
Photo 2: Alex Tejeda, Owner of White Sparrow
Photo 3: Self
Photo 4: Adrian Watkins, Musician
Photo 5: Japanese Breakfast @ Greek Theater
Photo 6: Los Ratones Atomics @ Gunthers
Photo 7: LB Vintage Market