Fotograf Wendell Fernandes

—Czy jesteś fotogeniczny/fotogeniczna?

—I'm not sure – my wife says so :)

—Co sprawiło, że zajmujesz się fotografią?

—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.

—Jakie twoim zdaniem są najważniejsze czynniki decydujące o dobrym zdjęciu?

—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.

—Kochasz podróże?

—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.

—Co najbardziej lubisz w swoim zawodzie?

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

—Co najmniej lubisz w swoim zawodzie?

—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.

—Jaka będzie przyszłość fotografii?

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

—Co wyróżnia rodzaj fotografii, którym się zajmujesz?

—Generations joining together in one loving event.

—Jak radzisz sobie z krytyk?

—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.

—Czy w fotografii panują jakieś trendy?

—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.

—Jakie kryteria powinien przyjąć klient przy wyborze fotografa?

—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.

—Co jest absolutnie niedozwolone podczas sesji?

—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.

—Jakie zwykle niezauważane szczegóły może uchwycić fotograf?

—How light affects moments.

—Co wpływa na wartość zdjęcia? Jakie są jego składowe?

—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.

—Jaka osoba może być twoim zdaniem uznana za symbol XXI wieku?

—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.

—Co chcesz fotografować?

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

—Czy masz zawodowe tabu?

—Not really.

—Z kim marzy ci się fotografować?

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

—Co cię martwi i dlaczego?

—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.

—Jaka była najwspanialsza chwila w twoim życiu?

—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.

—Gdybyś był/była postaci z kreskówki, książki lub filmu, kto by to był?

—I never thought of that :)

—Kto inspiruje cię w życiu i dlaczego?

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

—Jaka jest twoja definicja sukcesu? Co jest jego miarą?

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

—Wolisz, aby cię lubiano czy szanowano?

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

—Jaki był twój największy bąłd zawodowy?

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

—Co zabierasz ze sob w podróż i dlaczego?

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

—Czy masz jakiś gadżet, zakupu którego żałujesz? Dlaczego?

—Not yet.

—Jak uczysz się robić lepsze zdjęcia?

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

—Czyje prace miały na ciebie największy wpływ jako na fotografa?

—Joe Buissink's work probably.

—Czy jest coś, o czym warto byłoby wiedzieć, zaczynając karierę w fotografii?

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

—Co chcesz przekazać poprzez swoje fotografie?

—Register the reality of people and their personalities.

—Co motywuje cię do dalszej pracy w fotografii?

—The stories of people I meet.

—Uważasz, że twoi rodzice powinni byli być bardziej czy mniej surowi?

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

—Mając możliwość cofnąć się w czasie, co być zrobił/zrobiła inaczej?

—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.

—Co myślisz o życiu na innych planetach?

—Only God knows!

—Kto jest twoim bohaterem/bohaterką?

—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.

—Do kogo nie żywisz szacunku?

—The corrupt system of this world.

—Co robisz w czasie wolnym?

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

—Jakiego aspektu twojej osobowości nie ujawniasz publicznie?

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

—Kiedy twoja praca w pełni cię zadowala?

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

—Czy wierzysz w tradycyjne role mężczyzny i kobiety?

—Yes.

—Czy łatwo się zaprzyjaźniasz?

—I do.

—W jakim miejscu dobrze by ci się mieszkało?

—Anywhere I can help and be more active socially.

—Jaki była najgłupsza rzecz, którą zgodziłeś/zgodziłaś się zrobić?

—Open businesses with others without contracts.

—Czy istnieje życie po małżeństwie?

—Yes and an abundant one.

—Masz ulubiony żart? Opowiedz go.

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

—Wolisz psy czy koty?

—Dogs.

—Kogo lub co nienawidzisz?

—Nothing really.

—W życiu najlepsze jest:

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

—W życiu najbardziej irytuje mnie:

—A long mass in a wedding day.

—Czy jest wokół ciebie coś, co chcesz zmienić?

—Not really.

—Co chcesz zmienić w sobie?

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

—Co chcesz zmienić w świecie?

—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.

—Czy możesz udzielić kilka wskazówek początkującym fotografom?

—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.

—Jeżeli na Ziemię przybędą kosmici, a ty będziesz pierwszą osobą, która ich spotka, co im powiesz?

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

—Jeśli poproszono by cię o nakręcenie filmu, jaki byłby to gatunek?

—Drama.

—Jutro pójdę i...

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