Pedro Aceituno Garrido, 40 years old, is a firefighter by profession, but for ten years he carries out another vocation: the one of photographer.

His works have their own personality: he uses only black and white, he photographs characters from Jaén of all social classes at spontaneous moments, he adjusts it to any lighting and selects unforgettable points of view. For him it's important that all the image process be only his:

- Since I take the photograph to when it's seen exhibited, the only hands that touch it are mine. It's all... not artistic, because I don't consider myself an artist, but handmade. I am a craftsman who sometimes photographs artists.

- Would you describe photography as crafts rather than art?

- In my case, yes, because art is a word that is used too much. It's misused. I think that artists aren't so many as they say. In fact I have photographed many artists, and I consider them that way: as artists.

- Which themes have you worked on?

- I like reports and portraits. Many people are already pigeon-holing me in portraits. If people say it maybe they're right. People are the wisest.

Approximately ten years ago a camera went to his hands. He started to take some photographs just like everybody starts: with his family. But he realized that he wanted something more. Then he joined the Santo Reino Photographic Association.

- And that was your training, so to speak.

- Yes. I stayed there until the association came to an end. Then, already by myself, I visited the Casa de Cultura of Jaén many times. I took out books. I watched what one and another did. I compared it with what I did.

- From that research you did in the Casa de la Cultura, could you say that some influence from another phography craftsman appeared?

- Ansel Adams. Adams was the quality point of reference for people who work in a laboratory. Regarding reports and on active service, there is Sebastio Salgado. He portrays the present savagery, but he doesn't search for the most unpleasant thing as others do.

As this photographer tells, he can go back several times to the place that has attracted his attention to take a photograph. Many times he comes back home without having taken a single picture. The painter from Jaén Ángela Kayser has written: "Self-criticism is bestowed as direct cause of reliability and maturity in Pedro Aceituno's work".

Aceituno portrays people from all social classes.

- How do they usually criticize the photographs?

- Generally I have no complaints. As for press, they have always behave very well with me. As for other mates, I keep away from the rest of the photography world.

- What about self-criticism?

- A friend of mine laughed and said "That's good" when I commented to him that I had been with very important people and hadn't felt at ease and that I thought I could have done it better. That's good, he said, because what always remains is the matter of doing. Of trying to improve. For me it's a hobby and thanks to that I don'f feel obliged. I don't have to do what others tell me to.

Pedro Aceituno's photography could be told to form an album of the town's characters. The very official chronicler of Jaén, Vicente Oya, states that from the characters he portrays "he grasps their expressions, their countenances, from all angles, after a reliable, well made work. And with that he wants to bring these figures near the street, so that the viewer sees them in different dimensions".

Among a lot more, in front of his lens many people have posed: the former mayor of Jaén, Alfonso Sánchez Herrera; the editor of Diario Jaén, Juan Espejo; the Canal Sur journalist, Pilar Mariscal; and even the Diocese bishop, Santiago García Aracil.

His themes: reports and portraits. His equipment: 35 millimetre camera, 125 or 400 ASA films, always in black and white.

- Which photo would you like to do that you haven't done?

- As they associate me with portrait, once they asked me who I would like to portrait. I answered them that I'd like to take a photograph of Baltasar Garzón.

- Why?

- I deeply admire him and his ideals.

- When you're with the model, do you tell them something?

- The photograph is not mine. It's something between the model and me. Depending on how it's going. The last one was with a composer. You must live it. I was taking photos in complete silence, he was composing with his guitar, and I was there shooting without disturbing him. It has been unbelievable.

Aceituno considers himself a craftsman, not an artist.

A convinced inhabitant from Jaén, Aceituno is glad because he portrays "my people, the people from my land" - as he says - and furthermore he admires many people he has been able to photograph.

He doesn't like talking about competitions: "I've taken part in several competitions, but I haven't taken it into account or considered it". He'd rather be "discreet":

“I would like to take a photograph of Baltasar Garzón”.

- I avoid devices. I always take the tripod and make use of the light that there is. Painters have painted in white coat and that's how I catch them. If they paint in fluorescent lamps light, then in fluorescent lamps light. I respect their atmosphere.

- How do you imagine yourself in the future?

- Today, as it's a hobby, then I do what I want and I feel at ease. Tomorrow maybe I choose slides or landscapes. I don't know. Right now, I think I won't change.

Pedro Aceituno has already dated his next exhibition. It will be from November 10th to 28th at the La General hall. This exhibition will show new portraits of characters from the town.

April 2003.

Olga Fernández Berrios.

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