Photography portfolio: “Dreams” (work in progress)

“In photography there is a reality so subtle that it becomes more real than reality” (Alfred Stieglitz)

PRESENTATION: Portfolio: “Dreams” (work in progress)

I have a feeling that photography needs to be less factual and more personal and subjective. More impressionistic. You must create and record impressions that express more emotions, feelings and spirit. It should express much more how the author feels the world and less how the world and things truly are.

This series called “Dreams” – part 1 of my portfolio – was, tentatively, created within these assumptions. It is part of my global photographic production and with this series I wanted to express my concerns in the world talking about dreams and nightmares; of mysteries and tensions; of abstractionism and surrealism and, of that existing duality between the real and the imaginary that permeates our existence; of illusions, delusions and contradictions; express myself about mortality, about doubts and desires. As Duane Michals says: “Photographs should be provocative and not tell you what you already know”. He also says that the magic is in seeing everything in new ways.

Since about 16-17 years of age I have been taking photographs. I still have some analog cameras that I used for many years. I dedicate myself more intensively to the making and study of photography (almost exclusively digital) in the last 10 years, if that.

My favorite areas in photography? Portraits. Landscapes (rural and urban). Street photography. Architecture (rural and urban). Abstract. Geometrical. In B&W photography my favorite authors are Joseph Koudelka, Walker Evans, Mario Giacomelli, Elliott Erwitt, Brassaï (Gyula Halász), Ansel Adams, Duane Michals, Daido Moriyama and Frank Gohlke among some others. Among Brazilians, I have great admiration for the works of Walter Carvalho, Boris Kossoy and José Yalenti. I have a strong tendency to like (well) B&W more, but sometimes I venture into colors where I also admire works by different authors. Among these, I have no doubt in citing William Christenberry and Miguel Rio Branco (just to name two).

I am 75 years old. I was born and lived my childhood and adolescence in the countryside of the state of São Paulo, Brazil. I was a high school teacher and an university professor/researcher in the field of Environmental Chemistry for nearly fifty years.