Alma Lux Photographia

Photography Profile
Since when I was around 10, I have practiced and read a lot on photography. Along my 30s, my passion for photography has developed with mountaineering, along valleys, tops, forests, ice and snow. The same with my travels and contact with other cultures and peoples. Many of my photographs result form my trips for direct contact and respect for Nature and People.
With time I have developed a style, in the form of conceptual photography, by deconstructing the object, with hints of minimalism and abstraction. By combining mind and photography, I aim at the Aesthetics, the Inspiring and the Positive.
I photograph landscapes, portraits, macro and fine art, mainly. My works have been recognised in the book On Mountains (with photographer Nuno Verdasca), in the conceptual exhibitions Tempus Fugit and Vertical Horizons (both individual), and the thematic exhibition On Mountains, and also in contests. But, still, the most important for me is the satisfaction of my clients.
I sell and print my photographs as pieces of art and of environment creation, decoration and architecture (national or internationally); through a sensitive photographic view and capacity to engage, I provide photographic coverage of places/people/cultures, for their promotion, protection and development; I organise photography workshops and work on several innovative photography projects (also with other photographers); I also provide other photography-related services. All of my work aims at national and international contexts.

Since October 2007 that I've been a professional photographer, creating Alma Lux Photographia. I currently develop work in Portugal and Belgium.

Books:
- On Mountains, by João M. Gil & Nuno Verdasca, edited by João M. Gil, produced by Imagens & Letras Editorial, with foreword by journalist Carlos Pinto Coelho and climber João Garcia, 1st Edition in Feb. 2010;
- Olhares Montanheiros (portuguese version of the previous), by João M. Gil & Nuno Verdasca, edited by João M. Gil, produced by Imagens & Letras Editorial, with foreword by journalist Carlos Pinto Coelho and climber João Garcia, 1st Edition in Feb. 2010.

Awards in Photography Contests:
- 2 Honourable Mentions on Fine Art-Landscape and
Nature-Landscape at the IPA2010 - International
Photography Awards 2010;
- 5 Honourable Mentions on Fine Art-Other, Fine
Art-Landscape, Nature-Trees, People-Portrait,
People-Family, at the IPA2008 - International
Photography Awards 2008;
- Adventure Photography Award, FotoDigital Magazine, Oct. 2005;
- Selected among the 500 best photographs of the “Le Plus Grand Concours du Monde”, Photo Magazine, no. 416, Jan.-Feb. 2004.

Individual Exhibitions:
- Horizontes Verticais (Vertical Horizons, in english), at Galeria Era Uma Vez no Porto, Porto, 2007.
- Tempus Fugit, at Bar/Restaurant Cinema Paraíso, Leiria, 2005.

Own Collective Exhibitions:
- Olhares Montanheiros (On Mountains, in portuguese), at the Gallery of the Junta de Freguesia de Espinho, with the Espinho Mountain Club, 2008. Authors: João Gil and Nuno Verdasca.
- Olhares Montanheiros (On Mountains, in portuguese), at CIM2007 - III International Mountain Congress - Sports and Active Tourism, with Desnível Adventure Sports Association (Desnível) and the Estoril Higher Institute for Tourism and Hotel Studies (ESHTE), Estoril, 2007.
- Olhares Montanheiros (On Mountains, in portuguese), at Arquivo Municipal de Manteigas, with Amigos da Serra da Estrela (ASE) e Câmara Municipal de Manteigas, 2007.
- Olhares Montanheiros (On Mountains, in portuguese), at Galeria/Livraria Arquivo, Leiria, 2006.

Other Collective Exhibitions:
- “PATRIMÓNIO CONSTRUÍDO”, XIII Photography Contest (in portuguese), OIKOS Ambiente, Leiria, 2005.

Contributions in Photography Magazines:
- "Photographs with stories behind the lens", monthly article, FOTOdigital Magazine, since Mar. 2008;
- "Photographing Boulder" (in portuguese), FOTOdigital Magazine, Feb. 2008.

Conception/Presentation of Photography Workshops:
- In Vivo Photography Workshops, in Creative Photography, since Oct. 2010;
- CAUSES - Photography Workshops, joint with photographer Elisabete Maisão, since Feb. 2008;
- Cultural Photography Programme, joint with photographer Elisabete Maisão and Cerdeira Camping, Campo do Gerês, since Feb. 2008;
- Landscape Photography, a Nouvelle Photo Workshop, May 2008.

Juries in Photography Events:
- responsible for the Photography Challenge at the event ASESTRELA - Gathering with the Mountain, and element of the Jury (among other renown photographers), 2009-2012.

Training Attended:
- Workshop on Portrait Photography, at Nouvelle Photo, Leiria, March 2008.
- Workshop on Contemporary Photography, at Nouvelle Photo, Leiria, July 2007.

Others:
- varied Editorial Photography work, 2010-2011;
- Co-responsible for the Web Photo Gallery at Núcleo de Montanha de Espinho, 2003-2007;
- photographic work for educational books, for several portuguese Editorials, 1996-1997.