June 12, 2018

Meet Miguel Morna Freitas

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Miguel Morna Freitas.

Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I was born and raised in Madeira Island, Portugal and came to Chicago at 17 to study at Loyola University where I graduated with a degree in computer science and math. I also took a number of photography courses and always carried a camera with me wherever I traveled. With 20 years of a successful corporate career, in the Fall of 2010 I decided to fully pursue my passion in photography. Loving the outdoors, I started by going on many sunrise and sunset walks mostly at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle and focusing on nature photography. Also, with all my three kids in dance since a very young age, I then started capturing dance poses and action shots while incorporating them with nature. My work has now evolved and my specialty is fine art portraits in dance and the performing arts as well as women and family portraits.

The majority of the sessions are now in studio where I can truly craft the light to match my vision and my client’s needs. Although I always enjoy on location shoots primarily for High School Seniors and Families, I sure miss the subtropical island weather which is not so easily found in Chicago. The upside, plenty of opportunities to create on location images as we do get all four seasons albeit, as all Chicagoans know, two are considerably longer. I’m a member of the Professional Photographers of America (PPA) and the American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP). I have completed Master Classes in Dance and Portraiture photography with three of today’s foremost American photographers: Lois Greenfield in NYC and Sandro Miller and Paul Elledge in Chicago.

Please tell us about your art.
I’m a fine art photographer who loves to create images that are the result of a close collaboration between my vision for the shot and the talent each client brings to a session. I like clean, classic images as well as playing with light and colors. I strive to create my final image in camera allowing only for very minor edits as composites and heavy editing are not my style. For example, I work with many aspiring and professional dancers. Along with providing them with headshots and audition poses, I love to incorporate and freeze motion. Whether it is their flowy hair, costume or fabrics I provide, we look to capture that fraction of second during, for example, a “grand jeté” that is not only in proper form but also aesthetically pleasing if not awe-inspiring. Although cameras offer the ability to shoot many frames per second, I always shoot one frame at a time.

Thus, anticipating the right moment is very much the challenge and the reward. After I compose the shot, I no longer look through the viewfinder as my timing would be off. Instead, I use a remote trigger release which allows me to look directly at the dancer and the entire movement including any props we may use. As much as I may love a certain image, it is only successful when the dancer/talent also loves it. This approach takes time, stamina and trust. When you incorporate movement especially fabrics, every image will be different. Thus, it may take a few tries to reach the image we all love as pose and facial expression are also key. There is also a lot of exploration in my sessions. A certain approach or look may lead to new ideas and resulting images. As a dance parent for over 15 years but not a dancer myself, I also work with a close group of advanced or professional dancer assistants in my sessions which leads to a true collaboration amongst all of us.

I shoot wireless to a large tablet and all my studio strobes offer a very short flash duration which, effectively, is what freezes the movement. The strobes are battery operated as I strive to have no cords around the studio area where dancers are working for everyone’s safety and benefit. In the end, there is nothing more rewarding than, after working on a specific shot for a while, seeing the genuine smile/enthusiasm emerge on the dancer’s face when that last captured image hits the tablet. That’s when I know we have created something truly special! But for me, an image is not final until it is printed. Creating and delivering artwork for my clients whether a large metal print or beautifully framed portrait is the ultimate artistic expression. I strongly believe that the Artwork of Life belongs in PRINT!

As an artist, how do you define success and what quality or characteristic do you feel is essential to success as an artist?
As an artist, I feel that is absolutely key to follow your heart. We all bring a unique perspective based on our own story and life experiences. Exploring and finding one’s core purpose is what enables success. Success in only achieved when you create images that make you and your clients heart flutter. You need to stay close to your core purpose and, although you find inspiration from the world around you and from other artists, you must find your unique voice. This will help you find your tribe, those who value and become excited about your work.

How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
I am currently focused on a Rodin Inspired project where I work primarily with dancers as models/sculptures. I was inspired by an exhibit of the French sculptor’s work at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, MA when I was visiting Boston a couple years back. Rodin worked with many dancers and acrobats as they provided him with a wealth of poses and ability to pursue his common passion to capture movement.

I have studied his work and use it as inspiration to create images where dancers collaborate with me to create poses that also incorporate fabrics. The resulting images are inspired by his work but blend in my style of capturing movement in a photograph. This lends itself to some beautiful studio work where dramatic lighting is everything. You can review the currently published images along with the dancers I have had the privilege to collaborate with here: http://rodin.mornafreitasphotography.com/ This has been a wonderful way to explore lighting and movement as I started by working with individual dancers then included small (3-5) and, more recently, larger groups (around 10). I’m working towards hosting an exhibit of my Rodin Inspired project this coming Fall/Winter in the Chicago western suburbs.

Contact Info:

Website: http://www.mornafreitasphotography.com
Phone: 630-334-6855
Email: miguel@mornafreitasphotography.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/miguel_mfphoto
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MornaFreitasPhotography
Other: https://vimeo.com/mornafreitasphotography

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