An open Interview with Photographer Luis Grana

In a world saturated with noise and relentless motion, photographer Luis Grana turns his lens toward something quieter—something often overlooked. In the heart of Luzern, where cobblestone streets meet the stillness of the lake and the hush of early morning light, Grana’s work invites us to slow down. His images do not demand attention; they earn it gently, revealing themselves in subtle textures, fleeting gestures, and the poetry of everyday life.

Grana’s photography is less about spectacle and more about presence. He captures the pause between movements, the soft interplay of shadow and reflection, and the unnoticed details that quietly shape our experience of a place. Through his work, Luzern becomes more than a picturesque city—it transforms into a living meditation on awareness, reminding us that beauty is often found not in what shouts, but in what whispers.

You returned to photography after decades away from it. What moment or realisation sparked the decision to rebuild your creative life in late adulthood?

It was a moment in my life where I was experiencing great loss and solitude. I was being forced to re-discover myself and my purpose. In this context, I was able to acknowledge the one thing that had always made me feel unique and authentic and this was the practice of photography as an art. There was no doubt I had to start where I had left off.

Coming from a strong religious background, how has faith influenced the way you see the world through your camera today?

My theology studies and my seminar years are probably the reason why my photography is of a contemplative nature. Even though I shoot “street”, I am not looking for the rare and decisive moment, as Henry Carrier-Bresson would define it.

On the contrary, my process is to immerse myself in the scene as long as possible. This is a challenge as things change fast in the street. But I need to see past the material moment and find the beauty within. I believe beauty is the empirical proof of existence of the divine and finally the ultimate avenue for experiencing the true meaning of existence.

Life is not mean to be understood but rather experienced and so the proof of everything is already in front of our eyes. I want my photos to be snapshots of espiritual recollection.

Restarting a creative path later in life can feel uncomfortable or uncertain. What fears or doubts did you have when you began again, and how did you move through them?

My only fear is to not live long enough to produce the body of work I want to produce. I guess time will tell but I am not hiding from the challenge.

After such a long break from photography, what surprised you the most about your creativity when you returned to it?

I am very creative in the sense that I tend to think outside the box. It is common for me to I always look at things from as many angles as I can possibly imagine. On the other hand, In regards to my photography, I am not sure I am very creative. I feel I am only showing what I see. Also, I always shoot the same way. My production process has never altered. I find my self to be stubborn and monotonous.

Your journey shows a lot of determination. What practices or habits helped you push forward creatively even when the process felt unfamiliar or challenging?

I did spend quite some time coming up with my current process and organising it. The fact is that every session, from the moment I step out of my house until I print the pieces I follow the same script and steps. Every element from the equipment, to the editing to the printing has been assessed and sequenced to allow me to focus fully on the life scene and my capacity to make it a piece.

For others who feel they may be ‘too late’ to return to their artistic passions, what would you want them to understand from your experience?

I don’t like some of the implications for referring to the exercise of art as a passion. Passions are in many cases trivial and can be easily forgotten, even left behind if not convenient. Passions are in many cases optional, complementary, a nice to have. That is why some people think it may be too late to start. But Art is identify so it can never too late. How can it be too late to be yourself? In my case I stopped photography for many years. During that time I never forgot that I was an artist. So it was not like starting again but rather a decision to stop running away from myself.

What would you say to a young artist who is just starting their path in the art industry?

Don’t allow fear to get in the way of your talent and if you do, have the courage to start again, you owe this to yourself and to others.

On the other hand, If you think you have nothing new to say, yes maybe you need to stop.

What is the most difficult in the art world and more rewarding for you, personally?

The art world is extremely competitive and in fact even ruthless. As such there is a tendency to expect nothing and do it only as labor of love, because you will rarely get any recognition for it. I can say that I experience intense joy and fulfilment when people tell me that they enjoy spending time looking at my photos. Mostly they don’t come with ideas or opinions but rather experiences. They all talk about experimenting feelings like melancholy, loss, calm, loneliness, etc.

Unexpected sparks of feelings and memories. This is my greatest reward.