You're probably tired of hearing that pictures tell stories and are worth a thousand words. But since we never tire of the world of photography here, let's wrap this up. Memories SquaredOur first Photography Contest was a resounding success!
You must have seen it in ECOM's Instagram Here's a glimpse into what Memórias ao Quadrado was all about. The contest was designed to spark and encourage the passion of young photographers in the Federal District. One of the initiatives to achieve this goal was the publication of the winning photos in the second edition of ECOM Magazine.
Out of a total of 151 photos submitted in homage to our little square, also known as the Federal Capital, four photos were selected as winners by our jury – two from High School and two from University. In addition, two photos were a hit in the popular vote, securing prizes for two more participants.
We had the honor of speaking briefly with four of the winners. We talked about their experience participating in Memórias ao Quadrado and about each of their relationships with photography. Read the full conversation below:
Where did your interest in photography come from?
- Ana Clara, 17 years old (1st Place High School): My interest in photography began when I got my first cell phone and fell in love with photographing places, nature, and moments that I wanted to keep for life. At that time, I went to a photography contest exhibition at Park Shopping and was enchanted by the photos I saw, which motivated me even more to take pictures.
- Letícia Macedo Barbosa, 18 years old (2nd Place High School): I've always enjoyed taking photos because it makes me feel good, so I decided to buy a simple camera to take better pictures, and that's when my love for photography only grew.
- Júlia Xavier, 25 years old (1st Place in Higher Education): I believe photography came into my life in a very natural way. I've always been very passionate about capturing moments, so much so that I have selfies (which weren't even known as such back then) from when I was about 8 years old. At 14, my father gave me a semi-professional camera, and with it I took pictures of my daily life, mainly at school and with my classmates.
- Júlia Zakarewicz, 26 years old (2nd place in Higher Education): When I was 15, my aunt and uncle worked as photographers, so I looked up to them and started wanting to study and experiment with photography. Since then, I've identified with that Adriana Calcanhoto song, "I see everything framed."
How did you feel when you saw that you were one of the winners?
- Ana Clara (1st Place High School): I was in shock and couldn't believe it. I asked my parents to read the email to me to make sure I hadn't misread it. Afterwards, I was so happy! This was, without a doubt, one of my greatest achievements to date.
- Letícia Macedo Barbosa (2nd Place High School): I was surprised, very happy and emotional, because it was the first time I felt that my work was recognized; it showed me that I'm doing the right thing.
- Júlia Xavier (1st Place Higher Education): Extremely emotional. Photography has always been a part of my life, but unfortunately, it was never a priority. I always had many doubts about whether or not I should pursue a career in it. Winning this contest gives me some certainty about that.
- Júlia Zakarewicz (2nd place Higher Education): I was so, so, so happy!!!
Was it difficult to choose the photo for the contest?
- Ana Clara (1st Place High School): It was kind of difficult, yes! I took a lot of photos on the Esplanade and had to choose between about ten options that I really liked. In the end, I ended up choosing the photo of the Cathedral because I used a Polaroid camera and it was the photo that best matched the theme of the contest.
- Letícia Macedo Barbosa (2nd Place High School): It was a difficult decision to choose the photo for the contest, but I ended up opting for the one I liked, the one I had a special fondness for whenever I saw it.
- Júlia Xavier (1st Place Higher Education): Not specifically. I recently moved and started taking a new route home, which includes catching a bus at the Plano Piloto bus station around 21:30 PM, close to the curfew recently imposed due to the pandemic. Because of this, I started to see how much the pandemic has affected that place, which has always been a busy intersection in Brasília. Seeing it so empty startled me, but it sparked this photographic awakening, resulting in pandemic-era portraits saved on my phone. The photo I took was one of the first, and it conveys much of what I've been seeing. It reproduces not only a place that connects Brasília to its roots, but also the moment we are living in. Therefore, I had no doubts about sending it.
- Júlia Zakarewicz (2nd place Higher Education): No, when I saw the theme I already knew what the photo would be.
What does photography mean to you?
- Ana Clara (1st Place High School): For me, photography is an art form that captures moments in our lives. It's one of my favorite hobbies; I love the process! From taking the photos to editing them. And I love even more, after some time, looking back at them to remember those moments.
- Letícia Macedo Barbosa (2nd Place High School): Photography means a lot to me because I feel a duty to capture the most beautiful things in the world, whether it's the beauty of a person or a place. I can record moments, feelings, customs…
- Júlia Xavier (1st Place Higher Education): Photography is a pause in time. It's a moment that doesn't return. It's the memory of something we may or may not want to relive, but sometimes, that choice isn't even possible. But you know the photograph will be there, to evoke all the feelings that moment allows you to feel.
- Júlia Zakarewicz (2nd place Higher Education): The possibility of somehow immortalizing the moment.
See how Brasília and photography are a perfect match?! Tell us in the comments what you thought of the story of the winners of Memórias ao Quadrado.
