Alina is a 20-year-old visual artist and photographer from Ploiesti, Romania. She is currently based London, United Kingdom. We recently had the change to connect with Alina to talk about passion, photography and shooting on film.
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Name : Alina Negoita
Age : 20 ( January 14, 1991)
Hometown : Ploiesti, Romania
Current location: London, UK.
What’s on your ipod right now?
I don’t own an ipod, but on my winamp playlist now runs Hooverphonic and Norwegian Stars
Film or digital?
Film, definitely, because it gives me a mood I can relate to. I [usually] work mostly on digital, but I recently bought a Polaroid camera and [plan to] use it very soon for a project. Also, university starts in a few days and I’ll have the chance to work with film cameras [that] I’ve only dreamt of.
What’s better: red or blue?
Generally speaking [I like] both, but at the moment I’m more into blue, cold tones. Maybe because of London?
What is it that draws you to photography?
I am always looking for a kind of purity and honest beauty in life and in everything that surrounds me. I guess that led me into photography and film.
How do you stay motivated to go out and keep shooting?
It’s a huge part of who I am and I can’t imagine myself without having a passion for what I do. I keep on shooting to evolve, to reach a stage when I’m satisfied enough with my personal work.
What’s your favourite thing to shoot?
Real people and interesting faces.
I noticed that most of your photos are in black and white. What are the benefits to you for shooting black and white over colour?
Actually, it’s just a stage – if you look into the past you’ll see that I was shooting only [in] colour. I bought my first DSLR this June and I enjoyed [the the way colour photography looks] more than the way the photographs looked in black and white. I was also inspired by the masters of b/w photography such as Sally Mann, Diane Arbus, Emmet Gowin, but basically I’m just experimenting as much as I can, so I can find somehow my personal signature and identity as an artist.
What’s your dream job/career?
[My dream is] to travel around the world taking photographs, making music videos, shortfilms, working for magazines like Purple and Dazed and Confused and other similar [publications], and to never make compromises when it comes to my work - to stay real.
Generally speaking, what do you do to achieve your goals?
Generally speaking, work, work and work. And being passionate enough, as far as I can tell.
What advice can you give to people who are breaking into photography now?
[I would tell them] to [go out] and absorb inspiration from everything around them, to watch movies, listen to music and then go create. It’s all up to you.
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You can check out Alina’s work on her blog, Call It Creative Freedom and follow her on facebook here.
