Tag: TeachPhotography

Have you ever looked at a photograph and felt a rush of emotion? That’s the power of a single image.

A photograph has the ability to convey complex emotions and tell a story in a way that words alone cannot.

There must come a time when one stops constructing photography thinking only of its technical form and must move on to the other level. After knowing how to dominate a great part of its technical reciprocity, it’s time to focus on how to conduct it in the ideological and philosophical aspect. It is from this transition that, for me, is the beginning of its great immensity to be explored on the aspects, its application and its purpose, according to the objectives, according to the opportunity or according to the degree of importance we give towards the sensitivity we have for the present.

When I am referring the impact of a single image, I need to structure my argument in a constructive order and start from “its emotional impact”: Photography can convey complex emotions and tell a story in a way that words alone cannot, while some like to romanticise when describing it has the “art of writing with light” I personally prefer to describe it has the art of retain, preserve and document the present.

I remember my first experiences with photography when I started to visit my grandfather in his studio in Lisbon. I would entertain my thoughts with the photographs that were left over from the contact-proofs while he kept on developing them inside the darkroom. It was a great mystery to see my grandfather enter and coming out with films ready to be fastened with springs inside an iron cabinet, an interior light and a transparent glass door to observe the drying process. Little I knew how these small details and experiences around his photographs piled around the studio would change my life entirely.

The importance to understand the impact of a single image and how to use it

Photography is a powerful medium that has the ability to evoke emotions, spark conversations, and tell stories. A single image has the potential to leave a lasting impact on the viewer, conveying a message or idea in a way that words cannot. As a photographer, it’s important to understand the impact that a single image can have and use it to communicate our vision and message effectively.

A single image has the potential to evoke strong emotional responses in the viewer. Depending on the subject matter, composition, lighting, and other factors, an image can inspire joy, sadness, fear, anger, or any number of complex emotions. As we previously discussed, certain elements of an image such as colour, contrast, and subject-matter can all contribute to its emotional impact.

Having in consideration these characteristics I presume the best way to explain how I achieve these aspects is by showing you a little bit more from my personal perspective based on my experiences and my knowledge acquired over these last three decades. Its actually going in-depth or, should I say, reveal part of its aftereffects through some examples on how I implemented them for specific occasions.

In 2015, Angola celebrated its fortieth anniversary of independence. The result of some of the political-economic decisions exercised at that time began to push its economy into a downward spiral, in a domino-effect cycle of events. My work required tracking these events chronologically on several fronts and cross-referencing them with other issues that inderectly demonstrated the side effects such as the social pulse. My incursions into areas of extreme poverty were part of my daily life and never for the best of reasons. All these occasions, apart from having nothing in common, provided me with other opportunities to broaden my perception of these realities and intensify the experience.

My complicated forays into the Chicala neighbourhoods, which no longer exist, gave me an understanding of how these musseques set on a sandy peninsula faced the sea and the city of Luanda. On one side, exposed to the sea and the “calembas” (storm waves), on the other side, exposed to the Old City, to the new parliament and especially the panoramic view over the mausoleum of Dr. António Agostinho Neto (First President of the Republic of Angola).  

When walking through the zinc mazes, we can’t always get a sense of where we are. Sometimes we’re paying attention to a certain detail, a certain set of events, or whether our presence bothers or instigates unexpected reactions. After climbing a set of rubble to get a more comprehensive view of the slum, I had the opportunity to realize how comprehensive and revealing this perspective over the bay is, taking into account the reality of the daily life of the majority of the population in this country.

When you think about producing an image that contains a set of elements that can help build a message by symbolically and extraordinarily representing reality. For me, it always starts with answering the question about how to portray the legacy of history, the weight of democracy and the reality about the quality of life of the population. The photograph that I choose to integrate this analysis serves as a reference, it demonstrates how and where I applied this way of conceiving an image. It all starts with the need to obtain a bridge between the most relevant topics of the week, the contents chosen editorially and a strong image that can complement the cover of a prominent edition. 

Thus the image that I proposed to the director of the newspaper Expansão to illustrate this edition coincides with the date of the celebration of the country’s independence, a chance to bring out its past, its present and a possible future. As it serves to represent these current affairs, if you can imagine, and taking into consideration the prestige of this economic newspaper as the most reliable weight in its economic analyses, the reactions were of the same caliber. It is definitely not a photograph that leaves the audience indifferent.

how to define a specific portfolio to deliver the idea or message?

It is difficult to say, or to describe, which is my favourite photograph of Angola. I have lots of “sweethearts” that come to my mind, with differences and deep emotions of an unusual amplitude, because it is the result of photographing daily in a country of great social contrasts, of huge landscape and cultural diversities. Its four years of non-stop photography and I confess that I was quite exhausted by the logistics, by the difficulties and the political issues.

However, providing specific examples of how I implemented these aspects for particular occasions can not only be more helpful in explaining what is behind these traits, but they can also work to help others achieve their goals by demonstrating how to apply skills and build expertise. This can also help potential clients or collaborators understand how your photography can be applied to their own projects or needs, potentially leading to greater respect for those who work in this profession. It is not just about grabbing a camera or a mobile phone and start to shoot everything, everywhere.

Overall, the emotional impact of a single image can be profound, lingering with the viewer long after they have moved on. As a photographer, understanding the power of your images and how to use them to evoke emotions and tell stories can be a valuable tool in reaching a wider audience and making a meaningful impact. Perhaps, building your own journey.

Until the Part II, hope you enjoy this one.

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