exclusively for www.galagallery.org:

"I was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where I took a few
photography classes. I used to photograph family members and friends upon
their request. They liked the results so I decided it was time to take it more
seriously and become professional.  Photographing people has always been
my passion either it is a candid or posed shot.

When photographing people I feel like if I am capturing their souls, their
culture, their history and that I make a spiritual connection and create a
sense of trust between me and the sitter. This feeling has become stronger
as the project has developed.  

That is how the project started:  Having a lot of black friends, the population
of Brazil is 45% black, I noticed that the texture of their skin were great in
black and white, and besides it they have a strength in their eyes that
appeals to me.

For years I have participated in Umbanda, a polytheistic religion that
originated in Africa, our religious ceremonies involve drum, dance and open
expressive communion with the spirits. Then I came up with the idea of ‘Black
Faces”. It was already time to portray this beautiful race.

In the meantime I married an American and moved to  USA. I set up a home
studio and got in touch with people to pose for my project. So far I have been
having a good response and I had the opportunity to photograph faces from
different countries from Africa, like Sudan, Uganda and Kenya, what makes me
very happy.  I have a special attraction for the African continent.

One of the photographers that inspired me is the well known Brazilian
photographer Sebastião Salgado whose photographs are only in black white
as well. His work is focused on the lives of the world’s dispossessed. He
recently released a book entitled “Africa”. One of my goals is to go to Africa to
photograph its people. I hope it can happen in the near future.

Once a year when I go to Brazil to visit my family, I have the chance to keep
working with the Brazilians but not having a studio there, I use natural light.

I like to keep my photos as simple as possible". Marta Azevedo.

Website: www.martaphoto.com
MARTA AZEVEDO (Brazil)
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