Welcome to this portfolio. My name is Blas Manuel, a 28 year old Spanish photographer and creative writer based in Lisbon. Since you are here, let me tell you my story!
I left my hometown, a small village located in Southern Spain, to study a History BA degree in Seville at the age of 17. The knowledge acquired during these years was fascinating and it deeply enriched my vision of the world. However, I soon realized that History was more of a foundation to my career rather than the area of expertise that I wanted to excel in.
My next steps led me to Athens, a city that I truly called home for three wonderful years. In 2013, Greece was then a hotbed of riots, scenario of clashes between right and left extremist groups and the epicenter of a humanitarian crisis that lasts to this day.
By 2014 I had created a fine network of volunteers, professionals and journalists that were an active part of all the events that were taking place in the country. I even had the opportunity to live with a volunteer, a psychologist and a photojournalist during a few months. The three of them helped me to understand how different can be our approach to the social and humanitarian work depending on our profession.
I loved being a volunteer there and I was really interested in taking the step forward to become a professional on the humanitarian field. Nonetheless, that particular path would not allow me to develop my increasing vocation for aesthetics. Photography, and photojournalism in particular, would allow me not only to be at the center of the events and to do my bit, but also to satisfy my desire to explore my artistic possibilities.
I arrived in Lisbon in 2016 and soon started working in a project that changed my life: I was translating articles for an online magazine, which used to share its offices with an important newspaper in the country. I quickly offered my services and my camera to their editor in chief. The trial period ended satisfactorily for both parts and I officially started working for them in 2017.
After a year studying Photography in the Manchester School of Arts I am back in Lisbon to continue exploring new possibilities and techniques. In fact, I am currently seeking for emerging talents to collaborate with. Are you one of them?
