“Often I feel like talking to the world, telling stories but my voice does not reach anyone.” Ray Litsala tells us in our conversation and he continues explaining that he feels most connected to the world when it speaks and responds to him.
His work as a photographer is a strong way of speaking to the world; in his latest story he shot the three girls Alice, Mary, Letizia on a trip in Italy, during a photo-shooting went one between Mary and Letizia. “Savor the art, it is looking for the voluptuousness. Like the feeling of receiving a kiss on the skin. That’s the reason why I chose the title LIPS ON THE SKIN.”
Ray, before this shooting you did an 18-hour travel from Paris to Italy but you told us that you didn´t feel tired, because you enjoy with people that you love and you all do what you love: Photography. How did you find what you love doing?
Initially, it was a curiosity. A friend had forgotten a camera on my couch. I used it. I photographed nature, streets, friends. I returned the camera and bought my own to push the experience even further. I read all the pages of the manual of the device (I think nobody reads that, right?) and I mastered all the operation and rules of photography. I tried several things, I worked in various sectors. I started photography 9 years ago, but it’s only been 3 years since I found my identity. At that moment, the pleasure that was much more like a heat around me, changed into heat flowing inside my body. I had a childhood flashback. A forgotten conversation. When I was eight or nine, I was talking to my brother and I said: Later, I want to be a photographer. It’s funny because this corresponds exactly with my first publication online on c-heads.com.
What do you love most at your job as a photographer?
What I really prefer most is learning something else. To learn from others. To learn from the people I meet (friends, models, talents) by talking, becoming familiar. To learn about things that other people are touched by because it’s inspiring. And learn new techniques and ways of working. Always pull my art up.
“What I love most about being a photographer? To learn from others.”
Do you sometimes question the sense of your work as an artist?
I think it’s the eternal problem of artists. It is the good way or not? It is useful or not? If we succeed in earning our bread with it. If people really appreciate our work. There are ups and downs. Confusion is my daily life. But even when I’m down, I continue to walk in that direction like a Walking Dead’s zombie attracted by the smell of flesh. Until I find my mind and realize that I have it in my skin.
You also mentioned:„I am a wanderer of life because I don’t know where my place is, so I travel seeking inspiration.“ What answers/inspirations have you found so far during your trips?
First, I found the aesthetics that suited me. Then my meeting with Emilie and Janine, who are part of my muses, and who pulled me towards a direction without realizing it. As a result, I followed this logic. Traveling to think, inspires me more than thinking between the four walls of my apartment. In Italy my friends opened their hearts a little bit more about their life. Hearing and feeling them singing while I look at the landscape parading through the window of the train. It’s like answers are filling a blank page in black ink.
The moments you all shared together on that beach, what will you keep of it in your heart?
Simple. I keep the colors and the satisfaction.
“I think it’s the eternal problem of artists. It is the good way or not? It is useful or not? If we succeed in earning our bread with it. If people really appreciate our work. There are ups and downs. Confusion is my daily life.”
When do you feel most connected with yourself and the world?
I feel myself when I have no pressure. When I do what I want in the moment without having to justify myself, and the people around me are not surprised. I feel connected to the worlds when it speaks to me and responds to me. Because, often I feel like talking to the world, telling stories but my voice does not reach anyone.
One of your happiest childhood memories?
We are almost 20 kids. Playing the game of hide and seek in our neighborhood. In the middle of our blocks, we can hide behind trees, under staircases, in cellars, in sandboxes. The game stops only when our parents shout our names out the window to come for lunch or dinner.
Your favourite happiness quote?
Happiness Is Only Real When Shared (Into The Wild )
Images are shot on 35mm kodak color 200 iso and Ifford HP5 200 iso for the black and white.
Photographer: Ray Litsala @ray.litsala
Models: Mary @marychrizzajane
Alice @g.e.n.z.a.i
Letizia @letiziatrabatti
