“One day I realized that what I was missing was a tool to tell a story without saying a word.”

The work of Manila based self-taught photographer Jerferson Permejo is a mix of sensual portrait work and sexy lifestyle images.

Tell me a bit about yourself. Who is Jerferson Permejo?

I am 22, born and raised in the heart of Manila, Philippines. I have a Biology degree and I have curly hair which wasn’t until I graduated from college. I play guitar and sing along sometimes. And I am sentimental and passionate about little things I see and even imagine. I love to be different and I hate perfumes.

What do you love about capturing people?

It’s the connection between two souls which I really love. That I get to know the subject and translate her story through my lens because not everyone gets to capture that exact moment. I love that I’d be able to communicate to other people, share stories, considering that I am very shy and introverted in most cases. I love that by capturing people I can show a bit of myself too, because for me when a viewer sees a photograph of my subject, it’s actually like seeing two souls drifting away together. I love that every time I capture a soul I get to understand something about it and discover a new certain feeling that no one could ever tell.

And how did you get involved in photography?

I never imagined myself taking portraits or even imagined myself shooting. It’s only by accident that I discovered my passion in photography. First half of 2015 when I bought my camera for one single reason- to reward myself and buy something nice since that time I was earning my own money while working in the university’s laboratory. I thought of buying a new camera because I felt that I was lacking in something and I couldn’t really think what was it. One day I realized that it was the lack of a tool to tell a story without saying a word. Then after learning the camera basic settings through some free online books and Youtube I have decided to go outside and practice how to use it. Same day I captured different scenarios in the streets of Manila and when I got home I realized that I took a lot of pictures of people and told myself to do it again. Later then in 2015 when I started shooting portraits, I would just message people on Facebook asking them if they’d be interested to shoot. If they said yes, great if not then I just moved on.

“Capturing people is the connection between two souls, which I really love.”

Do you take your camera everywhere you go?

No. Sometimes I would just like to see things as they are and just be there.

What´s the essence of nowadays youth?

Everyone is aware that youth is the backbone of the nation. Youth is the representation of the shape of the current society. The existence of nowadays youth is very important because they have the fresh creative juices and are somewhat the source of new ideas that is vital to the development, whether of a certain society or a whole nation.

What makes a photograph a “timeless fine art”?

For me, a photograph is a timeless fine art when it’s captured purely by heart.

What is one of your favorite images and why?

This is just one of my favorite shots. I like this shot because every time I see it it gives me nostalgia of the spontaneity we had that day. It’s the manifestation of my mood everyday. laughs.

Last moment of total happiness?

It was last night when I saw your message that you wanted to post some of my works. Being featured here was just a dream for me. I worked and experimented a lot to improve and be better everyday and I would imagine that someday you’ll appreciate my work and so it happened yesterday. I can’t express this feeling until now.

” Youth is the representation of the shape of the current society.”

Early bird or night owl?

Night bird.

Kidding. Laughs. Night owl.

The most important thing in life is…

Life itself. The moment when you get to discover and realize to just live in the moment and experience things is when you find life and happiness and for me that’s the most important thing.