Renowned Photographer, João de Castro
Maybe you need to be an outsider to get inside people. By his admission, renowned Portuguese photographer João de Castro doesn’t conform. He says what he thinks and that can get people offside, particularly men. But what his forthright attitude provides is a haven for truth and vulnerability. And that just happens to be the perfect environment in which women can feel free. The scenes and poses captured in João’s fine art photography are more than just sexual, they’re the result of moments where power is passing from photographer to subject. João’s art is the epitome of liberation.
Moving Minh-ly, 2021
Monochrome Photography Awards - Honourable Mention 2023
When you think of all the possible reasons why a person might have an affair, perhaps one of the most seductive is the possibility of inhabiting your mind and body in ways that seem impossible with people who know you. In João’s images, we see women in highly intimate moments, naked and alone but seemingly oblivious to anyone’s gaze. They are stark not only for their high contrast black and white and dramatic lighting but for the obvious free abandon they depict. “I want to say ‘You are beautiful in this situation, you are not ridiculous’. That’s a function of my work, I think, that I can do that for people,” muses João.
Hangover, 2024
Muse might be the operative word. For it is the unique relationship that João cultivates with his subjects that produces these deeply personal and affecting images. “Sometimes I have fully formed ideas in the night and I write them down. Or I have something that sits in the back of my mind for a while. But the magic happens in the studio with the model. I stretch to wherever they want to go. A lot of models I work with tell me how they’ve been able to work through things affecting their life by us working together.”
Pure, 2021
It's a delicate balance of trust and respect. “Some of my models are professionals, some are strangers I meet, some are friends, some are people who approach me. I’ve photographed the women I’ve been married to if that’s what they’ve wanted. But there is always a professional contract in place,“ explains João. “Gaining trust so people feel comfortable in front of a camera involves using eye contact, acting confidently and showing you’re interested. It sounds easy but it only works if you are genuine. Once your subject realises you are not there to judge them, they open up to an energy between you, and you can achieve deeper meaning together during the session. You can produce something very honest but it can wake up fears and monsters, so it has to be a partnership.”
The results portray women in their rawest moments, exploring their true identities, and unleashing pent-up emotions that can only be released in a space where judgement does not exist. “After working for a while, in 1994 I took a photo one day of my second wife, Cristina, that really said something. I saw it and thought ‘Yes! This is my photography!’ And that was the start of my work.” Joäo and his first muse are not only still friends, she is like family to Joäo and his current wife, Marta, who also serves an inspiration in his work.
Botero, 2021
18th Black and White Spider Awards – Honourable Mention 2023
“I know my work can be hard for some people to like. And some people will just see bodies. But for those who take the time to understand it, it moves something in them,” says João. It’s true that understanding the context of the work can make the difference between interpreting the images as empowering rather than objectifying. “The images are edgy, but they never take advantage. They don’t carry any baggage - there’s already a lot of content out there that deals with bad things in the world.”
It's not surprising to learn that João grew up surrounded by his father’s collection of iconic female images. Every edition of French PHOTO and American ZOOM magazine crowded their living room, on bookshelves and coffee tables. Featuring iconic photographs by the likes of Helmut Newton and Richard Avedon, Joäo’s appreciation for bold female figures developed while poring over the images. His mother was traditional yet progressive in a time when it was uncommon. “I just think women are much stronger than men and they need a space to show that.” João waited a long time before entering the art market and looking for representation, but just like his mother was ahead of her time, now there is a growing demand for his work. “Years ago, I would have had to beg galleries in Paris to hang my art or feature me in an exhibition. But now they are starting to appreciate what I see.”
🎥 Lights, Camera, Action 🎬: Behind The Scenes With Joäo de Castro
Source: Joäo de Castro
Written by Skye Wellington