Photography Exhibition “Time Lapses: In the algarve, freezing time”
Photography Exhibition by João António Fazenda
The Alcoutim store, on Avenida Duarte Pacheco, in Alcoutim, will host, from January 21st to November 30th, the Photography Exhibition “Time Lapses: In the algarve, freezing time”, by João António Fazenda.
This exhibition is a tribute to my homeland. I am from Algarve, born in Faro, and I take great pride in my roots. The Algarve has always been a cherished subject in my photography, and this is the fourth exhibition I dedicate to it.
I was born and raised in an Algarve very different from the one we know today – less “touristy” and, consequently, more authentic, deeply connected to its natural and cultural roots. The vision of that Algarve, from my childhood and youth, has stayed with me and, in many ways, has influenced my photography over the years. I hope this sentiment is conveyed through the images I present here.
The title of this exhibition, ‘Time Lapses’, reflects my belief that photography is a means of cutting through time – freezing it, capturing the fleeting moment when the camera’s shutter clicks. Each image becomes a fragment of time, preserved within it.
The photographs in this collection portray an Algarve that is both elusive and ever-changing, real yet dreamlike, but always captivating. These moments, captured through my lens, are shaped not only by the physical landscape but also by my imagination, which has itself been transformed by the passage of time. As such, photography does not merely depict reality; it reveals a version of reality filtered through the photographer’s personal vision.
Among the works on display are three self-portraits, taken at different points in my life. These are included to illustrate how time has shaped me, both physically and emotionally, and how this evolution has influenced my perspective as a photographer.
This is a black-and-white photography exhibition, as this medium first defined me as a photographer. It inspired my admiration for generations of master photographers and remains, to me, the most artistically expressive form of photography. The interplay of light and shadow – perpetually in conflict, yet constantly seeking balance amidst shades of grey – creates the “perfect images” I strive for in the intuitive, fast, and visionary act of capturing a moment. And what better setting for such work than the Algarve, where sunlight and shadow dance in eternal rivalry along its paths?
