Fotogrāfs Wendell Fernandes

—Vai Tu esi fotogēnisks?

—I'm not sure – my wife says so :)

—Kā tu nokļuvi fotogrāfijas jomā?

—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.

—Kuri, Tavuprāt, ir svarīgākie labas fotogrāfijas elementi?

—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.

—Vai Tu mīli ceļošanu?

—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.

—Kas Tev vislabāk patīk savā profesijā?

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

—Kas Tavā profesijā Tev patīk vismazāk?

—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.

—Kāda būs fotogrāfijas nākotne?

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

—Kas ir īpašs fotogrāfijas žanrā, kurā specializējies?

—Generations joining together in one loving event.

—Kā Tu uztver kritiku?

—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.

—Vai fotogrāfijā ir kādas īpašas tendences?

—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.

—Kādi ir kritēriji, kas klientam jāņem vērā, izvēloties fotogrāfu?

—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.

—No kā fotogrāfējot būtu jāizvairās?

—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.

—Kādus parasti nepamanītus brīžus var notvert fotogrāfs?

—How light affects moments.

—Kas ietekmē fotogrāfijas vērtību? Kādi ir tās elementi?

—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.

—Kurš cilvēks, Tavuprāt, varētu būt 21. gadsimta simbols?

—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.

—Ko Tu vēlētos fotogrāfēt?

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

—Vai Tev ir kādi profesionālie tabu?

—Not really.

—Ar ko Tu kopā vēlētos fotogrāfēt?

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

—Par ko Tu satraucies un kāpēc?

—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.

—Kas ir Tavas dzīves iespaidīgakais brīdis?

—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.

—Ja Tu būtu multfilmas, grāmatas vai filmas varonis, kurš tas būtu un kāpēc?

—I never thought of that :)

—Kas Tevi iedvesmo dzīvē un kāpēc?

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

—Kā Tu definētu veiksmi? Vai to var izmērīt?

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

—Vai Tev labāk patīk tikt mīlētam vai tikt cienītam?

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

—Kas ir lielākā kļūda, ko Tu esi pieļāvis darbā?

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

—Kad Tu plāno ceļot, ko Tu ņem līdzi un kāpēc?

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

—Vai kāda ierīcēm (gadžetiem), kas Tev pieder, ir tāda, kuru Tev nebūtu vajadzējis pirkt? Kāpēc?

—Not yet.

—Kā Tu mācies, lai uzņemtu arvien labākas fotogrāfijas?

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

—Kuri darbi Tevi kā fotogrāfu ir visvairāk iedvesmojuši?

—Joe Buissink's work probably.

—Kas ir tā lieta, ko Tu būtu gribējis zināt pirms sāki nodarboties ar fotogrāfēšanu?

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

—Ko Tu vēlies pastāstīt ar savām fotogrāfijām?

—Register the reality of people and their personalities.

—Kas Tevi motivē turpināt uzņemt fotogrāfijas?

—The stories of people I meet.

—Vai Tavi vecāki bija stringri vai netik stingri?

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

—Ja Tu varētu ceļot atpakaļ laikā, ko Tu darītu savādāk?

—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.

—Ko Tu domā par dzīvi uz citām planētām?

—Only God knows!

—Kas ir Tavi varoņi?

—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.

—Ko Tu necieni?

—The corrupt system of this world.

—Ko Tu dari brīvajā laikā?

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

—Kuru Tavu pusi citi nekad neredz?

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

—Kad Tu esi pilnībā apmierināts ar savu darbu?

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

—Vai Tu tici tradicionālajam lomu sadalījumam starp vīrieti un sievieti?

—Yes.

—Vai Tu vienkārši sadraudzējies?

—I do.

—Kur Tu vēlētos dzīvot?

—Anywhere I can help and be more active socially.

—Kas ir muļķīgākā lieta, ko Tu jebkad esi piekritis izdarīt?

—Open businesses with others without contracts.

—Vai pastāv dzīve pēc kāzām?

—Yes and an abundant one.

—Vai Tev ir mīļākais joks? Pastāsti to mums.

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

—Kas Tev patīk labāk - kaķi vai suņi?

—Dogs.

—Vai ir kaut kas vai kāds, ko Tu ienīsti?

—Nothing really.

—Labākā lieta dzīvē ir:

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

—Kaitinošākā lieta dzīvē ir:

—A long mass in a wedding day.

—Vai ir kaut kas tāds, ko Tu vēlētos mainīt?

—Not really.

—Ko Tu gribētu mainīt sevī?

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

—Ko Tu vēlētos mainīt pasaulē?

—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.

—Kādi būtu Tavi padomi jaunajiem fotogrāfiem?

—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.

—Ja uz zemes nolaistos citplanētieši un Tu būtu pirmais, ko viņi satiktu, ko Tu viņiem teiktu?

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

—Ja Tev būtu iespēja uzņemt filmu, kāda žanra filma tā būtu?

—Drama.

—Rīt es aiziešu un izdarīšu...

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