Julian Rodriguez-Montgomery ’24, also known as Rafi, expresses his creativity as a photographer, sculptor, and illustrator. However, Rafi wasn’t always an artist; before his Introduction to Photography class, he did not consider art an option for himself. However, in the class, he grew inspired by Mr. Duarte’s work and passion for the subject and began to pursue photography. He describes “falling in love with film and falling in love with the darkroom” during the COVID year. While he expressed that digital photography is easier and more accessible, he enjoys “the physical space” and “experience of the darkroom” more than Photoshop.
Before Rafi’s introduction to photography, his “only form of expression was sports,” but soon, “photography and art became another thing to fulfill [himself].” Rafi’s story speaks to the reality that trying new things can improve our lives dramatically and that a new passion may always be around the corner.
Currently, he isn’t working on any specific photo project, but he is reflecting on his creative process. For Rafi, ideas are constantly forming and changing, but everything is intentional once he starts work on a project. An example of a project he worked on recently involved balloons. He began with an idea web for photos, then recruited specific people as models and staged them in particular poses and settings. Such intentionality is partially because film is expensive and hard to work with but primarily due to the passion and dedication Rafi has for his work.
His inspiration comes from many places: artists whose work he admires, such as Mr. Duarte and Ms. Bradley, Instagram, and daily life. He is also very aware of the impact little things have on him as an artist and described that he feels slightly changed even after something small, like trying a new food or talking to a new person.
We can expect to see some of Rafi’s work in an upcoming gallery this spring, possibly as part of a collaboration. He is exploring new mediums like ceramics, drawing, and even crochet–some of which we may also see in the coming months. The Panel is excited to see where Rafi’s creativity and artistic passion take him and wish him the best in his future pursuits.
