Time of their lives

Swiss-based fashion photographer Pino Gomes, rapidly gaining a reputation with his editorial and commercial assignments for important clients in Europe and his native Brazil, was in Bangkok recently to shoot four top artists wearing Gc Smart Luxury wristwatches.

 Captured in photos that will become part of a promotional touring exhibition for Gc were visual artist Nualtong Prasarnthong, khon theatre performer Pichet Klunchun, product designer Chamnan Pakdeesuk and clothing designer Pattree Bhakdibutr.

Gc is flying Gomes to 20 other countries to get pictures of people who love what they do in the arts - singing, dancing, cooking and even a little stage magic.

"The photos are about people enjoying the moment, about quality time and passion for your profession," Gomes said. "It's not about money or success, but the passion you feel at that moment."

How many countries have you been to?

Four countries so far - Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, Spain and now Thailand. Next some Turkey, France, Holland, Belgium, Australia, Panama, Japan, Canada and Italy.

I see a lot of potential to develop my international career as well as the watch's profile. There are so many possibilities! Every country is a different experience and feeling. The project is the same everywhere, but the way people look at it is different.

Like in Bangkok, I love the pink taxis on the street - I feel, "Wow, Bangkok is so colourful and sweet!" In Saudi Arabia are the darker colours and the costumes. These sorts of things make a country special for me as an artist.

How do you come up with the vision you want to catch in the photo?

When I first meet people, I try to get an understanding of who they are, regardless of their field of art. I think what you do says a lot about who you are. Some people are modern, edgy. Some people I want to talk more, and some I talk less. I develop my story line by talking to them.

All the shots are black and white for this project because it shows the emotions better. This isn't so much about what the people doing, but more about the way they move, how they behave.

Dorothee Rothbrust, for example, is a painter. I took the pictures in colour, then use Photoshop to make it black and white and adjust the contrast. I wouldn't get the same effect if it were in colour because there'd be too much colour, and we wouldn't see the emotion.

Mumdo Marzouki is a stage illusionist in Saudi Arabia and he performed his magic in front of me. He has his own tent in the backyard. He had a mirror behind him while doing the trick. I was there for an hour and a half and could not figure out the trick - he's that good!

This is what I want to put together, all these movements. I don't make any change in postproduction or change the background because that would be faking.

It must be quite a challenge shooting in black and white when you normally shoot full-colour fashion.

I think it's the same, although in fashion I can control the end results more and the models help me. It's more a collaboration. But for this project I can't tell the artists to do this or that. I don't change their behaviour.

Like the winemaker I shot in Spain - he doesn't like to wear shoes and I couldn't make him wear shoes. He said he likes to feel the earth. Now, when I open a bottle of wine, I think of him.

It's awesome, and the watch is just there - I don't need to really "present" it. We just go with the flow so that it's always about the quality of time, not an advertisement for a watch.

Did you always want to be a photographer?

When I was a child I wanted to be an actor, and that's what I studied for. But my parents were a bit worried and said I needed a Plan B. I liked photography - my grandmother gave me a camera when I was a kid. So I took some courses.

Is being Brazilian either help or hindrance in this profession?

Brazil is full of culture and that's very strong in me. Although I lived for years in Europe and now live in America, I feel very Brazilian inside. I have that taste for colour and shape.

I grew in Rio de Janeiro, a big city. It was a sensual influence and gave me a sense of beauty. Somehow this sensuality belongs to Brazilian culture.

Do you collect cameras?

No, although I still have my first camera. Otherwise I give my old cameras away or sell them. I don't get attached to any camera. It has to be good for work.

I focus on technique. I need control to give life to my art. When rookies ask me for advice I tell them they need to know the techniques, so go to school and read the books to get the basics about being creative.

You don't have to know about light but you have to know how to work with it, like natural light that coming through a window. The camera doesn't make a photographer good - a good photographer can work with any camera. The way you see things is more important.

The pictures I take along the path of my life are something I have fun with, but those aren't the ones I take professionally.

Anybody can take a picture, but not everyone can be a photographer. There's no secret to it - you just keep on going. If you think beauty, you'll find beauty, and if you think art, you'll find art.

  WORK'S A SNAP

- See Pino Gomes' photos at the Bangkok launch of the Gc Smart Luxury collection at Phya Thai Palace on October 27.

- Check out his work at www.PinoGomes.com.