Fotografo Wendell Fernandes

—Sei fotogenico?

—I'm not sure – my wife says so :)

—Come sei entrato nell'industria della fotografia?

—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.

—Secondo te, quali sono le componenti più importanti di una bella foto?

—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.

—Ti piace viaggiare?

—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.

—Che cosa ti piace di più nella tua professione?

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

—Che cosa ti piace di meno nella tua professione?

—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.

—Quale sarà il futuro della fotografia?

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

—Cosa c'è di speciale nel genere di fotografia in cui sei specializzato?

—Generations joining together in one loving event.

—Come gestisci la critica?

—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.

—Ci sono determinate tendenze nella fotografia?

—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.

—Quali criteri dovrebbe utilizzare un cliente per scegliere un fotografo?

—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.

—Che cosa non è ammesso durante la ripresa fotografica?

—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.

—Quali dettagli, che solitamente passano inosservati, riesce a notare un fotografo?

—How light affects moments.

—Che cosa influisce sul valore di una foto? Quali sono le sue componenti?

—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.

—Secondo te, chi può essere considerato simbolo del XXI secolo?

—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.

—Che cosa vorresti fotografare?

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

—Hai qualche tabù professionale?

—Not really.

—Con chi vorresti fare una sessione di ripresa fotografica?

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

—Che cosa ti fa preoccupare e perché?

—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.

—Qual è stato il momento più impressionante della tua vita?

—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.

—Se tu fossi un personaggio di cartone animato, libro o film, chi saresti e perché?

—I never thought of that :)

—Chi ti ispira nella vita e perché?

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

—Come puoi definire il successo? Come si misura?

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

—Preferiresti essere amato o rispettato?

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

—Qual è stato il più grande errore che hai commesso nel lavoro?

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

—Preparandoti per partire, che cosa metteresti in valigia e perché?

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

—Tra i gadget che possiedi, c'è qualcosa che vorresti non aver comprato? Perché?

—Not yet.

—Che formazione professionale segui per fare fotografie migliori?

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

—Il lavoro di chi ha avuto la maggiore influenza su di te come fotografo?

—Joe Buissink's work probably.

—Qual è l'unica cosa che vorresti aver saputo iniziando a scattare foto?

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

—Che cosa vuoi dire con le tue fotografie?

—Register the reality of people and their personalities.

—Qual è la tua motivazione per continuare a scattare fotografie?

—The stories of people I meet.

—Pensi che i tuoi genitori avrebbero dovuto essere più o meno severi?

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

—Se potessi tornare nel passato, che cosa faresti in modo diverso?

—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.

—Che cosa pensi della vita su altri pianeti?

—Only God knows!

—Chi sono i tuoi eroi?

—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.

—Per che cosa non hai rispetto?

—The corrupt system of this world.

—Che cosa fai nel tuo tempo libero?

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

—Quale lato di te non è mai visibile al pubblico?

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

—Quando ti senti completamente soddisfatto dal tuo lavoro?

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

—Credi nei ruoli tradizionali di donne e uomini?

—Yes.

—Fai facilmente amicizia?

—I do.

—Dove ti piacerebbe vivere?

—Anywhere I can help and be more active socially.

—Qual è stata la cosa più stupida che hai accettato di fare?

—Open businesses with others without contracts.

—Esiste la vita dopo il matrimonio?

—Yes and an abundant one.

—Hai uno scherzo preferito? Raccontacelo.

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

—Ti piacciono i cani o i gatti?

—Dogs.

—Chi o che cosa odi?

—Nothing really.

—La cosa migliore nella vita è:

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

—La cosa più fastidiosa nella vita è:

—A long mass in a wedding day.

—C'è qualcosa intorno a te che vorresti cambiare?

—Not really.

—Che cosa vorresti cambiare in te stesso?

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

—Che cosa vorresti cambiare nel mondo?

—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.

—Puoi dare alcuni consigli ai fotografi alle prime armi?

—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.

—Se gli alieni dovessero arrivare sulla Terra e tu fossi la prima persona ad incontrarli, che cosa diresti?

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

—Se dovessi essere invitato a girare un film, di che genere sarebbe?

—Drama.

—Domani vado a fare...

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