In Focus: Carla Step and the Unexpected Poetry of Colour

What inspires your photography?

I get inspired by the way colours, light and shapes come together. I've trained my eyes to always be on the lookout for those magical, random connections. My photography is deeply connected to the presence of colour. It's the core element that draws me in — or pushes me away — from a subject, space or object. I'm moved by the magic of combining colour palettes in different situations and watching how they interact with each other. I also find inspiration in seeing how other artists connect the dots — how they translate those moments into their own visual language.

How would you describe the essence of your photography in a single image?

It would be an image where colour takes centre stage — maybe a quiet street bathed in late afternoon light, with a palette of faded pastels and some unexpected pop of colour tying everything together. Something simple, but carefully balanced. That kind of photo, where nothing extraordinary is really happening, but the harmony between elements makes you stop and feel something. That’s the essence of what I look for.

What moment or experience has changed your photography journey?

The first time I shot professional colour film, Fujifilm PRO H400, was a turning point for me. I was walking around my favourite neighbourhood in Barcelona, Poble Nou, about 8 years ago, and I took photos of some pastel-coloured industrial facades still standing in the area. When I got the developed photos back, I became obsessed with the beauty of those colours, and it radically changed the way I approached photography. At first, like many beginners, I was focused on experimenting with light and form. But once I discovered the power of colour, everything shifted. Since then, colour has been a constant influence in my work. It’s such a beautiful thing when you stumble upon something that truly captivates you — the path always reveals itself through those things.

What are your must-have tools or gear?

My must-have gear is whatever's lightweight. There’s nothing I hate more than feeling weighed down, so I always try to go for the most compact setup possible. Of course, for professional assignments, I need to bring my full kit — a Sony A7R V with one or two lenses, my laptop and all the essentials: filters, cables, cards, batteries, etc. But whenever I can, I go minimal. On my recent trips, I only brought two point & shoot cameras, one digital, one analog, and honestly, I was the happiest person on earth.

Can you share one of the most memorable shots you've captured?

This photo is from one of the most magical moments I’ve experienced as a photographer. It was during my first trip to Japan in 2018, walking alone through the streets of Kyoto. I remember passing by this building and just a few seconds later, after my brain processed the beauty of what I had just seen, I had to turn around and capture it: the inside of a Japanese home, with a construction worker in an excavator right in the middle of it all. I think every photographer is obsessed with capturing those fleeting, beautiful moments that often go unnoticed, and this image was a perfect reminder of that. Keep your eyes open — the world is full of wonders.