20under20 Spotlight: David Uzochukwu

Pitchblack.

Tell us a bit about yourself and how you got into photography.

My name is David Uzochukwu, I’m 15-years-old and a native Austrian. When I was 10, during a vacation, I got my hands on my mother’s compact camera, and that’s how it all began.

Untitled

I was obsessed and captured everything I found interesting, documenting the world around me, first digitally then on film. At 12, I signed up for Flickr, and I was sure I never wanted to do anything other than take pictures. Flickr inspired me to stage my own scenes which is where I am still today.

Hell's child.

What excites you about photography and what are you photographing the most?

I love to tell stories and to convey certain feelings and emotions in an image. This is the only criterion. I currently enjoy photographing people and very often do self-portraits. But I’m also a huge admirer of pictures that convey a mood without featuring people. I strive to be able to do this one day.

What really intrigues me is that photography – like all other art forms – can be so universal that you can be touched by a picture that someone else has created. Furthermore you can make the images in your head become reality. This amazes me again and again.

Show us two of your favorite photos: Which one is your favorite photo from your own photostream and why?

My favorite is “Cry me a river”. It was spontaneously devised last summer and showed me that colorful images with a darker concept come into existence when I photograph without thinking about it. That helped me in my development.

Cry me a river.

Which photo from another Flickr member is your favorite photo and why?

“In the wake of thunder.” from Alex Stoddard is one of my favorite photos found on Flickr. I love the silence, the colors and that you have absolutely no idea what’s happening right there. Alex manages just over and over again to create the most fascinating atmospheres.

In the wake of thunder.

What makes Flickr so special for you?

The community. When I signed up for Flickr, I never thought that so many great, passionate people could frolic on a website. I have closed friendships through Flickr that cause me to invest my money in train and flight tickets to meet people I’ve never seen before in my life. Flickr has shown my 12-years-old ego that photography can be art, and thus has definitely changed my life.

Ère des Poissons.

Which advice would you like to share with other photographers on Flickr?

Flickr is a global network, brimming with talented people who share a passion. Please make use of this opportunity.

David, thank you for taking the time to answer our questions.

Further work of David can be found on his website daviduzochukwu.com and of course, in his photostream.

To find out more about 20under20, how you can cast your vote for the Audience Choice Awards, and how you can nominate a candidate for 2015, visit our 20under20 landing page.

Posted By
Kay Kremerskothen

Kay is a Community Manager for Flickr and passionate about extraordinary photography. As an editor on Flickr Blog he loves to showcase the beauty and diversity of Flickr in his posts. When he's not blogging or making Flickr more awesome (in front of and behind the scenes), you can find him taking pictures with his beloved Nikon and iPhone, listening to Hans Zimmer's music or playing board games. | On Flickr you can find him at https://flic.kr/quicksilver