Edit Notes:

As an emerging and thriving brand, Thypoch is honored to include the 2023 LOBA finalist Gustavo Minas in our user community. Mr. Minas is renowned in the field of street photography, consistently maintaining a humble attitude and continually emphasizing the importance of practice. We are very excited to offer the audience this unique opportunity to gain insight into Mr. Minas' photographic enlightenment, his views on the evolution of this craft, and his plans for future challenges.

Personal Information

Thypoch: What is your profession? Where do you live?

Gustavo Minas: I am a journalist and freelance photographer from Brasília, Brazil.

Thypoch: When did you get your first camera, and what attracted you to photography?

Gustavo Minas: My first camera was a Yashica point-and-shoot I bought in high school. What initially attracted me was the possibility of documenting my personal life. I mainly used this camera to shoot our parties and my first girlfriend. Later, in 2000, I went to university to study journalism, where I learned the basics of “serious” photography, darkroom processing, and printing.

Thypoch: How would you describe your photography style, and what makes you unique?

Gustavo Minas: I mostly document my daily life, primarily on the streets, but also at home and the places I've been.

It's hard to say that I am unique; there is a risk of impostor syndrome, but if we talk about style, I think we all have our “unique” style. We just need to practice long enough for it to appear in our photos. For me, personal style comes from a) your references not only in visual arts but also in reading, music, etc.; b) the things that attract you when shooting; c) your life experiences and the way you view the world. These things mix together to create a personal emotion or atmosphere in your mind that you should try to express when shooting and editing your work.

Thypoch: Have you ever struggled with a lack of recognition? How did you overcome it?

Gustavo Minas: Not entirely. My mentor Carlos Moreira always said that photography should be a tool for self-expression, a medium for your relationship with the world, and those words have always stayed with me. From the start, I was an amateur making a living as a journalist, treating photography as a very serious hobby, but without expecting too much. I started photography before the Instagram and all the hype for recognition, and I think that helped. Especially in street photography, it is essential to be satisfied with the practice itself and not to have too many expectations from the world; otherwise, it’s easy to get frustrated.

Thypoch: When did you gain fame, and what is your greatest achievement in photography?

Gustavo Minas: I'm not sure if I am really that famous, but the whole process has been very natural. I started shooting street photography around 2009, and every year there have been some small events. In 2012, I was the runner-up for the London Street Photography Festival. In 2017, I received a category award for the “Station” series at the Annual Latin American Photography Competition. In 2019, I published a book (The Greatest Shadows, Least Light), which Adobe Lightroom turned into a video introduction and I launched an online course on the Domestika platform. In 2023, I was shortlisted for the Leica Oskar Barnack Award. All of these things are significant.

Thypoch: What advice would you give to photographers who want to improve?

Gustavo Minas: You must practice every day. You don’t have to go out specifically to shoot as I did, but I strongly advise you to carry your camera with you at all times, even for mundane tasks like shopping. If you only shoot when you're on vacation in a foreign country, you won't make progress. Try to see your city through the eyes of a tourist. Just hop on any bus or subway train to a place you've never been. Also, as I mentioned earlier, try to find satisfaction within rather than waiting for recognition from others.

Thypoch: What is your next challenge? Or what area would you like to break through?

Gustavo Minas: Portraiture is a mystery to me; it's something I love but find challenging, especially when shooting someone I'm not very familiar with. For me, the next challenge is always finding new ways to combine my work into a series, just like I did with my second book, The Flowing City, which will be published in August by Eyeshot Publishing.

The Story with Thypoch

Thypoch: What is your overall impression of Thypoch?

Gustavo Minas: Thypoch produces solid lenses that deliver excellent image quality even at maximum aperture. The build quality is exceptional, and I must mention that they are also very beautiful objects.

Thypoch: What are your expectations for the future development of Thypoch?

Gustavo Minas: A 75mm or 90mm f2.8 lens would be nice.

Thypoch: Could you please provide 3 of your favorite Thypoch photos and explain why? (Camera used)

Leica M240 + Simera 28mm f/1.4

Leica M240 + Simera 28mm f/1.4

Leica M240 + Simera 28mm f/1.4

Gustavo Minas: I took all these photos in the first few days I touched it with the Leica M240 and Simera 28mm.

I think they all carry a sense of mystery and a bit of ambiguity, which is something I always try to find when I’m on the street.

Find Gustavo Minas on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/gustavominas/