David Velez’s option to images is marked through a definite hobby in shape, geometry, and the quiet vulnerabilities of masculinity. Based totally in Seixal, close to Lisbon, David holds a point in Images and Visible Tradition from the IADE-U Institute of Artwork, Design and Undertaking.
His portfolio balances type and way of life with a devoted find out about of the male shape and attractiveness. Viewing images as an evolving self-discipline the place the training procedure by no means in point of fact finishes, Velez creates paintings that feels polished, planned, and deeply human. We spoke with David about his educational foundations, the subtleties of taking pictures the male shape, and his steady evolution as an artist.
David, to kick issues off, may just you percentage a bit of about your early days in Portugal? What impressed you to review images and visible tradition at IADE-U?
My hobby for images started round highschool. I have in mind my folks at all times having movie cameras round the home. As a child, I might use them to {photograph} my toys and rooms.
To be utterly truthful, when I completed highschool with a direction in graphic design, I felt a bit of misplaced. I in fact took an opening yr the place I did mainly not anything! (Laughs). Although the affection for images was once already there, I didn’t know what my subsequent steps will have to be. School wasn’t initially in my plans.
Then, I came upon the images stage at IADE-U. With my folks’ improve, I enrolled to deepen my wisdom—particularly round studio images and synthetic gentle.
Your paintings highlights attractiveness, the male shape, and frame images, all of which require numerous believe. How do you construct rapport along with your fashions to lead them to really feel relaxed and protected?
I at all times attempt to stay the ambience on set a laugh and comfortable. I play song and ask my fashions what they prefer to hear so they are able to unwind. Most significantly, we communicate neatly upfront in regards to the shoot. We talk about the type of pictures we wish to create, their convenience ranges, and what kind of pores and skin they’re k appearing.
I percentage inspiration pictures and provides transparent course during the shoot. If I mission overall self belief, it is helping the style really feel relaxed too.
For private initiatives, I deliberately search for male fashions who’re already ok with this taste of images and posing with fewer garments. I would like the method to really feel easy for them. We focal point on easy, grounded poses—like sitting at the ground, studying a guide, or simply strolling round. The poses would possibly no longer really feel herbal within the second, however they appear utterly herbal after all.
If I display that I’m tremendous relaxed, that can help in making the style extra relaxed.
You’ve discussed that finding out in images by no means in point of fact ends. Having a look again at your early paintings in comparison to now, what’s the greatest technical or visible lesson you’ve realized?
It’s in fact humorous to seem again at my first pictures. I used to do numerous self-portraits, they usually had been so foolish and technically tough! I began out like maximum photographers do—capturing flora, macros, and landscapes.
However as I discovered my hobby for capturing the male shape, the most important shift become my method and course. I now not simply carry a style to a location, snap endless pictures, and hope for the most efficient.
Nowadays, I am going in with a transparent imaginative and prescient and explicit pictures in thoughts. Even if the fashions are absolutely clothed, I care for the styling to make sure it aligns with my aesthetic. Early on, it was once simply me, a digicam, and a man capturing for hours with out a plan. Now, each and every body is planned.
Your portfolio transitions easily between way of life pictures and structured type images. How do you steadiness spontaneous, real-life power with the stern regulate of style shoots?
I in fact focal point extra on way of life, business pictures, and style take a look at shoots than haute couture. As a result of those types are other, they require distinctive vibes.
What I find irresistible to do is mix them. I combine components of style with way of life, including a “horny” temper that defines my paintings. Should you take a look at my portfolio, you’ll see I don’t shoot avant-garde outfits or loopy type tales; that’s simply no longer my taste. My option to type is softer, leaning closely into male attractiveness, anatomy, and a comfortable surroundings.
The sunshine and coastal geography close to Lisbon are stunning. How does your own home setting in Seixal affect your number of places and lights setups?
I’ve a home made studio the place I shoot incessantly the use of each strobes and herbal gentle. I’m fortunate to have a area with quite a lot of spots that function mini-sets, particularly all over spring and summer season when the sunshine is lovely.
Round my house, there are woods and inexperienced areas that are ideal for outside shoots. Plus, I’m most effective 25 mins clear of the seashore and 25 mins from Lisbon. That makes it extremely simple to modify between coastal backdrops and concrete cityscapes.
When photographing the human frame, it’s simple to focal point purely on anatomy. But, your pictures at all times really feel like non-public portraits. How do you be sure the topic’s character shines thru?
It actually is determined by the function of the shoot. From time to time, the principle focal point is the individual and their character. In the ones circumstances, the frame is there, however it serves the portrait. We discover who they’re thru explicit poses and instructions.
Different occasions, the shoot is only about anatomy—and that’s utterly nice! There’s not anything flawed with celebrating the human shape for its shapes on my own. Now not each and every photograph wishes an enormous backstory or deep emotional weight to be precious.
Virtual portraiture frequently depends on heavy pores and skin smoothing. How do you method enhancing to take care of a herbal, truthful pores and skin texture?
I gained’t lie—it’s simple to lose myself in post-processing and pores and skin smoothing every now and then! (Laughs). Nevertheless it at all times is determined by whether or not it’s a shopper activity or a non-public mission.
I like colour grading; I believe a photograph isn’t in point of fact entire till I’ve implemented my colour palette. On the other hand, retouching calls for intense focal point so I don’t pass the road into taking a look unnatural. I attempt to admire the herbal pores and skin texture whilst giving the photograph what it wishes. I’m continuously finding out new retouching ways to stay my paintings taking a look polished but truthful.
Development a world presence on platforms like 500px exposes your paintings to a world target audience. How has this formed your view of what makes a portrait universally relatable?
In truth, I’ve at all times believed in developing images for myself quite than looking to please everybody else. On account of that, my point of view on what makes a picture “universally relatable” hasn’t shifted a lot. It at all times is determined by who’s taking a look on the photograph.
That stated, it’s fantastic to listen to from other people in all places the arena and get their distinctive comments. When world shoppers guide me in particular as a result of they love my aesthetic, it’s a great feeling.
Our earlier featured photographer, Enrique Murciano, requested: “What has to occur in a scene so that you can really feel that you haven’t most effective taken {a photograph} but in addition captured one thing true, genuine, and truthful?”
The power between the style and me needs to be wonderful. When the sunshine hits the style completely and the whole lot aligns, I am getting this wave of natural pleasure.
I get started giving compliments, pronouncing “Oh my god,” and protecting my fingers to my brow. Then I display the again of the digicam to the style, and they’ve the very same response. That’s once I know we’ve captured one thing genuine.
I most often finally end up pronouncing, “I do know I stated simply 5 extra mins, and it’s already been an hour—however that is actually just right!”
To wrap issues up, do you could have any upcoming sequence, editorials, or ingenious collaborations you’d love to percentage?
In 2024, I began a chain known as Golden Boys. It specializes in the male shape the use of a selected taste of heat gentle and colour grading. It’s a easy idea, however I like the cultured.
I’ve been capturing with fashions, dancers, and gymnasts. I’m actually happy with the effects up to now, and I’m hoping to stay increasing the sequence. My dream is to show off it in an exhibition at some point.
