Fotógrafo Wendell Fernandes

—¿Es usted fotogénico(a)?

—I'm not sure – my wife says so :)

—¿Cómo empezó a trabajar en la industria de fotografía?

—Long ago, a close friend of mine was getting married and had no one to capture their day. I had a simple Rebel Canon XTi and I volunteered, I look back and from that point forward I fell in love with the stories of people and their lives more than the actual photographic work – It fascinates me how people meet and how they connect and grow into a lifetime together.

—¿En su opinión, cuáles son los elementos más importantes de una buena fotografía?

—This is a tough question. There are so many things that can add up to a great photograph but I believe it all begins with a spectacular experience and interaction between the person registering those moments and the subject. Personally, I think this is the doorway to success and once this happens everything else will follow. People open up to you, they trust you, they trust your vision and creativity. A good photograph evokes reality, however blunt, drastic, romantic, rough it may be. Lighting, camera settings, location, ethnicity, culture, none of these things are as important as the actual naked reality unfolding before you.

—¿Le gusta viajar?

—Yes I do. Originally from Brasil and now living in USA for 15 years, every chance I get, I do travel to know whats out there. I have been to various countries because of these stories and I believe being open to it, changes our mindset.

—¿Qué le gusta más de su profesión?

—The fact that I can register moments that will live with them for the rest of their lives, this is impacting.

—¿Qué le gusta menos de su profesión?

—Every profession has its stressful moments, but it comes with the territory, so I don't believe there is anything I can point out that is relevant.

—¿Cuál será el futuro de la fotografía?

—There is already a demand for true storytellers, and I believe this will continue to grow.

—¿Qué tiene de especial el género fotográfico en que trabaja?

—Generations joining together in one loving event.

—¿Cómo gestiona las críticas?

—Just like anything else, we can never grow if we don't listen and learn. From the "top" photographer to anyone beginning this journey now, we all began looking, learning from others. The secret is to be open, the next chapter will always teach us something else we need.

—¿Existe alguna tendencia en la fotografía?

—Nowadays everything seems to be done from a recipe book which takes away from the stories that need to be told coherently. Pinterest and many other sites cooperate to this trend, but I believe it is in our hands to change this. The other trend is that every photographer is now a "Photojournalism" style photographer but their work shows no sign of it.

—¿Qué criterios debería tener en cuenta una persona a la hora de elegir a un fotógrafo?

—They should look for "Storytellers" – Not because they mention this "photojournalism style" in their website, but because they are more humans than professionals. They care more about the couple's stories than their own photo artwork. Couples should "meet" face to face and look for signs that will give them the comfort they are talking to a person and not a business.

—¿Qué no está permitido de ningún modo cuando realiza una fotografía?

—Pre-conceived notions and shots. I believe every location has a great amount of potential to look different even though you've been there many times before. "What fits the story of this couple, even though I've been here before?". This type of thinking will transform the way we shoot.

—¿Qué detalles que normalmente no tenemos en cuenta puede un fotógrafo captar?

—How light affects moments.

—¿Qué influye en el valor de una fotografía? ¿Cuáles son sus elementos?

—Use of light, quantity of light is better than the quality of light. Also, lighting is probably a key element for moments to take place.

—En su opinión, ¿qué persona podría ser un símbolo del siglo XXI?

—The one who is unseen, the one who is invisible, the one not seeking fame. Since we learn from each other, the stories should be what drives us all.

—¿A quién le gustaría fotografiar?

—An African couple that has absolutely no glamour, but an amazing story.

—¿Tiene tabúes profesionales?

—Not really.

—¿Con quién le gustaría fotografiarse?

—Anyone with a greater experience. Perhaps Cliff Mautner or Joe Buissink, would be a great learning experience.

—¿Qué le preocupa y por qué?

—Missing a moment. Inside an environment that you could never go back in time, my fear is to miss a moment that is important to the couple.

—¿Cuál ha sido el momento más impactante de su vida?

—Believe it or not, I think it was a day, when I was being taught to love my neighbor as myself, as it's mentioned in the Bible. I spent sometime with a very close friend, a second father to be, and I could not believe how much I needed to learn this and how this has shaped my life.

—Si fuera un personaje de animación, literario o cinematográfico, ¿quién le gustaría ser y por qué?

—I never thought of that :)

—¿Quién le inspira en su vida y por qué?

—Jesus the man, my father and all my mentors in life.

—¿Cómo definiría el éxito? ¿Cómo lo mide?

—Complete peace and satisfaction even though I'm in the midst of a crises.

—¿Qué prefiere, gustar o sentirse respetado?

—Liked. I believe respect comes after. We need to approach and be approachable first.

—¿Cuál es el mayor error que ha cometido en su trabajo?

—I can't recall one now, but I hope I don't have anything later either :P

—Cuando va de viaje, ¿qué lleva consigo y por qué?

—My Canon 5D III and a Sigma 35mm and 85mm. These are my go to lenses for getting a great shot.

—¿Se arrepiente de alguno de los gadgets que ha comprado? ¿Por qué?

—Not yet.

—¿Cómo se forma para tomar las mejores imágenes?

—Magazines, mostly fashion and arts, and always looking to see greater experience photographers and what they are doing and why they are doing it.

—¿A quién pertenece el trabajo que le ha influenciado más como fotógrafo?

—Joe Buissink's work probably.

—¿Cuál es la única cosa que desearía haber sabido cuando comenzó a tomar fotografías?

—"What do I do if I turn this dial to M" :P

—¿Qué desea decir con sus fotografías?

—Register the reality of people and their personalities.

—¿Qué le motiva a continuar tomando imágenes?

—The stories of people I meet.

—¿Cree que sus padres deberían haber sido más o menos estrictos?

—I think I received the best parenthood one could ever desire.

—¿Si pudiera volver atrás en el tiempo, qué haría de forma diferente?

—Nothing. Where I am today is a result of the choices I made, I can only change the outcome by the decisions I make moving forward.

—¿Qué piensa de la vida en otros planetas?

—Only God knows!

—¿Quiénes son sus héroes?

—Jesus for giving me life and enabling me to be a father and a husband and a better man than I would ever be without His love and mercy.

—¿Por quién no siente respeto?

—The corrupt system of this world.

—¿Qué hace en su tiempo libre?

—Family time. I love spending time with my children and my wife.

—¿Cuál es su lado desconocido que la gente nunca quiere ver?

—Hmmm. I don't think I have anything that I don't mention. I'm a pretty open person.

—¿Está complemente satisfecho de su trabajo?

—When I can see a moment, register it in a great light.

—¿Cree en los roles tradicionales de hombres y mujeres?

—Yes.

—¿Hace amigos con facilidad?

—I do.

—¿Dónde le gustaría vivir?

—Anywhere I can help and be more active socially.

—¿Cuál es la cosa más estúpida que ha aceptado hacer?

—Open businesses with others without contracts.

—¿Hay vida después del matrimonio?

—Yes and an abundant one.

—¿Tiene un chiste favorito? Cuéntenoslo.

—- Knock, Knock!
- Who's there?
- Nobody!
- Nobody who?
- ...

—¿Le gustan los perros o los gatos?

—Dogs.

—¿A quién o qué odia?

—Nothing really.

—Lo mejor de su vida es:

—Spend time with the ones you love and care most.

—Lo más molesto de su vida es:

—A long mass in a wedding day.

—¿Hay algo a su alrededor que le gustaría cambiar?

—Not really.

—¿Qué le gustaría cambiar de usted mismo?

—I would love to be more handy when it comes to fixing up things at home :P

—¿Qué le gustaría cambiar del mundo?

—Gather all the rich and wealthy, and make an unbiased decision to change a country or a nation for the better. Implement better government and end poverty, one location at a time.

—¿Podría ofrecer algunos consejos a los fotógrafos que empiezan?

—1) Focus on giving people a better experience than knowing "how to take photos". Being human is more important than being a "business person". Invest in yourself first, your personality and your character, then you can prepare for the business part.2) Study a lot, read, and be inspired by whats "not" photography related.

—Si los extraterrestres llegaran a la Tierra y fuera la primera persona que encontraran, ¿qué les diría?

—Before you take off – let's take a selfy...?

—Si le llamaran como fotógrafo de una película, ¿a qué género pertenecería?

—Drama.

—Mañana voy a hacer...

—Probably answer emails, prepare for a 2016 Wedding Convention presentation in Brasil and perhaps meet some event planners from recent weddings I've shot!