Photography: Filipe Lucas Frazão
06 / 11 / 2020
When Filipe Lucas Frazão greeted us at his home in São Caetano, Pico, a few seconds were all it took for us to sense the family and – above all – genuine ambience – that it would distinguish this night of our trip.
The photographer born in Caldas da Rainha on mainland Portugal, now spends his time between Pico and Lisbon, and it’s "surrounded by sea and mountains" that he feels most inspired to produce his work. And then there was the question of food, of course, since this was the excuse that originally led us to Ana and Filipe's home. They are the founders of Atlantic Brine, a project that seeks to divulge the nature and gastronomy of the region in its purest state. We felt privileged to sit at the table with the ambassadors of an island whose changing and boundless beauty fascinates at every turn in the road.
Has photography always been a part of your life? My father had an analogue camera that I managed to render useless with so much use. I then set up a black-and-white photo lab in my bedroom and used to spend whole afternoons there. It was addictive. Then, with my degree in Plastic Arts, I think my idea of photography acquired a different dimension, which is normal because we have access to so much information and consider other ways of approaching image. After doing some photography work, I launched a recipe blog where I focused more on food photography on a professional level.
Has photography always been a part of your life? My father had an analogue camera that I managed to render useless with so much use. I then set up a black-and-white photo lab in my bedroom and used to spend whole afternoons there. It was addictive. Then, with my degree in Plastic Arts, I think my idea of photography acquired a different dimension, which is normal because we have access to so much information and consider other ways of approaching image. After doing some photography work, I launched a recipe blog where I focused more on food photography on a professional level.
From frenetic Lisbon to the immersive tranquillity felt in Pico, what led you to split your time between these two regions? I was born in Caldas da Rainha and moved to Lisbon after college. My relationship with Pico came about by chance, initially only as a holiday destination once or twice a year. More recently, this relationship became a real necessity because holidays no longer seemed enough. Lisbon is a stimulating city and has an incredible brightness, but whenever I spent the summer there I had the feeling that something was missing in my life. I love the sea, diving, and that's, essentially, what divides me. This constant confrontation with a raw and untamed nature fascinates me on a daily basis. Life on Pico is much simpler and freer, my relationship with nature is uninterrupted and this makes me feel more creatively active and more motivated as a result.
For more information, visit Filipe Lucas Frazão website.