Photography — Nando Costa

As a photographer

I was first introduced to photography when I was around nine years old, often assisting my older brother as he practiced with our grandfather’s Nikon. Later in high school, I began exploring on my own, which quickly became a hobby. I was excited about the idea of capturing a scene and freezing time within the confines of a single frame.

In the years that followed, I kept on honing my skills through experimentation and guidance from friends and teachers, playing with a variety of color, black and white, and infrared films. Eventually, I set up a makeshift darkroom and began creating photographic prints using a technique similar to Man Ray’s solarization method.

Later, as I progressed in my career in motion graphics, it was only a matter of time before I ventured into live action. Naturally, analog and digital film cameras became yet another medium through which I could tell stories. This led me to explore the high-speed world of Phantom cameras and the slow and deliberate process of stop-motion as well.

Today, I use photography as a meditative activity. Somehow, I feel more present when I am traveling and exploring new places, if I look through a camera’s viewfinder. It is also a fun way to ‘see’ the things that would otherwise go unnoticed. The photos on this page are examples of these moments.

After purchasing my first Leica camera, I became enamored with the simplicity of its interactions and the unique focus it allows me to achieve. These photos were taken using a combination of the Leica SL3, the M10-R, M10-Monochrom, and Leica Q.

For more on my perspective on photography, check out Slowing Down With Photography on LinkedIn, and Monochrome Vision on Substack.