Interview: Gustavo Minas

Interview conducted by Tzen Xing on Oct. 12, 2016 (updated in June 2020)

How are you photographing during the corona virus pandemic? I noticed that you are still actively photographing out in the streets.   Brazil is one of the countries hardest hit by the pandemic.   How are you keeping safe when you're outside?
So, about the pandemic, I've been photographing my daily life since the beginning. I'm a journalist too, and have been working from home since March 12th.

In the first month, I photographed mostly at home, my family, and our surroundings and neighborhood. Brasilia, the city where I live, has plenty of empty and green spaces, so we can still afford to take some walks to sunbath.

After 40 days or so, I decided to take some walks through the city, which was very empty back then. I used masks and lots of alcohol gel, and avoided busy places. These long walks made me deal better with the situation.

Then I decided to go a bit further, still taking health measures. I'm not taking public transportation as I used to anymore. I always drive and then walk, trying to avoid getting too close to people.
I think health should be our priority, but the fact that we're going through a historic moment also makes me want to go out and document what I see, through a personal point of view.

​Then in mid-June Businessweek magazine approached me to do a story in São Luís, Northeast of Brazil, the first capital to declare lockdown in our country. The city was already reopening some stores and services.
I spent only 24 hours there, but could see a lot of people on the streets, working or just having fun:
- www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2020-06-24/coronavirus-pandemic-brazil-faces-worst-case-scenario
- www.instagram.com/p/CB28Y1hhC4c/

What does it take to create a good image?
I wish I knew! For me good light it's very important - I mean, sunset or early morning light. But artificial light mixed with natural light at dusk can be great too.　
But actually, it's a lot to do about yourself. If I go out thinking that I won't get anything, then I get nothing. You must be open to the world and for chance, you must believe. Otherwise you'd better go home. Also, being relaxed is important. Being focused is good, but sometimes I feel I'm too tense chasing the perfect image, then it never happens. So, for me the state of mind is really important.

What inspired you to be a photographer, especially a street photographer?
This guy called Carlos Moreira (www.carlosmoreira.com.br). I attended a year-long course under this master in 2009, and he showed me all the photographers I must've seen: Atget, Kertész, Cartier-Bresson, Frank, Lee Friedlander on the first semester, then Haas, Eggleston, Gruyaert, Pinkhassov and Webb on the second. I owe a lot to him. He's been photographing São Paulo, where I used to live, since the 60s, and his work and attitude towards photography were essential for me.

 In an era over-run by so many photographers, what makes your images stand out?
Well, it's hard for me to answer this. There are many photographers around, we all have similar tastes and influences... what I can say is that I'm a very passionate amateur, I shoot every single day if I have the chance, so it's natural that after some years I have some good photos to keep. I hardly get tired of shooting, if there's light. Brasilia, where I've lived for 2 years now, is a dull city, not so many people on the streets, no patina in the buildings, but at least we have great light here most of the year. And living in a boring city can be challenging, you really have to push yourself. It's been a good exercise so far. 

Which are your preferred places for shooting (even if photography can be done anywhere), and what makes them special?
Currently, as you noticed, it's the Rodoviaria (our central bus terminal in Brasilia). Brasilia is a planned city, a bit boring as I said, but this place has some energy, chaos and enough movement, besides great light, that make it perfect to photograph. I love being in the flux of people going to and from their daily jobs, I'm one of them myself.
But I also love water parks, for example. Or beaches. Or busy streets with lots of shop windows and reflections. As long as there's people and some light, it's great for me.

Beyond passion and talent, the gear also is part of the process. What do you use and why?　
Some weeks ago I was loving my Fuji X-Pro1 with a 27mm lens (40mm in full frame). But then I attended this workshop with Magnum's Pinkhassov and he told us to use zoom lens, so I've been trying a 18-55mm and it's been good for a change. Most street photographers have some prejudice against zoom lenses, but they actually enhance your possibilities, so why not?

Please describe your workflow (post-processing if any, selection criteria, cropping, other).
Well, I shoot, generally on a 16GB SD card, then I upload them as soon as I get home via Lightroom. I go through them quickly and I mark the ones I like, at first with 4 stars, then I go back to this initial selection and mark the ones I'd like to export with 5 stars. I generally apply a preset I made for contrast, enhanced colors and sharpness, then do some adjustments, that's it. I hardly use Photoshop now. I hardly crop either.

How do you see your photography in the future. Any regrets, anything you missed?
I´d like to keep it as honest and personal as I feel it is now. And I'd like to make books of them. I've made some via Blurb, but I'd like proper books too. They're my favorite way of looking at photographs. And no regrets yet. :)

Last but not least, which picture(s) of yours is/are significant and why?
Well, of course I must love all my work, it's all part of my life, my journey. But then, this set (http://www.gustavominas.com/ O-Parto) I made about my girlfriend's pregnancy and the birth of my daughter has a different level of meaning for me. It's still about my life, but it's about our lives together as well. It was the most thrilling day of my life, and I'm glad I could record and keep it.