Peninha – Vanessa D’Oria@EliteModel and Vasco Gama

“To me photography should be like a relaxing therapy, a walk on the woods, an empty beach, a breathtaking height, an interesting conversation, a beautiful girl, a good music shared with friends on the dance floor or a drive with no destination. So I end up combining all of that in my photos.”

Over the last months Portugal based photographer Zé Pedro Henriques moved in with 3 friends, met a bunch of new people, some models, and started taking more pictures of people. Lots of parties, a couple of trips. Lots of driving around in their town and mountains. Lots of lessons about life and friendship. So he takes us all on those trips again with his beautiful analogue images and a very personal insight about it in his own words:

“To be honest, this took me a while to write. I’ve written about myself a bunch of times, and I was never able to finish it maybe because I haven’t found who I am yet. All I know is that every day I feel less of a photographer. Not in a way that I’ve been taking less pictures, but mainly because of how, when and why I take photos.

To me photography should be like a relaxing therapy, a walk on the woods, an empty beach, a breathtaking height, an interesting conversation, a beautiful girl, a good music shared with friends on the dance floor or a drive with no destination. So I end up combining all of that in my photos. It was 3 years ago when I bought myself an Olympus OM-40, unfortunately the mirror broke after two films. I didn’t get back at it until last year, when I just quit digital, and embraced the analog lifestyle. I started to enjoy more of myself as a person and as well as photography. Translating this feeling into words and actions – I could take my camera everywhere, be reckless, spill beer on it or take it on a raining hike but the best part of it is that it is not another fast consume product. In a way that people have to trust that I got the shot, there is no delete button or photoshop. A couple of things are important part of my life: Family, friends, music, ocean, nature. And that’s my playground. My photos just reflect my daily adventures with my friends, and if you knew me you would understand that I need one almost every day!

So, this whole year has been crazy, but a good type of crazy. We did tons of shit, we are still alive! I try to represent it through natural light, the place, the mood/ambience, the people and through a special memory that a picture will bring to someone and trigger the imagination of others.

After last year’s summer, 3 friends and I decided to move in together. So, I got more time not only for photography but also for myself. We went travelling around to Madeira Islands, Milan, Torino, Venezia and all over Portugal. Also we went to a couple of festivals, tons of nights at clubs looking for good music and did some sick homemade after-hours. In the meanwhile I met a bunch of new people as well as some models, which I became friends with, and started to take them on my ”small adventures” on regular days and of course took some pictures of. The most challenging moments during those months were and still are to watch my friends getting hurt, not just physical but psychologically. I think I also get taken down from their depression and low spirits. Maybe I wonder way too much… Sometimes I just get too worried and other people won’t understand how that throws me down, kicks me in the butt – but I share their pain in a way that I can feel it too and it takes me down – And my actions get mistaken with grumpiness. I have had a bunch of good moments through this year, but the best of them end up being when the four of us are together. We love each other, no matter how small our bed is, we always end up sleeping in it together. We are keen on late night talks before falling asleep.

Also when one of my best friends from Hawaii went to visit me in Venezia, and then she came to Portugal, it was pure magic. Through the year we also sold some stuff on garage sales for one purpose – to buy a van and drive without destination. So you can expect pictures from it in a couple months…”

All Photos were shot with – Olympus OM-40 with 28mm F/2.8 Zuiko
Kodak 36exp. 200ASA

instagram.com/zepedrohenriques

Cascais – Dania Darie@Face Models

Carcavelos – Dania Darie @ Face Models

Vilamoura – Alexandra Nefedova@WeAreModels

Cascais – Pakiko and Barbara Alves

Alentejo – Pakiko,my bestfriend and Dania Darie

Venezia – Carlota Vaz

Abandone House – Lavender Bloom -Helena and Isaura

Estufa Fria -Vanessa D’Oria@EliteLisbon

Aguda’s Beach – Joana Neve@Next Models Lisbon

Ferreira do Zezere – wild camping (Verinha)