When was the last time you did something for the first time?
For the first time, I decided to enter a photography contest. Analog Sparks is a competition that takes place twice a year and awards photographers in the professional, amateur, and student categories. The photos must be taken using analog processes and can be altered using digital techniques, creating a hybrid format.
Among the various themes, on impulse, I chose architecture. It was not something I often photographed, but I thought it could be challenging and somewhat exciting, since it had been a while since I had committed to taking photos of a specific theme—even though I had all the ideas written down in my personal notebook, I didn't have a lot of motivation to bring them to life (that's a topic for another article).
The deadline for submissions was quite comfortable, giving me plenty of time to create the photos, develop, scan, and send them for judging. And then, on a sunny Sunday, my boyfriend and I decided to go for a walk/hike on a different route than we were used to, here in the surroundings of Almada—a place we have been living in since March of this year and are still exploring and getting to know. The way would lead us to a small beach, under the 25 de Abril Bridge, a large bridge with a structure similar to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, CA (suspension bridge).
Since I arrived in Portugal, this bridge has always caught my attention. Not only because it is one of the iconic postcards of the city, nor because it resembles the famous Golden Gate Bridge, but also because it connects Lisbon, the capital, to the south side of the Tagus River. There is a certain symbolism to it, and the locals are proud of this construction, which also pays homage to the end of the country's military dictatorship, which was officially declared on April 25, 1974. I thought it would be interesting to take the opportunity to go on a little adventure and make these photos of something that is really important to the local community.
I got my gear ready, adjusted my backpack, and we set off at 10 a.m. It was already late in the day to do this route because of the hot sun, but we were motivated. Every time we go on these hikes, I think of a theme to photograph, but the ideas don't always come to life, or I don't always have a camera in hand to take spontaneous photos. I recently bought a very compact half-frame camera that I've taken with me on two recent trips, and I must admit, it was a very good investment I made— due to its practicality and weight. I'll write about the experience soon, too.
Anyway, after a few minutes of walking, up hills and down rough asphalt, we reached the entrance that would take us under the bridge. The dirt path, an almost imperceptible trail with lots of tall vegetation, brought that vibe of adventure. Me, at the peak of my 35, out of shape, overweight, had my little struggles at some points. Working my thighs, the stability of my ankles, that special attention to my surroundings so that I wouldn't bump my head on a thick branch... I embraced the difficulties and enjoyed the moment. Camera ready, I started taking pictures from several different angles.
The 25 de Abril Bridge is a very bright color red, but the film I chose was black and white and I was using a green filter on the lens for the first time. On a sunny day with a cloudy sky, I thought it would be a good opportunity to test this high-contrast effect between the bridge, the sky, the clouds and the view of Lisbon in the background – and it worked very well. We also walked among rocks, a slightly dangerous path for those without experience, as it is slippery and uneven. But calmly and carefully, we continued until we were exactly under the middle of the bridge.
The cars and trucks passing high above our heads, the noise of the train tracks, the constant stream of airplanes in the sky, the calmness of the fisherman in front of us who told us he takes that route every day, and a moment of rest and contemplation. Between each breath, one photo after another. That's what shooting with analog is like: you're not sure what the outcome will be, you only have an idea. I had an idea in mind, but until you see the final result, you let it go, you long for it, and at the same time, you let it be, you give up. It's like a surprise gift you chose, but you don't know how it will turn out.
I finished an entire roll of film that morning, 36 exposures. I don't always manage to do that, but on that occasion, it was easy.
The photos turned out great, better than I expected, actually. As I 've said, I have no experience with architectural photography, so my expectations were low. I was surprised. I like simplicity, where I don't have to make major edits to achieve a result that pleases my eye, and that's what I did. I tweaked a few photos, cropped them, aligned the line of sight, and sent them off. Simple, fast, and easy.
My expectations for the contest were also low; I had no intention of winning a prize. It was my first time, and I only participated because a contest requires you to focus on a specific theme, take your photos, and submit some results within the proposed guidelines. It was exactly what I needed to break out of my photographic stagnation. It was the push I really needed.
And after a few months of waiting, to my surprise (another one), I received the news that I had won a bronze medal in the category I chose. When I first read the email, I didn't understand, but then I re-read it and went to the website, and there it was, my certificate of participation and the award mention. Wow! How cool! Among so many wonderful and well-curated photos, my humble photos of the bridge were noticed. I felt flattered and also a sense of accomplishment. I didn't take long to decide to enter, nor did I take long to plan the photos; it was all very impulsive—and that's also thanks to the encouragement of my boyfriend, who is usually more active than me in his creative processes and also a great inspiration.
Procrastination as an excuse for false perfectionism still haunts me, and I work on this issue a lot in therapy; there is insecurity in certain areas of my life and, of course, in photography—which is my main form of artistic expression, so it wouldn't be any different. But winning this award made me realize that simplicity with intention is very valuable. That experience, fun, and lack of pretension are also part of the process. And I am very grateful to have been able to do and see all this.
