Artist Essay 01 - Fernando Guerra
Fernando Guerra is a Portuguese photographer who has pioneered the way that architecture photography has been formed. Although Guerra is a photographer his training and much of his influence is from his time as an architect. Due to his training in architecture he is conscious of the ways in which people walk around buildings and the specific paths they take.
His photography uses colour to evoke emotion in the viewer and to create focal point to his images. His approach to photography is distinctive for its inclusion of people as well as capturing buildings as dynamic and inhabited spaces.
Guerra likes to tell a story with his photography and show the viewer all the ways that different spaces can be utilised. He emphasises the importance of portraying architecture and structures in use, and highlights the interaction between humans and their environment.
During his career Guerra has collaborated with numerous architects including Zaha Hadid and Isay Weinfeld. His work has been featured in many magazines and in 2015 he was honoured with the Arcaid images architectural photography award for his image of the EPFL Quartier Nord in Ecublens, Switzerland.
'Hyéres, France'
By Henri Cartier-Bresson
The mid air nature of the skateboarder creates a sense of freedom and emphasises the frozen in time nature of the image. The urban element of the image creates a rustic nature to the image. From this image I am interesting in exploring singular colours and repeating objects.
This image includes a symmetrical and repeated pattern of U shapes created by the brick arches, this makes for a seemingly infinite and unreachable vanishing point.
The dynamic and bright coloured skate boarder introduces a sense of movement and is placed slightly off centre to enable to repeated structure to be seen.
The contrast between the rigid structure and the fluid movement of the skateboarder this enables a sense of action and intrigue. The pop of red in the skateboarder creates a colourful focal point of the image and allows them to stand out.
​
'EPFL Quartier Nord in Ecublens, Switzerland.'
By Fernando Guerra
This photograph has a strong geometric composition which utilises repeating lines and leading lines. The repeated windows and rectangular shapes create an intriguing pattern.
The motion blur of the figures create a movement to the image and adds a contrast to the static architectural elements.
The image has a grid like layout which divides the image into mini frames and scenes which feature different interactions and creates many world inside one image.
The use of a flat and straight on perspective enhances the illusion of symmetry. The windows act as a frame within a frame and make each section feel like an independent story.
The use of the silhouettes each tell a different story and create a motion and show connections.
The warm lights create a homely and dreamlike quality to the image. This contrasts the cool and urban atmosphere surrounding each image. I would like to explore capturing many different moments in one singular image.
'South Korea's North Gyeongsang province'
By Fernando Guerra
This image has strong geometric composition with harsh vertical and horizontal lines that dominant the image.
This image utilises the rule of thirds to emphasise the different elements of the image and to draw the viewer to the focal human figure.
By placing this figure in the lower third of the image the overwhelming scale of the structure is emphasised.
The vast open space with its framing walls and ceiling creates a tunnel-like perspective and vanishing point, guiding the eye towards the figure and the opening at the end of the tunnel.
The monochromatic nature of the image emphasises the vast structures and the brutalist tone.
​
The isolated figure introduces a strong intrigue and narrative to the image. The lack of decoration in the space and empty space creates a slight dystopian feel. From this image I would like to explore isolated figures and brutalist architecture.
In conclusion, Guerra is incredible architectural photographer who is able to illustrate the relations between people and their surrounding structures. From his work I would like to focus on showing individual stories within photos conveying to the viewer for every person has their own life story evoking emotions of sonder.