When the Moon is In The Sky

Featuring Carlos Darder Words by Nastasia Khmelnitski

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Carlos Darder is a photographer from Palma de Mallorca, Spain, currently moving out of the city to seek his upcoming adventure. Influenced by his mother's photography, Carlos has been accustomed to the camera lens since the young age. He has taken the final product to create his genre daring, sincere, free.

In his works, the main focus is extravagantly exploring the daily routine. The representation of life, of occurring events, is brought through a prism of honesty with a twist. The twist is in telling the usually untold story, in showing the uncut version hyperbolizing the narrative.

Carlos creates a project, his photo-diary in which he publishes monthly works that allow taking a closer look and peeking into his life. His friends become the main characters and appear at any possible moment in time when the camera is there, and the shot is snapped. Carlos tells us about his favourite shoot, the project Diary, andthe series shot in Salt Mountain that carry on the memory till this day.

‘My mum has influenced me a lot, she has been taking pictures of my brother and me since we came into the world. She was a nice photographer.’

Hi Carlos, how are you doing? What are you up to today? 

Fine, a little bit sleepy and preparing things for moving out of Majorca. I'm also meeting some friends today. 

How do you think your parents influenced your love for photography?

My mum has influenced me a lot, she has been taking pictures of my brother and me since we came into the world. She was a nice photographer. 

What is the favorite photograph you have taken? What makes it special for you? 

This one. I think everything. The composition, the moment, and my BFF. I took this 3 years ago and I'm still feeling melancholic about this time.

‘I felt that I had to get in pictures all of the moments/memories of my life, and there’s not a better idea than doing this every day of my life.’

Tell about film photography which had a huge comeback recently in a trend even to the masses, influencers, and celebrities. What is a beauty for you in shooting on film? 

The film rolls, the process to get the pictures developed, and waiting for it. I'm so impatient, and this makes me work on this.  

Let’s talk about your project Diary, which you’ve been working on for about two years now. How did the idea come up, and what are you learning about yourself or your relationships with other people through the frames you take? 

The idea came up because I felt that I had to get in pictures all of the moments/memories of my life, and there’s not a better idea than doing this every day of my life. 

‘I've been struggling with insomnia since 3 years ago, and having fun when the moon is in the sky thrills me.’

What is the topic that is important for you that you would like to create a series about it? How do you visualize it? 

I guess something that makes me feel something. I love feeling sad/happy/angry when I see pictures that remind me of a moment. 

Your works emphasize having fun, being free, loving the moment, the concepts that so often are forgotten in the routine. What do you enjoy the most, and how do you usually spend your day? 

Seeing my best friends, having fun with them, the night makes me so happy. I've been struggling with insomnia since 3 years ago, and having fun when the moon is in the sky thrills me.

What was your favorite subject at school? Do you remember something special from these classes, perhaps a story to share?  

No one, maybe illustration? I was very bad at school.

What was the series you most enjoyed working on? What were the main topic and the main excitement about it? 

The ones in the Salt Mountain I took 2 years ago. It was very fun because we were all naked and a lot of people came to tell us that we couldn't stay in that place and blah blah blah. I freaked out when I saw the pictures, I almost cried.

You have this photo, standing naked in the street, making a wish at 21:21. Were you conscious about unexpected passers-by and were there any? 

Yeah sure, a man started yelling at me "faggot,” stupid things, I kinda like it, it’s fun.

What will be your next project?

Moving out from Majorca, I think it's a big project for me right now.