Renato Moraes is 34 and has been a professional photographer for over 10 years, but his first contact with photography was when he did a short film photography course and he developed his first pictures in a dark room at the age of 10.
“I was fascinated with the results of my first shots and at that moment I realized I was falling in love with Photography.”
“It might sounds cliché, but I use to say that photography chose me. It was natural and organic, I used to take pictures of my family and friends when I was a teenager and people always said that I had the sensibility for photography. So, at some point, people started to offer to pay for my work, so I decided to ‘combine business with pleasure’ and here I am.”
“I kept walking the streets, high-strung, and eager to snap scenes of convincing reality, but mainly I wanted to capture the quintessence of the phenomenon in a single image. Photographing, for me, is instant drawing, and the secret is to forget you are carrying a camera.” - Henri Cartier-Bresson (Photographer)
At age of 22 after finishing a business course in college, he decided to invest in photography and follow the path of his passion. So, he started to travel around Brazil and make some courses and workshops with photographers that had the style he enjoys. With these courses, he learned about the techniques, such as ISO, speed, and focus, and improved his skills to become a professional.
“My last course was about Fashion Photography Editorial at Fine Arts University in São Paulo.”
Inspired by icons of Brazilian photography, Renato directed the project “Hills and Muscles” an exhibition that brought the concept of strength and perseverance of Brazilians, mixing photography with music and poetry.
“Sebastião Salgado is one of my influences. When I first saw his pictures I realized that this is what I wanted in my life. The way he portrays individuals living in tough conditions bringing the real emotion of the moment inspired me to develop my skills.”
“The SAIA project was an exhibition with surreal images that portrays people who were in a vulnerable moment and somehow got out of that situation. The people in the photos, went through some process of overcoming, whether it was a disease or a family problem, and had to, from that, change their opinion about life."
"My name is Amanda and I'm 34 years old. I am deaf, mother, wife and businesswoman. From my early age I had to prove to everyone that despite my disability I was able to do anything! My family saw me as a person who was only used for housework, but I didn't accept that, and I became a partner in one of my parents' businesses. The SAIA project praised and showed to everyone, including myself, my strength and non-conformity in the face of discrimination and social exclusion. I am grateful to Renato Mors for the sensitive look that saw my story with such affection. Thank you." - Amanda Gracindo de Freitas
Like never before photographers are competing with amateurs with their phones and incredible apps to register and edit those special moments of life. According to InfoTrends’ only in 2017, 1,200 billion digital photos were taken worldwide, 85% of them by smartphones. Another research shows that camera is the third most used application on smartphones in the UK with 87% of utilization. But Renato shows enthusiasm for this information.
“I think new technologies on smartphones affect my work in a good way. These technologies created accessibility and more people are using their phones to take pictures, but being a photographer is not only about the device you have, is about the sensibility you have inside, how you want to express this and the message you want to transmit through the photo.”
“I believe people always want moments of celebrations, like weddings or graduation parties to be kept as a relic. And this is what I do, I use my sensibility to register the best of these moments, and express the emotions in each photo I take. I think this is what distinguishes my work from an amateur taking photos from their phone.”
Renato worked really hard to gain recognition in his country but his story is just starting. The countryside guy from Pernambuco-BR, has just flew away to begin his journey around the world, and Dublin was his first stop.
“I chose Ireland as my first base because it was a mother for me, welcoming me and giving me the opportunity to stay longer, improve my English, and work with so many different people and unique environment.”
“For me the way people consume photography is what differs Brazil from Ireland. In Brazil I use to work more with the commercial side of photography, making wedding albums, birthdays etc. And in Europe, I got the chance to work more with the artistic side of photography and I have noticed that people are more into consuming photography as a piece of art.”
What separates a professional photographer from an amateur is not only the device they carry but the dedication, the investment of time, and most importantly, the passion for being a professional of photography. What differentiates an amateur from an artist goes beyond having access to technologies that allow you to register special moments in life, it includes a close look at the details and the ability to express the right feeling of the moment that is being pictured.
To find out more about Renato's work don't hesitate to contact him by any of his channels.
obrigado
Credits:
Image "camera luggage polaroid photos" by congerdesign. Photos by Renato Moraes. Video "Fashion Studio" by Renato Moraes. Video "Espaco em Branco" by Renato Moraes. Video "The voice of the artist" by Osnei Pereira. Video "The ability to connect photography with art" by Osnei Pereira.