How many people can say they were born into their dream job? And imagine if that dream job was in the arts?
Brazilian born photographer Fernando Braga didn’t choose photography. Photography chose him. A few years after he was born, Braga’s father left his job as a banker and started his own photography studio.
Totally dodging a bullet (does anyone really want to be a banker?), Braga was raised with photography all around him.
He knew he’d experienced his first step into a career as a photographer after coming along as a ‘third photographer’ to help his parents photograph a wedding. After checking the photos from the day, he knew photography was the right path for him.
VIBRANT: Take a walk along ‘The Yellow Path’, a high impact Autumn inspired print to match an exciting colour palette.
Now living in Melbourne, Braga works as a retoucher in an award-winning family photography studio. He said he works with an amazing team who make him feel at home – something that means a lot to him given he’s 14,000km away from his Brazilian family.
Despite Braga’s extraordinary quality work, he said he hasn’t been formally trained.
“All my knowledge about photography came from my parents and self-learning. When I see something that is new to me, I won’t stop digging until I find and learn absolutely everything about it,” said Braga.
“My parents are great artists and they have inspired me so much through my whole life,” he said.
UNUSUAL: This ‘Webb Bridge At Night’ print will funk up any home or office wall.
Braga said landscapes were his favourite subject to shoot, but he’s humble in his approach to being labelled a ‘landscape photographer’.
“I think I will only be able to call myself a landscape photographer when I start camping under the stars and at the top of mountains for months, just to chase that perfect image that we are always looking for.
“I would describe myself as a landscape photographer to be,” he said.
I guess that’s what a self proclaimed perfectionist would say though, right?
Braga’s style of photography is vibrant, colourful, catchy and unusual. The colour and capturing techniques he uses create images that are extraordinary, rather than ordinary.
COLOURFUL: Celebrate the fun and fanfare of ‘Australia Day In Melbourne’ with this stunning urban lights print.
Through his camera lens, he loves showing how incredible the world is.
“For me, a promising weather forecast (not only vibrant colours for a vivid sunset, but also severe weather) is enough to get my camera and tripod out of my bag,” said Braga.
“Some places in Australia look like paradise and I can’t wait to click all of them,” he said.
VIVID: Add mood to a reading room with ‘The Orange Storm’.
PARADISE: Another side of ‘Loch Ard Gorge’ in Victoria is revealed in this monochrome beauty.
A wall art print by Braga will bring life to a room and give it the extra touch it may be missing.
Braga himself loves this idea.
“A piece of wall art can teleport you from your room to a beach or forest in a matter of seconds.
“You can also look at the Milky Way even though it’s raining outside,” he said.
AMBIENCE: If you love the rain, you’ll adore this stunning, creative ‘After The Rain’ print.
‘Princes Bridge Sunset’, below, is one of the very first photographs Braga took in Melbourne.
“On that day, I met a guy who became a very good friend and was responsible for making my very first photograph in Australia going viral.
“Last year, this picture earned me first prize for a photo competition promoted by Eureka Skydeck,” said Braga.
JUST WOW: The amazing reflections on the water in this ‘Princess Bridge Sunset’ print add magic to this well-known Melbourne vista.
‘The Milky Way’, below, was taken in Brazil.
“I’m completely obsessed with night sky photography and this was my first attempt to get a panoramic shot of the Milky Way,” said Braga.
I can’t wait to buy a car here and start camping in places all around Australia to make more night shots like this one.
Aurora Australis is also something that I really want to see and shoot,” he said.
AIM FOR THE STARS: Honour the wonder of the night sky with ‘The Milky Way’, a stunning addition to a creative interior design.
‘Burning Skies at Black Rock’, below, is a photograph Braga always dreamed of creating.
A place with a few rocks, natural lakes, the ocean and a burning sunset was on Braga’s bucket list of photos to take.
We’re so glad he made it happen!
DREAMY: Add colour and character to a room with this wondrous ‘Burning Skies At Black Rock’ print.
So do Braga’s parents support his choice to become a photographer?
“They absolutely do”, he said.
“They always want me to show them my next image to be released and, when it is published, they are the first ones to share it.
“Every competition that I’m in and every prize that I win, they celebrate as if they were the winners,’ he said.
Sounds like Braga is well on the way to becoming a world famous photographer, someone who is a reference and inspiration for other artists.
Thank goodness for all of us that his father stopped being a banker!
