2023: A year in review

This “year in review” is more of a reflection on how I see photography than a review of 2023, but I thought that this title would make sense today.

Yesterday a friend of mine told me that, when I'm taking photographs, I have the ability to blend in in a camouflaged and subtle way among people and capture the moments that happen without anyone noticing. And the truth is that I myself think that no one is watching me when I'm behind the camera. It's like that game we play with children where we cover our faces with our hands and say “Miguel isn't here…” and then we uncover our faces and suddenly the child can see us. This magic trick really helps me, because it's how I can put emotion and intensity into the photographs I'm taking (or at least I think I can...). It's being close to people, being part of the interaction in some way, feeling what people are feeling. And the truth is that everyone says that, when I have my eye on the camera, my facial expression varies depending on the mood of what I'm photographing. At wedding speeches I cry, on the dance floor I sing and dance, and the rest of the time I'm laughing. If I'm not laughing, it's because I'm hungry.

And now let’s look at a “small” selection of photos I took during the year. These are not just photographs of weddings, they are also photographs of theater, rallies, birthdays and commercials. Hope you like it! ✌🏻

Happy New Year!

Baja Portalegre 2023

Baja Portalegre is one of the events that make up the Rally-Raid World Cup, in which motorcycles, SSVs and cars participate.

I went as a photographer for the Touratech Garmin Racing Team, with the aim of capturing the experience of participating in a Baja Portalegre, from preparing the bike to reaching the end of the race.

It was a very tough experience, full of mud and rain (classic of this race), but super fun and with a touch of adrenaline in the mix.

The idea of combining the natural landscape with sport has always attracted me, probably because I started photography through surfing, and so I already had a lot of expectations for this experience.

The photographic possibilities are practically endless, such as using trees or rocks to frame the subject, waiting for a spotlight in the landscape to illuminate it, Panning (photo with drag), etc.