Фотограф Wendell Fernandes

—Чи ви фотогенічні?

—I'm not sure – my wife says so :)

—Як ви опинилися у галузі фотографії?

—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.

—Якими, на вашу думку, є найголовніші складові гарної фотографії?

—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.

—Чи любите ви подорожувати?

—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.

—Що вам більш за все подобається у вашій професії?

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

—Що вам менш за все подобається у вашій професії?

—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.

—Яким буде майбутнє фотографії?

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

—Що робить жанр фотографії, в якому ви знімаєте, особливим?

—Generations joining together in one loving event.

—Як ви справляєтеся з критикою?

—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.

—Чи є якісь тренди у фотографії?

—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.

—Якими для клієнта повинні бути критерії вибору фотографа?

—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.

—Чого слід уникати при фотозйомці?

—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.

—Які деталі, що, зазвичай, проходять непоміченими, може «зловити» фотограф?

—How light affects moments.

—Що впливає на цінність фотографії? Якими є елементи цього?

—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.

—Яка людина, на вашу думку, може бути символом 21-го століття?

—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.

—Кого ви бажаєте сфотографувати?

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

—Чи маєте ви якісь професійні табу?

—Not really.

—З ким ви хотіли б пофотографувати?

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

—Про що ви хвилюєтесь і чому?

—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.

—Який момент є найбільш вражаючим у вашому житті?

—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.

—Якщо ви були б персонажем мультика, книги або фільму, ким саме ви були б і чому?

—I never thought of that :)

—Хто надихає вас у вашому житті і чому?

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

—Як ви визначаєте успіх? Як ви його вимірюєте?

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

—Ви надали б перевагу тому, щоб вас любили чи все-таки поважали?

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

—Якою була найбільша помилка, якої ви припустилися на роботі?

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

—Коли ви збираєтесь у подорож, що ви берете з собою і чому?

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

—Чи є щось серед гаджетів, які вам належать, що ви воліли б краще не купувати? Чому?

—Not yet.

—Як ви вчитесь робити гарніші знімки?

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

—Чиї роботи найбільше вплинули на вас, як на фотографа?

—Joe Buissink's work probably.

—Про яку одну річ ви хотіли б знати, коли розпочинали знімати фотографії?

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

—Що ви хочете сказати за допомогою ваших фотографій?

—Register the reality of people and their personalities.

—Що мотивує вас продовжувати робити знімки?

—The stories of people I meet.

—Чи вашим батькам варто було б бути більш чи менш суворими?

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

—Якщо ви могли б повернутися назад у часі, що б ви зробили інакше?

—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.

—А як щодо життя на інших планетах?

—Only God knows!

—Хто є вашими героями?

—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.

—Кого ви не поважаєте?

—The corrupt system of this world.

—Чим ви займаєтесь у свій вільній час?

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

—Який ваш бік публіка ніколи не бачить?

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

—Коли ви повністю задоволені своєю роботою?

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

—Чи ви вірите у традиційні ролі чоловіків та жінок?

—Yes.

—Чи ви легко заводите друзів?

—I do.

—Де ви хотіли б жити?

—Anywhere I can help and be more active socially.

—Який найбезглуздіший вчинок ви коли-небудь погодилися вчинити?

—Open businesses with others without contracts.

—Чи є життя після укладення шлюбу?

—Yes and an abundant one.

—Чи є у вас улюблений жарт? Розкажіть нам.

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

—Ви любите собак чи котів?

—Dogs.

—Кого або що ви ненавидите?

—Nothing really.

—Найкраща річ у житті - це:

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

—Те, що найбільш дратує в житті:

—A long mass in a wedding day.

—Чи є щось таке навколо вас, що б ви хотіли змінити?

—Not really.

—Що б ви хотіли змінити в собі?

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

—Що б ви хотіли змінити у світі?

—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.

—Чи могли б ви дати кілька порад фотографам, які тільки починають свій шлях?

—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.

—Якщо іншопланетяни завітають на Землю, і ви будете першою людиною, яку вони зустрінуть, що ви їм розповісте?

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

—Якщо вас запросять знімати кіно, якого жанру воно буде?

—Drama.

—Завтра я піду і...

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