The choice of the title "Images of the Subconscious" is no coincidence. Montes often finds himself photographing in the street, instinctively capturing images when something catches his attention. It's not he who seeks the photographs, but they who seek him. It's the images that compel him to stop, turn around, and press the camera shutter.
Sales: The sales invite us to consumerism and to dress according to fashion
José Ramón Montes, known on social media as Quicopedro, is a passionate photographer who revels in capturing all types of images, though he has a particular penchant for minimalist photography. His ability to create original compositions with one or two elements is undeniable.
His most recent conceptual photography project is titled “Images of the Subconscious,” which will be exhibited at the Barjola Museum in Gijón this May, in a solo show. The choice of the title “Images of the Subconscious” is no coincidence. Montes often finds himself photographing in the street, instinctively capturing images when something catches his attention. It’s not he who seeks the photographs, but they who seek him. It’s the images that compel him to stop, turn around, and press the camera shutter.
Shades: Photograph taken at night at the exit of a shopping center, the shadows projected on the wall seem tormented figures close to madness
Sometimes, a particular photo may seem undefinable in its value, but something about it resonates, even if one can’t discern why. It can be an enigma for a while, but the answer always comes from within. And when comprehension arrives, it’s a revelation. The image speaks, and the understanding brings deep satisfaction. At that moment, the heart beats faster, and the desire to share the image with others emerges.
Coca Cola: A child plays distractedly next to a soft drink vending machine, he is oblivious to the danger he is in. It has nothing to do with chance, the machine is placed in the perfect place, at the right time, painted in bright, flashy colors, it tries to catch you, to make you fall into its net, to be a consumer, to be an addict.
As for his career, Montes started working as a professional photographer during his university studies, and then devoted himself to chemistry at the Superior Council of Scientific Research. Since then, artistic photography has been more than a hobby for him; it has been a true passion.
His talent has been recognized with over 50 photography awards, including a spot in the top ten of the Sony Awards and first place in the 7th Edition of the Pollux Awards in the “Abandoned Places” category, where the prestigious photographer Chema Madoz was part of the jury.
Sales: The sales invite us to consumerism and to dress according to fashion
Homeless: The passers-by are oblivious to this destitute lady huddled up from the cold and exhaustion, no one stops to look at her, each one follows their path, they are oblivious to her drama but she herself is out of this world, she has a parallel life, she does not even ask She doesn’t look at anyone, she is alone with her misfortune.
The Singer: The street singer strives to express his art but no one listens to him and he may not want to be heard as he sings for some headless mannequins
Nursing Home: Some old people laugh happily recounting their battles, however the caretaker is away thinking about her own problems
Girls: The image seems to be taken from a horror movie, it is a bit scary but Jiminy Cricket is there to tell them what is right and what is wrong.
Pigeons: A young girl feeds the pigeons, it seems to be the only incentive in her life, a sad life
The Ghost: An old abandoned train seems to have its own ghost
Caught in Time: At first glance it looks like a nice postcard of a square in Venice but there is something that does not fit. Venice is characterized by being an eminently tourist city, full of people everywhere, running from one place to another to make the most of the time available, but calm reigns here, you can see the silence, nobody runs, nobody is in a hurry , it seems that time has stopped, even the clock does not show the hours, it only has the minute hand. A frozen pigeon in flight appears to be in a time loop.
The Nun: A group of teenagers seems to run over the nun who crosses their path, they are two different generations, two ways of life
The Little Bear: After a good party, a man dressed as a bear sleeps peacefully on a bench
Flags: The colored flags seem to break the fence seeking freedom, the conformists are represented by the non-colored flags
The Musician: Street musician waiting for potential customers to pass by
Lost: In a dangerous city the best place is to be lost in your own room
The Umbrella Man: I had never seen anyone sitting on a bench enduring the rain, it is a devastating image. Because of his clothes, he looks like an old person but well dressed, he is not homeless but he is alone, sure he has somewhere to go but he prefers his solitude instead of the rain.
The Dog: The dog is very attentive to everything that happens
The Beach: Image taken on May 2, 2020. That day the partial confinement in Spain was lifted after being locked up for 100 days. It was possible to go out on the street in shifts and by age. The image shows people after this unprecedented confinement, in their attitude you can see despair, the desire to live again. Let’s hope it doesn’t happen again.
The Turist: A tourist in Florence seems to be caught by the incisive gaze of a billboard
The Pianist: The hands of a mannequin in a shop window appear to want to play their own music
