If you love photography, you’ll be quite impressed by Chema Madoz, a Spanish photographer who won The National Photography Prize in 2000. But what is it exactly that makes his photographs so unique? He always shoots with natural light and uses a medium format Hasselblad. However, the extreme sensibility of his photographs go beyond technicism.
When being asked about what inspires his work, he always answers “Everyday objects”. However, these common objects seen through his lens couldn’t be described as common. His surreal photographs are thought-provoking, they generate stories and create reactions. Nobody stays indifferent. On the other hand, If you had a chance to listen to him talk, you’ll realize how sensible, calm and gentle he is, just like his photographs.
This is a selection of my favourite photographs. What are your thoughts about them?
Check all his work at www.chemamadoz.com
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Virginia Duran 
Wonderful imagination. Real art!
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He’s indeed creative! Any favourites of this selection :)?
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The ladder on the mirror and the young lady with the strategically placed glass of wine are the most thought evoking.
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I really like those too. I’ll admit that the woman with the wine cup looks much better printed, or seen from a certain distance!
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Wonderful, thoughtful work. I think my favourite is the threaded water beads. But the spoon with the fork shadow was also intriguing.
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The threaded water beads is also my favourite. I remember the first time I saw it I printed it and put it in my desk for a long time. On the other hand, the spoon is kind of ironic. We think we know what we see but is all appearances. I think if it had been placed the other way round (a fork with the shadow of a spoon) it wouldn’t have expressed this irony so well.
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Yes, you may be right about that. Fascinating photos all of them and, as you say, very calming despite the unexpected nature of most of them.
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Yes Virginia I would imagine it does. I think a six ft canvas would look great. All photohraphers should print there work it really always does look better in the flesh.
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Truly, his work is engaging and illuminating. I especially like the clarity, composition and style of his work, and that they are in monochrome. Thanks for the introduction.
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Hello Sally, glad to hear that you liked those 🙂 I think the way he uses monochrome is very smart and the light contrast is just perfect! A lot to learn from him 😀 Any favourite of the list?
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Fabulous images, great way to start a dreamy design day!
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Have a great and creative day 🙂
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¡Qué chulo! Ya había visto alguna fotografía de este artista pero desconocía su nombre. Yo creo que la de los platos en la alcantarilla es bastante famosa (esa es la que tenía más vista).
Gracias por compartir!!
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Pues ahora ya le puedes poner cara del todo. Estas son mis top favoritas pero tiene millones increíbles. Una que se me ha escapado es la de la maleta con arena, me encanta. Y la de los platos es genial también. ¿Alguna que te haya hecho sonreir?
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el árbol nube!!!
y no entiendo como hace la del vaso con el agua…. :S
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Tengo dos teorías acerca de eso. O uno hace varias fotos y las superpone o… ¡¡Photoshop!! hahah misterio
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Un excelente selección! Virginia saludos
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La verdad es que la fotografía de Madoz me encanta y hubiera incluído muchas más. ¿Alguna fotografía que le haya gustado especialmente?
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Sin dudas la del anillo en la trampera es casi un libro en si misma jaja. Y la del hielo atado es otra genialidad, cuando el pensamiento mágico reemplaza a la cruda realidad.
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La del anillo es una de mis favoritas también, al igual que la del hielo, tratado como si fuese un regalo efímero. Me resulta genial la manera que tiene de interpretar estos objetos “cotidianos”. Desde luego es un artista inspirador.
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These are simply stunning Virginia. Thanks for sharing them.
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Glad you liked the selection! Any favourites?
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The glass with the note 🙂
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That means music is a very important part of your life 😀
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These are all so very cool. The threaded water beads, the cloud in a bird cage, and the dishes draining in the street grate are my favorites.
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The threaded water beads is one of my top top top favorites too 😀
Some of these have a very deep meaning. Or maybe it’s just my imagination. With art, you never know!
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I liked the cloud tree but then it just got cleverer and cleverer! No idea how you do the spoon trick 😦
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haha it happened to me too while trying to do the selection for the post. I wanted to include all! I’m afraid the artist had either long exposure shots with an object change or… Photoshop! I’ll go for the first option 🙂
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Ha! Knew you’d be a step ahead of me (or two! 🙂 )
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Virginia, these photos are wonderful. Some controversial perhaps, but all incredibly imaginative. It takes a good deal of talent to convey such complex messages with such simple images. ~James
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James, glad to hear that you found those imaginative. I agree with you that the message, while complex, is expressed with much simplicity! Any favourites?
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Probably the threaded beads and the ring trap, but all are super. ~James
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Thanks James 🙂
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Those photos are amazing 🙂
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I’m glad you liked the work of Chema Madoz 🙂
Any favourite pics?
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The tree with the cloud is great, same with the plates. They are all pretty good. Thanks for sharing these photos and the words you wrote about them 🙂 It’s amazing how such simple everyday items can make for such great pictures.
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Thanks for your kind words 🙂 I agree, there’s a lot of beauty in everyday objects! The plates one is one of my favourites too!
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You have some very cool photos here.
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Thanks for your kind words! Any favourite of the list?
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I think the train track wrist watch because I think trains are cool. I spent some time looking at each and thinking about how to make them. They are very creative.
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Love the train tracks too! You should try some of these perspectives, and then share them with us 🙂
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Great! Elegant and pure design!
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Thanks you liked those! Any favourite?
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Oh, yes…first one and second one – fantastic combination! Bye.
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I really like those two too 🙂
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These are very thought provoking. Hard to choose a favourite, but the match and the cloud tree are right up there!
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Those are pretty impressive I agree. Love the combination of textures, especially the wood with the match!
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Those are superb. A great talent there.
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Glad that you liked them! Any favorite one?
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Well, I’d be lying if I didn’t say the one with the glass of wine 😉 Closely followed by the step ladder into the mirror world and the dishdrainer that dispenses with all the ususal intermediate pipework.
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hehehe good choices! I really like the ladder one too. He is a great artist in my opinion! Thanks for sharing your insight 🙂
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Awesome photography..!!!
And its hell creative..!!!! 🙂
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Thanks for your kind words 🙂
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You’re welcome…
Nice meeting you and let’s stay in touch..
Till then be good and stay smiling 🙂
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Hello, I would like to let you know that the picture of the pear presented in this post is not made by Chema Madoz. I made this picture as part of a class work for the University of Granada, Spain. Therefore, I would appreciate if you could delete this photograph from the post. Thank you 🙂
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Hi Leticia, sorry it took me long to reply but I was traveling with limited Wifi access. Congratulations for such an amazing photo, will remove it now but I just want to express my admiration for your work.
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