Interview Patrick Kasingsing
Images Aaron Quinto
Hello! Kindly introduce yourself.
Aaron Quinto: I’m an architecture graduate who loves walking and taking photos of spaces and places.
Your Instagram gallery is a beautiful collection of mainly architectural photos. What attracted you to pursue architectural photography? Do you shoot architecture as a hobby or are you planning to pursue a career in this field?
Aaron Quinto: It all started when I eventually got tired of shooting random subjects, such as landscape and people. I told myself that I should focus on one subject. When I got my first smartphone in 2013, I started to take photos of buildings and structures more seriously. I wanted to capture the monumentality and precision of the built environment through my photography. Right now, I just shoot for fun, but eventually I would like to make a career out of it.
What is it about a building that stops you in your tracks and make you whip up your camera to snap a photo?
Aaron Quinto: Patterns and details. If a building has an interesting form, it makes me want to capture it from different vantage points in order to bring out interesting perspectives.
Your photos have a sort of cinematic quality about them, particularly in color, framing and mood. How much postproduction goes into your photos and how do they enhance and convey the stories you want to tell?
Aaron Quinto: Just a few sharpening and adjustment on the curves, brightness and contrast. Light plays a critical role in making or breaking your images. My style usually involves toning down the saturation and increasing the cool tones.
What is your camera of choice?
Aaron Quinto: Mirrorless. It’s light but packs a mean punch when it comes to taking sharp images.
What’s the craziest thing you did to capture that ONE shot?
Aaron Quinto: Standing in the middle of an intersection while the green light is on. I remember I almost got hit by a car. I also trespass sometimes.
Your photographs show a love for detail and textures. Why is that? What stories do you think architectural detail shots can tell that establishing shots cannot?
Aaron Quinto: People tend to overlook details and the intricate processes and methodologies behind it. I want to capture those details so its beauty won’t go unappreciated. It’s those small details that make up the grand profile of a certain building.
How has architectural photography sharpened and honed your eye in terms of developing a personal aesthetic?
Aaron Quinto: My mentor once told me that the buildings we design should also be photogenic. I held onto that guiding principle when taking architectural photos. I realized that, if a building isn’t photogenic, I should take it upon myself to make it look beautiful through photography. This helped a lot in developing my personal aesthetic; it’s something that I absorbed and incorporated heavily into my design process. I constantly check my field of views and vantage points when designing to make sure what I’m designing looks nice from different angles.
You seem to be a well-traveled person. Name a favorite building or landmark that you shot, and why.
Aaron Quinto: The Church of Light in Ibaraki, Osaka by Tadao Ando. I’ve always admired Ando and his poetic architecture, and my personal encounter with his Church of Light was surreal. It was sublime and I had the honor of taking a photo of it.
Other hobbies that you indulge in?
Aaron Quinto: Just photography for the meantime, and sketching! •
Follow Aaron’s visual diary on Instagram at @aieos.
Originally published in Kanto No. 2, 2016. Edits were made to update the article.
