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Fujifilm World X-Photographers

I try and make it to the gym every morning the latest by  730 am.  I go over my emails and messages while I sit on the bike for 10 minutes mini warm up. But a couple weeks ago I  had to come to a full stop and re-read the email twice, I was so excited!

 

So this was the email:

 

Dear Joao,

I would like to reach to you on behalf of FUJIFILM Czech Republic and invite you to be a part of an exceptional photo exhibition called Fujifilm World X-PHOTOGRAPHERS  Are Coming to Prague happening in Prague from 6th December 2017 -14th January 2018.

For the end of this year our focus is towards you, X-Photographers, as you play an important role in representing Fujifilm by your exceptional work and we would like to celebrate your work with this exhibition.

In attachment, you can see a presentation with information about X-Photographers exhibition in Prague. It will be happening in Czech Photo Centre, a modern space and center for contemporary photography. Alongside this exhibition we are planning many extra programs for the public, e.g. talks and workshops with exhibiting photographers, hopefully you can take part too.

(Hellyeah count me in Prague, are you kidding me?! Is this for real?!  The city of Jan Saudek! – he is an amazing artist and one of my earlier references. You can follow the link to a  wonderful documentary about his work, unfortunately, it is in Czech and with Portuguese subtitles.)

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well, back to the email…

….” The exhibition will be divided into 9 themes of photography, each represented by 3 photographers. This curatorial plan aims to show different approaches by different photographers all around the world to give the audience wide perspectives and inspirations.  I would like you to join the fashion and commercial category with your amazing work. I would love to see your photographs among others,  I would like to kindly ask you if you would do us the honor by taking part in this exhibition and if time allows you to also come for the special opening on 6th December and/or  have a talk or workshop during the exhibition that lasts until 14th January.

If you would like to actively take part and have a workshop or talk, we can find the most suitable date for it to happen.If you have any questions regarding this project I will gladly answer them all.I am looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Many thanks.

With warm regards,

……”

So I had to say YES  even though I  had another exhibition Macabrology scheduled for the same dates. Fortunately, everything came to place and I was able to pull it back a week. So I had about a 4-day deadline to hand over all the materials for the World  X-PHOTOGRAPHERS  Are Coming to Prague exhibition, including bio, pics, and stuff like that.

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[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]To take part in the exhibition I  chose six images.  Two of those are from the live stage shoot at Photoimaging in the Netherlands. It was the first time I used the Fuji GFX  5o S. I picked it up 5 min before the demo and I felt it so intuitive to use that I didn’t totally suck. You can read about it here. I love those images because they have such great colors and the beauty looks are so lush and rich.

I also chose two images from my series with designer and performer Louise L’Amour, and I also included images taken for the Royale Schwarzkopf shoot.  I also wanted to take a new image to the X Exhibition. By chance  I was shooting for my other exhibition Macabrology and I ended up creating an image that would be shown for the first time to the X-Photographers coming to Prague.

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[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]It was my first time in Prague so I was super excited to join the inauguration of the Fuji X-Photographers Exhibition on the 7th of December. I was granted a wall to exhibit  6 large prints featuring my recent fashion, portrait, and artworks.

There were two receptions: a VIP Reception and  Dinner for Press and Media with some A-level curator and photography top talents present. This event was great because it gave me a chance to chat and mingle with some of my fellow X-Photographers and speak a little about our work.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

The next day there was another Opening with more press and open to the public, family, and friends.

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[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]I really enjoyed meeting Singapore based French Photographer Jose Jeuland and his charming wife. Also Saulius Damulevicius from Lithuania, Canadian Spencer Wynn, Peter Delaney from Ireland but living in SA. It was great to meet Czech Press Photo winning Nature Photographer Michal Krause. I finally met the legend Damien Lovegrove. Kara Mercer and Omar Z Robles from the States were super cool.  You can follow their social media and have a look at there X profiles here.

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[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Here is a short video for press release of the Fujifilm World X-Photographers are Coming to Prague event.

[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://vimeo.com/248175909″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]And some photos of myself presenting and talking about my work at the vernissage of Fujifilm World X-Photographers are Coming to Prague.

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Visiting Prague

It was my first time in Prague. This city has a unique mood with a mix of Victorian romanticism and dark, medieval architecture. So I couldn’t help to use this opportunity to take some photos of the city and their inhabitants. I took my new Fujifilm X100F which is my perfect daily companion for street photography, with a Sandisk Extreme Pro SD UHS-II card, a BlackRapid Street Breathe camera strap. Everything packed into my lightweight and super practical ThinkTank Perception 15 backpack.

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[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Besides its history and cultural heritage, Prague is an important cultural hub in Europe. While visiting the city I came across with this very cool exhibition called “Sexy Girl in the Woods” by an unknown artist from the ’70s and curated by Martin Ptitz. This exhibition featured stereoscopic slides of an unknown photographer from the ’70s, found in a thrift shop.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]One of the Czech delicacies is the traditional spice hot wine. Those guys really know how to keep warm when the weather in Prague is chilling at -10ºC.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]This city retains the whole spirit of Belle-Epoque and the decadent lifestyle of the late 19th century. So it is not by chance that Prague is considered the European capital of absinthe. I couldn’t leave the city without trying some of the famous green-fairy drink. Here you have a couple of photos of the bar.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]

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[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Finally, I would like to give huge thanks to the Fujifilm Czech Republic group, in special to the curator and organizer of the Fujifilm World  X-Photographers Exhibition Aneta Zmelikova. It was such a great opportunity and pleasure to participate in this event. Can’t wait to see you again in January for the workshop I will be giving at the Fujifilm X-Photographers Are Coming to Prague! My workshop “Beauty is in the Light” will take place on the 7th January 2017.

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