Meet Emiliano Olague | Student & Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Emiliano Olague (he/his) and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Emiliano, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
Although I’ve lived in Southern California the past 10 years of my life, I wouldn’t consider it to be my true home, as my family and I originally immigrated from our home country of Mexico many years ago. Seeing my parents strive to provide the best for my family has shown me the value of hard work and determination, which has proved to be valuable in a country where the odds seem to always be stacked against you if you’re not a straight white male. I definitely wasn’t aware of this growing up, but as I progressed through school and became more exposed to new ideas, concepts, and stories that revolved around the struggles of those who are less fortunate, my outlook on life began to shift. I’d quickly come to realize that I live in a broken society built upon systems of oppression that unfairly discriminates against marginalized groups of people. While I was lucky enough to not have experienced as many hardships that other immigrants have had to face, likely due to the color of my skin, this ultimately means that I have some form of privilege in this country. Knowing this, I believe I have a responsibility to educate myself on how to be a better ally for those who are affected the most. Throughout the last few years, I’ve thought a lot about how I could connect this aspect of my identity to my professional career goals and future aspitations, as I personally don’t believe finding “success” is associated with owning the fanciest camera, buying a big house, or becoming a millionaire. In order for me to be content with life, I had decided that through whichever path I choose to follow, I need to find some way to continue advocating for those who are less fortunate and help incite positive change through the social worlds I’m involved with.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I never would’ve imagined myself to be producing images like these when I first picked up a camera over 3 years ago. Looking back on my progress as a photographer, it’s certainly been a journey of trial and error as I figured out how to properly compose and edit the types of images I’m most satisfied with. I’m sure this same mentality applies to many creatives out in this field, as producing content we’re proud of is harder than most people would think it’d be. After graduating from high school, I knew I had a passion for photography, but I knew from seeing other artists’ work that I had a lot of learning to do before I could come close to their skill level. Oddly enough, I wouldn’t be where I am today if I hadn’t gone back home after Covid-19 shut down my college campus. Although I was socially isolated from the rest of my peers, getting the chance to spend time alone outdoors with my camera challenged me to train my eye to see the world through the frame of my camera, which gave me a sense of rush and excitement I had never felt before. After months of constant practice and endless clicks of the shutter, I seem to have finally overcome the barriers that crossed my path. While most people may agree that perfecting a craft would be a painful process, I don’t think I struggled as much as I had expected to. I was a competitive swimmer growing up, which meant that I’d often dedicate up to 18 hours per week to my practices and training. I’m aware of the effort it takes to perfect a skill and knew that if I applied the same level of resiliency and dedication to my photography that I had put into school or sports, I’d eventually find some form of success. I also wouldn’t consider myself to be a full-time creative, as I have other plans for my professional career and future, but I believe hobbies like photography are the ideal way to find beauty in the mundane aspects of our lives. If I could tell the world one thing about why I continue taking photos, is because it helps me appreciate the details that go unnoticed throughout my life. Sometimes we all get a little caught up in our hectic schedules and forget that pursuing a hobby, catching a sunset, or going for a long walk on the beach can drastically change the course of our day.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
This could easily be one of the hardest questions regarding the LA area, as I feel like there are plenty of things to check out! If they were hungry though, I would instantly take them to Avenue 26, Yup DDuk LA, or the Grand Central Market! My personal favorite though, would be the Market, as I could try something new each time I visit and walk away impressed every time. I would also recommend checking out the Getty, LACMA, or the Huntington Library & Gardens! I feel like all of these locations are ideal for mellow day trips with friends and family that are new to the area.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
As cliche as it may sound, I certainly wouldn’t be the same person I am today if it weren’t for the people I’ve met throughout my life. My growth as both a student and artist ultimately derives from the continuous support I receive within the communities I’m a part of. I would first want to shoutout my family, as they’re responsible for most of the opportunities I was able to have growing up, and have continued to support my decisions as I progress through my collegiate studies and desires to create art. Next, I’d like to shoutout all of the teachers, swim coaches, and professors that have inspired and encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone across all aspects of life. I believe that adult mentors are some of the most valuable people we can meet while we progress through life, and I’ve certainly been blessed to have met many who have made a positive impact on me through the years. Lastly, I’d like to shoutout the dozens of students I’ve met at the California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Moving away from home was certainly a tough challenge, but as I started to meet more people and become more involved with activities on campus, I was welcomed by a strong support system everywhere I went. The students I’ve met at Cal Poly have certainly been some of the most influential and supportive people I’ve ever met, and I often find myself constantly being inspired by their accomplishments and unique perspectives they bring to our campus community.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilianolague/?hl=en

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emiliano-olague-9b002a197/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/EmilianoOlague2

Other: https://emilianolague.darkroom.tech/