Mobile Photography & Art – ‘Intimate Interview’ with Luis Rodríguez, a.k.a. Luisón, from Madrid, Spain

As a child, I had an idol, Félix Rodriguez de la Fuente. I was ten when he suddenly died in a helicopter accident. It´s the only famous person whose death I have cried. I wanted to be a naturalist or biologist, like he was. I loved and still love animals. I don´t recall any other ambition.

I was a very good student, so my marks were always excellent. I do remember a competition I won at school with a poetry written in English, entitled: “Money”. I must have been 12, the age I returned from Ireland, so I could speak fluent English. It ran something like this:

“Money, king and lord,

You are so needed in this world,

Men fight and die for your sake,

You are so well known in every place.

Men are born and

When they are young,

They start to seek you,

But never meet you,

…..

…..

Stop messing around

In this wicked world”

I had no job while I was at school. Once I started studying Architecture at University, I remember working in the afternoons at Manuel de las Casas´ office. I was payed 5 €/hour, and I failed all my exams because I went to university in the morning and then to this office in the afternoon, so I had no time to study. It lasted only an academic year. Then I quit and my marks improved considerably.

Always Private School, my parents´ choice.

As I said before, I studied Architecture at Madrid´s public University at that time.

In my personal life, my parents, no doubt.

In my professional life, the architect I admire most, Alberto Campo Baeza, who was my teacher, my master and my mentor.

I wasn’t born an architect. My father is an architect, so architecture has always been present at home. But I loved animals and wanted to become a naturalist, as I said before. I remember having finished all academic years at school and sitting at my parents house, deciding which career to choose before going to Germany on a one month course abroad. I remember my mother telling me that if I chose to be a biologist I would “die of hunger” (direct translation from Spanish, meaning I wouldn’t earn a single cent during my life). Instead, if I chose Architecture, there would be always my father to support me. Obviously I chose architecture. Then, at the Third academic course at university, when I had to start designing buildings, I had a terrible crisis. I realised I wasn’t made to design, I had terrible difficulties at doing this task. I wanted to quit Architecture and start all over again.

My teacher was Alberto. He received at his home one day before Easter holidays, talked to me, persuaded me to finish and deliver the project we were designing at that time, and advised me to rest during the holidays and think over everything calmly, in no rush. After holidays, I decided to continue with Architecture. I had lunch with Alberto last June, 28 years after this episode.

This is a tricky question for me. I am 49 years old and I swim at leat three times a week since I was small. I have a very athletic body, the body of a regular swimmer. So you would say, by looking at me, that I am in a very good shape. But the truth is that I’m not that fit. I can’t run, not even short distances, I get immediately tired. Swimming is like walking to me, I make no effort, but running is an imposible task.

On the other hand, I sleep very badly since my youth. I don´t rest enough and I am always tired. Maybe there’s something more, I don´t know, but that’s the truth. I always say I’m like the old Cuban cars I’m good on the outside, but can’t deny I’m old in the inside. LOL

Definitely ambition. I know a lot of talented people who have not succeeded because they are not ambitious. And I see a lot of ordinary, even vulgar people, who have succeeded in life. I believe we live in a very vulgar society where talent is not rewarded, unfortunately.

Not very much. I don´t believe in politicians. I like to say I would believe in politic if there were no politicians. I’m probably wrong, but I believe that no-one is born a politician, with the aim to fix other people’s lives. Those who become politicians do so because they are ambitious, no matter what their ideas are. There’s corruption everywhere, right political ideas, left political ideas (sorry, I don’t know how to express myself better)

Speaking on a more personal scale, I am committed to the environment, I carefully recycle my rubbish, try to reduce the use of plastics, firmly believe in the equal rights for men and women. I have three daughters, I want for them the best future possible, the same chances, opportunities and rights as their male mates. So, I have to preach with my own example (again, a direct translation from a Spanish sentence)

Believe or not, I’m not an ambitious or greedy person. I have everything I long for, starting with my family, my most precious treasure. I can’t think of anything specific I would love to own that I don’t currently have. I’m a very normal and ordinary person.

I’ve been thinking for five minutes, and I haven’t come to any conclusion. As I said, I’m a very normal person.

At home, whether in Madrid or in Ayamonte, during our holidays. I’m a family man, I love to be with my people, at our places. I love to travel, of course, like everyone does, but whenever I return home, I always say “home, sweet home”.

We have an apartment in Ayamonte, in the south of Spain, by the sea. We had to rent it for some years during a harsh time we went though. Things got a bit better, so we don’t rent it now. Ayamonte is our second home. Whenever we go, my toothbrush is in the same place, the sheets I slept in the last time I was there are waiting for me to sleep in them again. This is the kind of feeling that makes me happy.

Personally, to give my daughter’s the best education possible. Candela, the eldest, studied a full academic year in Ireland two yeas ago. That meant a huge economical effort to the family. Martina is going to study another full academic year in three days time (will be by the time you read this interview). Can we afford it? With great difficulty. But my wife and I think the best way to learn English is by living abroad, and English is a “must” nowadays in our society. So…

Professionally, as an architect I have no ambition whatsoever. In fact, my profesional career is tremendously boring. I do appraisals for a living. So boring and totally without creativity. That’s why I love mobile photography so much. All my free time is dedicated to mobile photography, it provides me with the best excuse to forget the tiresome activity of my job.

I would love to grow as a mobile photographer and achieve a higher recognitions as such. I have been numerously times awarded with Honorable Mention, Finalist, Runner-Up Winner at the most prestigious mobile photography competitions worldwide, but I’ve never won a category, not even a Second or Third Prize. If I ever do so, I will be extremely happy.

My family. Simple and clear.

I have no doubt at all, my three daughters. I couldn’t have done it better, three incredibly beautiful, intelligent, social and loving kids. I’m so proud of each one of them: Candela (16), Martina (14) and Daniela (3). My wife is 50% responsible, of course. LOL

Two things: liars and ass-lickers (sorry about the last word…)

He would think I should have been more ambitious, I should fight more for what I want, but would be very proud of the family I have.

Nothing, I swear.

Climate change, no doubt of it. Equal rights for men and women. A better and more collaborative society. Immigration. Anything that has to be with our planet, at a bigger scale.

I don´t know what to believe. I did, when I was young. I think I don´t, nowadays.

Professionally 5, personally 10

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