Photocharity - Going to the Circus!

FEP Solidária strikes again! After Obra do Padre Grilo in November, they decided to give an early christmas gift to the boys and girls of another social care institution, Novos Laços, of Sangemil. They collected funds to take the kids to the circus, for the most of them this was the first time they were going to see clowns or lions. After buying the tickets there was some money left so the kids could have some popcorn during the show, you should see the happiness on their faces. They were pretty excited and I was there to make some portraits for them to remember this day.

Once again I have to congratulate this young group of the Faculdade de Economia do Porto for bringing big smiles to the faces of children in need.

Fotograma 23

Fotograma 23 is the latest short movie of Victor Santos as an independent producer, in this one he is also the writer, director and executive producer. You must be wondering why am I talking about this short film and this director. Well, let's start from the beginning.

We were in September, this year, and I received an e-mail of Victor asking for my availability  to be the scene photographer in the short movie he was going tho shoot in two weeks. That was a no brainer YES. I love cinema and that's the kind of job that I've been waiting for. So we scheduled a meeting for the nest day to talk about the details.

During the meeting, while Victor was telling me the story, I was creating an image in my head of a poster for the this short film. In the end, after talking about everything Victor said what I wanted to hear - "And I may use one of the pictures for the poster and some for the promotion.". As soon as I heard that I grabbed a piece of paper and made a sketch of what was in my mind. I remember he said - "hmm, that can work.".

Two weeks later the film shooting took place in the streets and in a photo lab. The first day, in the streets, was really nice, lots of motion and dynamic.

Although shooting on the streets was nice, the second day was the one I was expecting because of the idea I had back in the office. Victor had described the room that was really good to take pictures. As soon as I arrived there I discovered there was no space to make the portrait I had in mind, unless i got inside a closet with camera and tripod. No way the three of us could fit in there, so it was just me and the camera.

They started filming while I was out of the room getting the gear ready and waiting for the break. After testing all the material I needed once and twice I finally got my chance. Everything was in place and ready to roll when the battery of st-e 2 dies just before the first picture. They gave me 10 minutes and I had no spare battery... (Not so professional, I know) Lucky me we were in a school of audiovisual where I could ask for a a flash. Five minutes later I had everything in place again as I hadn't planed.

With no 430ex I couldn't use the ring flash I had in mind. So I used just one flash light for kicking and then I took advantage of the light table telling the actors to go just above it. the problem was that the back light was too strong even in the minimum power. 

Thank God Adobe, Lightroom 3! I knew I could do something with this image later at home. I made some other pictures without the backlight, but they just didn't made it. After balancing the light, deleting some stuff and adding some vignette  in LR3 it looked like this.

Victor added the lettering and the poster is done.

The thing I liked the most about this job is that the final picture is almost the same as the one that came to my mind while I was hearing the story. I believe that is what makes the difference, being able to do what you thought in the first place, if there is little difference between the image in your head and the final image then, I believe, you are in the right direction.

The short movie is coming out soon, here you have the teaser. If you want to find Victor Santos look through facebook, vimeo, IMDB.

Happy New Year, Everyone!

Neuroscience!

Last Monday, my dear friend Mariana Ascenção, went to the field to interview two of the most promising people in Portugal. At first you may think guy like this are a little bit crazy because they have the power of entering the people's head and manipulate our behavior and you are write wrong.


Pedro and Bruno are both partners in a newborn small enterprise, ANR,  that I am sure that is going to be BIG in no time. Their job is analyzing people's behavior when exposed to different adds, images, colors and stimulus. Thats really cool if you want your brand to be effectively advertised or if you want people to pay more attention to your business than to your neighbor's.

After the interview I had sometime to work one image with each one of them. I used two canon ex 430, one in a brolly as the key light and the 40x40cm softbox as a rhim light. On the second one I use CTO gels to give the background a cold look.

Pedro

Bruno

Photocharity - Lar da Obra Padre Grilo

Last month I had the chance to start a personal project that was in my desk for some time. It's called "Photocharity". What is it? Well, Photocharity is to take photography where it usually doesn't get because there is no money. What I'm trying to do is, with my friends of FEP Solidária, have access to people that are in need and offer  a good portrait of themselves. Either if it is a family or a single person, what is important is to bring something different and funny to their lives, something that otherwise they wouldn't get. And guess what? Everything is for free, even the printing that is delivered in the end.

My first meeting with the boys of Lar da Obra Padre Grilo was almost a month ago, I hope to get there with a studio and make a picture of each one of them, before christmas.

These boys live here during the week going home during the weekend. Some of them don't go home at all. They study in a school nearby and they seem happy when people from outside of the house go there to visit them. It was a great experience and I hope I can go ahead with this project.

I have to thank Sara Santos, in charge of FEP Solidária, for supporting and inviting me for their actions of charity.

I must say that everyone that is interested to join and help is welcome.

Photojournalist? Maestro Vitorino de Almeida

Last thursday, my good friend Mariana Ascenção, invited me to photograph the next personality she was going to interview. Who is he? - was the first question I asked. When she said "The Maestro.", I couldn't believe. Maestro Vitorino de Almeida is one of the greatest composers and orchestra directors I've ever known. Also he is one of the best portuguese communicators. 

I shot during the interview that went really fast, I mean, for me, because I was always trying to find a better picture. Luckily, in the end he gave me 4 or 5 minutes to make a nice portrait. For these final shots I used 2 lights one on the right and the other back there on the left side.

I must say that Maestro Vitorino de Almeida is one of the best men I've ever known, just by watching him being interviewed and talking about his personal life. I loved all the interview and I asked Mariana to quote a part of it that, for me, defines this good man. She kindly accepted, so thank you my dear, once again, for this opportunity.

Mariana Ascenção:  A sua juventude foi marcada por...

Maestro Vitorino de Almeida:  Ter sido assim simultaneamente um menino de família e um miúdo da rua. Fui as duas coisas ao mesmo tempo. Eu saía de casa com os pés descalços só que eu tinha sapatos. Claro que havia muitos que tinham sapatos, mas havia muitos que não os tinham e vivíamos em unidade, um grupo de amigos.(...)

Raffi & Chiara

During last summer, while I was in Paris with TAFEP I met Chiara and Raffaella. We were talking for a long time when I said that if they would like to go to Oporto I would be flattered to open my door to receive them.

They decided to come to Portugal last weekend and I had the pleasure to host these two charming italian girls.

Chiara

Raffi

Now I hope to go there as soon as I can to amuse myself with Rome's Greatness

A special kiss to Raffi and Chiara!

Sofia Magalhães

Good afternoon everyone, this is Sofia. I'm going to photograph her next friday, in the middle of the street in a very sexy look. We should have made some pictures friday morning, but the rain ruined everything, so we are going to meet again next friday. 

I wasn't supposed to be here during the weekend but I got stuck in all my university work and some clients deadlines, so, yesterday just before going to sleep I saw Sofia online and asked if she didn't mind waking up early and make some studio shots (since the rain keeps falling down). She said yes, and here we were during the morning making some pictures.

I literally mean "here", in my living room. I have no space to take my studio gear but this room, almost 3m high and 6m between the camera and the wall.

I used 2 x 400W walimex pro with softboxes and beauty dish, 2 x canon 430 with small softbox and gel.

The set-up kept changing during the shoot.