Can you tell us something more about your work flow?
The equipment and the techniques I use depends largely on the type of work concerned.
What is your most important advice for a beginner in photography (portrait, illustration, wedding, food, advertising) or creative retouching of photographs, and how to start?
The only advice I can give is to do everything with the utmost dedication and love for our art.
Who are your favorite photographers, and more importantly, how your appreciation of their work has affected how you approach your own photography?One of the things I fall in love with was the study of the work of great masters, and many of them influenced me a lot. But, as cornerstone, can cite the name of the great Carlos Relvas.
In fact, let me make an invitation to all photography lovers that visit Portugal to find out the home studio where he lived and worked. It’s a 19TH century building that is in flawless condition, and is unique in the world.
http://www.casarelvas.com/site/uk/php/casa_estudio.php
Are there a specific photo taken by another photographer that inspired you so much and why?
For me it is impossible to name a specific photo because almost every day I'm amazed with the works of other
photographers
Are there specific directions you would like to take your photography in the future, or specific goals that you would like to achieve?
I just hope I can continue to shoot until the day I leave this world.
Describe your favorite photograph taken by you and why it is special to you?
My favourite photograph is a self-portrait that I made in honor of Carlos Relvas. It is a remake of one of his famous self-portrait, which was also the photograph that triggered my interest for the work of this great master. I've always liked self-portrait, by the experimentalist and revealing character that it has.
This work had various stages and I only started to retouch the photo almost a year after capturing the image. I remember that the session was a disappointment and that the results didn't pleased me in the least.
But when I started to retouch the photo something strange happened, I felt like I was being conducted, as if someone was telling me exactly what to do. Weeks later I decided to send the photo to the qualifications in Portugal and the result was a historic qualification with 100 points.
Today, every time I look at the picture, I don't know who is in it, if me or Carlos.