CCB Magazine

Jose Angel González was born in Santiago and living in Berlin since 2014. He is a photographer and works as an journalist. We present him and his work today in our category “player of the week”. 

CCB Magazin: Who are you and what do you do?

Jose Angel González: To make a long story short: I’m Jose Angel González, I was born in Santiago de Compostela in Spain, 62 years ago. I've lived in Caracas, in San Francisco, in La Coruña in Spain and now in Berlin! I have three children. A book. Some trees. Since the pre-Internet times, I've worked as journalist in all kinds of media - for newspapers, radio, TV documentaries, magazines, web. I’m a freelancer, they say, Salt of the Earth, is what I call it. I also make photos. Just to breathe.

CCB Magazin:How did you get to this?

Jose Angel González:Falling and staying up, one time after another, learning from other people, reading a lot of books, searching outside the e-world.

CCB Magazin:What is special about your work?

Jose Angel González:I believe that all objects have a language which we can decipher only in total silence. I think Emile Cioran wrote that. I wish that my photos wouldn’t need even one word to be explain. As you can't dance Chemistry, you can't explain an image. I love old film, chemistry, toy cameras, cheap and simple stuff.  Qualification? Well, not a degree, for sure. Maybe danger, blood, life, love.

I believe that all objects have a language which we can decipher only in total silence

CCB Magazin:Jose, you came to Berlin two years ago. What was the reason for it?

Jose Angel González:Just by chance. I've lived in San Francisco from 2011 to 2014. Things were getting hard there because of the negative influence of the 2.0 bubble —the rent prices are the most expensive in the whole country— and it seems that you are a techie or you simply don't count as a person/citizen. It's a real pity, because the place is one of the most powerful cities I have ever known in, let's say, wild and free mood. So Berlin was an option to return to Old Europe and its lower profile.

CCB Magazin:What is your impression from Berlin? And what does Berlin mean to you and your work?

Jose Angel González:I work mainly as a freelancer journalist for spanish media and I'm not trying to find a job here. I just live in this city. And since I've been living here from 2014, I only have a partial opinion. It seems quite a void place for me: too long streets, too much space. I miss the crowdy old Madrid, the crazy and freaky San Francisco's mood (at least before the Golden Kids of the 2.0 arrived with their evil manners). When I try to shoot street photos here, Berliners seem to be aware of me, as if my camera was a danger tool. It's not easy to deal with that but I'm trying to improve my tactics.
 

CCB Magazin:What is the reason for it?

Jose Angel González:I can't really answer, I'm not a social expert, but maybe here people are more concerned about their privacy. What I can assure you is that it is a lot easier to shoot candid street portraits in Spain, Great Britain, Italy, France, Romania. 

People in Berlin are more concerned about their privacy

CCB Magazin:What do you think about the future: How should Berlin develop in the next years?

Jose Angel González:Not a copycat-city of Silicon Valley. That would be enough for me.

CCB Magazin:Jose, what do you plan for your future?

Jose Angel González:Be.

CCB Magazin:Jose, thank you for your statements and stay in touch.

Profile of Jose Angel González on Creative City Berlin