By ANA TAVARES news@algarveresident.com
He won his first photography award at nursery school, built an impressive portfolio of fashion and documental images and was recently invited to exhibit his work at the Arte Algarve gallery in Lagoa, which will be on display until Christmas as part of the “Young Photographers Exhibition” – not bad for someone who has just turned 16.
Tavira-based Luís Carmo is, as he was recently described by Hunger TV, the online magazine of famous British photographer Rankin, “one to watch”. And when you receive such a label from someone who photographed the likes of Kate Moss and Madonna to Tony Blair and the Queen of England, you know that the world might not be watching, but is definitely keeping an eye out.
On display until right before Christmas time, the six pictures that Luís is exhibiting at Galeria Arte Algarve may be part of his first serious exhibit – he had already showed some of his work at a Lisbon bar – but already illustrate the young photographer’s immense talent and his very personal point of view, which shows a maturity beyond his years.
As his pictures, his future plans are bold and include running his own photography magazine or opening a fashion and photography studio that would “give people the opportunity to step into the fashion world as models”.
Asked what he could bring to the fashion photography scene, he is quick to admit that he is not really sure, but stresses that he does not like to follow the rules of photography. “I think a good photograph is usually never planned,” said Luís. Neither is talent, and the Tavira boy who won his first award with a picture of a corner of a rooftop against a sky backdrop (taken with a disposable camera), has plenty of it.
To see more of Luís’ work, visit www.behance.net/luiscarmo
