Hunting for Light: Xavi Buendia’s Photographic Philosophy
While most of us rush past the chaos of the city, photographer Xavi Buendia stands still, ‘hunting for light’ to illuminate his next shot.
‘Sometimes I stand for hours just watching the light change,’ he says. ‘It’s just me and the world.’
This slow search for the right moment is an art in itself. Buendia is a master of noticing the little things. Even a handful of candy wrappers, in his able hands, can be rescued from their status as trash and become photographic treasure.
‘Sometimes I stand for hours just watching the light change.’
Buendia was born in Mexico City and grew up between this capital and Barcelona. His childhood was spent on the move, and it took him years to realise that passing through airports and foreign countries wasn’t quite the standard upbringing.
‘It pretty much shaped the way I see the world,’ he shares. ‘Colours, texture, cultural objects—they impacted my way of seeing creatively.’
That creativity was expressed through an early love of music and painting, though his first career was nonetheless a practical one—the sort encouraged by parents the world over. Thus he spent a decade in hospitality and wine-making, which gave him stability—but not fulfilment. ‘I thought, I either have to do something for myself right now, or it’s going to be too late,’ he says.
He left the restaurant industry with no concrete plan. But what began as a sabbatical soon became a transformation. ‘I started doing street photography as a kind of therapy—just to get back into knowing myself,’ he explains.
‘I started doing street photography as a kind of therapy—just to get back into knowing myself.’
Before long, the hobby took a professional turn. Buendia became a successful culinary photographer by publishing his work on Twitter back in the 2010s. ‘One tweet used to open many doors,’ he says, reflecting on his rapid ascent. Now, he’s expanded to other areas beyond food, and has been published in The New York Times, The Guardian, and The Observer, though he hasn’t lost the curiosity that gave him an edge.
For Buendia, an interest in all facets of life is key to capturing images—the devil is in the details, as they say. ‘When you’re a kid, everything is new. Everything excites you. Colours excite you. Architecture excites you. It’s like playtime,’ he notes. His goal is to forever stay playful, though this requires an ability to see the world anew every day. That in itself requires focus and intention.
One of the tools that helps him distill his ‘philosophy of looking’ is his substack, Xavografica. This newsletter, launched in October 2022, features photo essays alongside meditative musings. You don’t need to be a photographer to enjoy Buendia’s thoughtful writing, because he’s revealing the world we all live in, brightening it for us by showing it from different angles. The newsletter is beautiful without being pretentious, eye-opening without being inaccessible.
But to return to light, his true obsession. He describes himself as a ‘cat chasing sunbeams… though my wife probably thinks I’m more of a fly buzzing toward any available lightbulb!’ he laughs. ‘One a serious note, if you know light, you can do magic. I don’t need equipment. Just show me the light and the rest is done.’ It’s why tools like Photoshop bore him. ‘It’s such a waste of time retouching endlessly. I try to get everything right on camera,’ he shares.
His signature style—a slightly tilted frame and intentional play on colour with sharp contrasts— is always evolving. Instinct is his guide, alongside the atmosphere imbued in the project. Whether photographing a chicken crossing the road, an indie musician’s candid moments, or a fisherman at work, Buendia is interested in feeling. ‘I’m observing to understand,’ he explains.
‘I try to get everything right on camera. What you see is what you get.’
As much as Buendia is a creative, he is also a practical, no-nonsense personality. This is what makes him fun to be around as well as someone you can rely on to get the job done. To stay suitably grounded, he has 3 rules (and they’re worth listing, because they’re good overall rules for life!):
Don’t work with assholes.
It has to be fun.
Inspect the unexpected.
Such a code means trends and social media are a bore to Buendia. ‘I don’t want to be part of the “how-to” crowd. I only share things that spark something in me,’ he says.
Rather, his approach to social media is a purge of mental clutter—a reset. ‘It’s like flushing the brain toilet. Once an idea becomes stale, you know it’s not going to work,’ he remarks.
‘Once an idea becomes stale, you know it’s not going to work.’
Back in the light, Buendia waits.
‘Sometimes I go out in the morning and think, “Oh yes, the light is epic.” I chase that. Sometimes I don’t even take a photo—I just stand there admiring,’ he shares happily.
Buendia’s habit of drinking in the beauty around us means his creativity is never forced. It’s not just a matter of taking photos, but a matter of keeping his thoughts fermenting, always at the ready for the next golden patch of light.
All images courtesy of Xavi Buendia. To see more of Xavi’s work, please visit his website.