Ignacio Martinez Suarez

José Ignacio Martínez (born 1963) is a photographer from Navia, Asturias, Spain who is specialized in architecture photography. Since he was a child Martínez was connected to photography through his contact with amateur and professional photographers, including his father, Jesús Martínez, a doctor, historian and photographer. (Gea, J.C., Donde habita la belleza, La Nueva España, 12 de julio de 2009, retrieved 19 December 2016). These experiences allowed him to learn how to handle various manual cameras, like the mythical Nikon F, and learned the use and tricks of the dark room, the enlarger, the chemical used in processing and other methods used on that time.
Martínez studied in the Complutense University of Madrid where he earned a bachelor's degree in Communication Studies, with a major in Audiovisual Communication, in 1989.
From 1995 through 2005, Martínez lived in Lustenau, in the region of Vorarlberg, Austria where he developed his specialization on architecture.
Early work.
Since 1982 Martínez worked as a press and publishers photographer. After his bachelor's degree studies, he studied in the Madrid “Flash” Technical School of Photography, Video and Television (Escuela Técnica de Fotografía, Vídeo y Televisión “Flash” de Madrid), in the University of Oviedo, and in the City of Dornbirn Museum in Austria.
Professional career.
Since 1995 Martínez has worked as an architectural photographer with important influences in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Italy and Spain, where he was hired by architects, institutions, publishers and museums.
Martínez lived in the region of Voralberg, Austria which is characterized by its architecture, especially the natural landscape combined with construction which are ecologically sustainable. (Contal, Marie-Helen and Revedin, Jana, Sustainable Design, Towards a new ethic in architecture and town planning, Birkhauser, Basel, 2009, p. 62) Following that same characteristics, his photography does not have a traditional perspective, but it is “often mysterious and poetic, more than the pure description of the building”. ( Vorarlberg Nachrichten, 15–16 September 2012. P. 16) The renowned Austrian architectural photographer, Margherita Spiluttini, affirmed that Martínez is “undoubtedly one of the most important architectural photographers in Europe. His work is characterized by an extremely professional, analytical and sensitive view”.
The Vorarlberg National Library in Austria has an extensive catalog of part of his photographic work.
The graphic ogram of Ignacio Martínez is preserved in the Vorarlber National Library in Austria.
Martínez is a member of the Architectural Photographers Association in Austria. He currently lives and works in Navia (Asturias), Spain.
One of his most recent works is the photographic documentation about the evolution of the construction of the Asturias Central University Hospital (Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias – HUCA).
Artistic work.
Expositions
Some of the numerous works on which Martínez has participated appear in this web www.nextroom.at
Publications.
His work as photographer can be seen in numerous publications and national and international magazines.
Bau-und to kunstdenkmäler im Fürstentum Liechtenstein. Ed. Luterach: Dieth-Kulturverlag, 1997
Collaborator of the following international architectural journals: