Patrícia Furtado - webdesign and other stuff » Photography

Tilt-shift miniature faking

Patricia Furtado — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 09:58:54 +0000

By simulating a narrow depth of field and very saturated colours on a photo with an elevated point of view you can make a normal scene look like a small scale model.

I’ve been dying to try these techniques for ages, but I just didn’t have the appropriate images. Until now, that is…

Read more on tilt-shift miniature faking on this wikipedia entry.

My sweet Easter treat

Patricia Furtado — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 22:51:00 +0000

Helena calls me aunt Patita, knows how to plant the perfect kiss on a cheek, imitates my every gesture - specially dance moves -, bosses everyone around by pointing her little finger, makes faces for the camera, speaks a language of her own and her smiles and giggles are highly contagious. Better than sugar almonds and chocolate eggs, don’t you think?

Na na na na naa!

Patricia Furtado — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 11:42:46 +0000

Kaiser Chiefs, at Coliseu de Lisboa, yesterday: what a great band, what a great gig, what a great night! I’m in luuuuurve!

I was a bit too far from a stage that was a bit too smoky (and a bit too busy jumping up and down and shouting nananaas like a crazy teenager) to get nicer photos. Same as four years ago at the Brixton Academy, London, (was it really that long ago?!) and at T in the Park festival in Scotland.

Nelson Cascais Quintet @ Hot Clube

Patricia Furtado — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 17:28:51 +0000

Five amazing musicians, a cozy little jazz club and a few g&ts in good company made for an excellent night out, despite the stormy weather we had to face to get out there.

I already knew my friend and client André Fernandes was a fantastic guitar player, but it was great to finally see - and hear - it for myself, at the launch of Nelson Cascais Quintet’s new album Guruka.

Next stop: the launch of André’s new album, Imaginarium, on the 17th February, at the Culturgest Auditorium.

Billy

Patricia Furtado — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 19:24:50 +0000

Surfer soup

Patricia Furtado — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 11:53:21 +0000

The weather was glorious on the last Sunday in October. By the end of the afternoon, Carcavelos beach was still crowded. And the sea presented a pattern of little black dots, the silhouettes of surfers floating patiently, waiting waves that were few and far apart. The sea was a surfer soup.

A few snaps of Lisbon before I go

Patricia Furtado — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 01:00:09 +0000

When I was studying, I used to cruise downtown Lisbon on a daily basis. Nowadays, I don’t go there often anymore. When I needed to go in that direction, a couple of days ago, I decided to take the camera with me, let it dress me as a tourist again, and take some casual snapshots to post here.

It’s amazing how having a camera on your hands can change your attitude so much. Things that have been there since long, had certainly crossed my eyes, but never grabbed my gaze until now.

I assume lots of observant people grasp those colourful details without the need for a purpose. Not me. If I don’t force myself to lookout, my distracted mind will turn my attention inwards and I’m as good as blind.

Lost in Coimbra

Patricia Furtado — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 14:26:33 +0000

Last week, as I was heading to Barcamp08, I had the chance to take some snapshots of beautiful Coimbra. And it was indeed by chance, as the event’s venue was in the modern but remote Polo II, well removed from the city centre. Head in the clouds as always, I failed to check google maps before I left home, and made my way up the hill to the old University buildings instead.

Downtown Coimbra was teeming with strollers and shoppers, silently inviting me to slow down and enjoy the sun that was finally coming through the dissipating clouds. I did have some time to spare before the meetings, so why rush?

It wasn’t until I reached the summit of that very steep climb over irregular stone pavement, and dragged myself around the impressive university buildings in a wild goose chase, that I realised the department I was looking for was miles away.

My high-heeled feet weren’t too happy to find that I needed to walk all the way back down to my starting point and catch a taxi. But inn the end, the touristing around such beautiful surroundings, with my camera in hand, was worth the pain and made my weekend away just a bit nicer and richer.

The beach

Patricia Furtado — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 22:08:54 +0000

Praia da Areia Branca, Portugal.

Banned as I am from sunbathing this year, this is probably as close to the beach as I’m going to get. As it happened, there were pretty big clouds over the sky, so I could keep my jealousy of the sun-basking- holiday-makers in check, and use up my time taking photos of the dull grey misty skies.

But it’s funny how Photoshop works. You just have to pull a few sliders to cool the temperature, up the contrast and the saturation, lower the exposure, and you end up seeing things that were hidden to your eyes.

Like mother, like daughter

Patricia Furtado — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 12:46:09 +0000

Spotting Sunday and Cookie cuddling together like this, I had no choice but to reach for the camera.

In case you’re wondering, Sunday, the mom, is the one on the right.