Roberto Aguilar (photoaguilar.com, @photoaguilar) has been a commercial photographer for over thirty years. His romance with photography came through the darkroom when he was only about ten years old. It was the magic of the chemistry that seduced him. This romance flourished and blossomed in 2000 when he attended Spéos in Paris and was under the instruction of Georges Fevres. If you’ve ever seen a Henri Cartier-Bresson exhibition or a Josef Koudelka exhibiton it was probably George who did the prints.

Roberto discovered platinum palladium prints in 2015 when a friend invited him to a gallery in Paris for the opening of an exhibition in which he was featured with two prints. When he received the invite he noticed his friend’s name was among masters like: Elliottt Erwitt, Irving Penn and Albert Watson. Needless to say Roberto was quite curious as to how his friend had managed to exhibit with these masters and his friend replied that it was a platinum collective exhibition. Once at the gallery, Roberto was mesmerized by the quality of not only the work but also the prints. He could not stop looking at these prints. Their beauty hypnotized him. He had never seen anything like it and immediately knew that he had to do some research.

Once back in the UK, Roberto started searching for information on platinum palladium printing. He found a few sporadic workshops, but nothing concrete and he could not wait. He booked a two-day private course. His love for the printing process deepened. He was attracted by many aspects including the fact that he could photograph something using the latest technology and print it using a technique that has been around for over a century.

Today, Roberto owns RJ Print Lab (rjprintlab.com, @rjprintlab) a historical photographic processes lab and learning center in the UK.

Q & A with roberto

Passport In Photos: What destinations have you enjoyed the most to-date and why?
Roberto: In the last few years I have been returning to the Canary Islands. I love the scenery of volcanoes and lava everywhere. I find the light and ease of getting around quite attractive plus the year-round good weather.

Passport In Photos: When you travel, what do you primarily like to photograph?
Roberto: There are always good opportunities to photograph beautiful landscapes and seascapes. I also have developed an obsession with desert flowers. I love the intense colors and they serve as a reminder that something so beautiful can grow in such a harsh environment.

Passport In Photos: What tips would you offer someone who wants to learn how to take better travel photos?
Roberto: I think composition is always easy to learn. The way the eye sees an image and of course the rule of thirds. I tend to be a good weather photographer but love images taken in adverse weather.

The rule of thirds is a **composition guideline that places your subject in the left or right third of an image, leaving the other two thirds more open**.

Passport In Photos: What thoughts can you share from your trip to Cuba in the 90s?
Roberto: I travelled to Cuba intermittently between 1995-1999 at the urging of friends. A common affinity for cigars led us there along with the curiosity of exploring a complex other; Cuba was mysterious, complicated, forbidden. The idea of discovering it visually became a challenge and an opportunity for me as an emerging photographer.

Passport In Photos: What places are on your bucketlist to visit?
Roberto: I love water so I would add to my list Fiji, French Polynesia, Maldives and Bali.