Jose F. Costa biography — Jose F. Costa Studio

Biography

Born June 5, 1964, Lisbon, Portugal.

When I was small I was free! I was able to go out and play with my friends all day long. Luckily, we were all able to survive the dangers of being on our own! I can still feel the smell of springtime and the fresh winter air. My mother used to send me to run errands at the grocery store quite often. I always enjoyed it because I always kept the change and, after a while, I exchanged it for a note. I always liked to collect money. Even today I have a hard time deciding between buying things or keeping the money! What I liked to do most was riding a bicycle. Besides, we spent time dreaming.

Me, at Portas do Sol, Santarém, at one and a half years old.If I had to pick up one photo that would define me as a person, I would choose this one. The smile and the openness that I see in this photo is my essence. I see the eyes and the expression that still live amazed with the world. This photograph allows me to look into a mirror without distortion. I can see my soul.I love this photograph! — **Me, at Portas do Sol, Santarém, at one and a half years old.**
If I had to pick up one photo that would define me as a person, I would choose this one. The smile and the openness that I see in this photo is my essence. I see the eyes and the expression that still live amazed with the world. This photograph allows me to look into a mirror without distortion. I can see my soul.
I love this photograph!

My godparentsThey with me, on the day of my baptism, when I was a month old, in the Palace of Queluz, Portugal, July 5, 1964. — **My godparents**
They with me, on the day of my baptism, when I was a month old, in the Palace of Queluz, Portugal, July 5, 1964.

My dad and my cousin Emilia.It looks like I was amazed by the photographer, and my dad and my cousin amazed by me! Maybe it was my 10kg weight at six months old! — **My dad and my cousin Emilia.**
It looks like I was amazed by the photographer, and my dad and my cousin amazed by me! Maybe it was my 10kg weight at six months old!

In my third birthday, with a friend of my parents.I remember this guy. His name was Joaquim. He was a free spirit. — **In my third birthday, with a friend of my parents.**
I remember this guy. His name was Joaquim. He was a free spirit.

Me at six years oldAt the photographer Mário Pinto’s studio. An era where people were concerned about preserving memories! Nowadays, we only feed the feeds! — **Me at six years old**
At the photographer Mário Pinto’s studio. An era where people were concerned about preserving memories! Nowadays, we only feed the feeds!

Me with my brother in my arms, at Trafaria, during summer season

**My parents at their wedding day**

When I look at this photograph, I see my mother in love with my father, and when I look at him, I see happiness in his eyes. I see how beautiful they were; I see a beautiful photograph! I see a beautiful, eternalized moment!

My godmather with meA great proof of love and affection. — **My godmather with me**
A great proof of love and affection.

From left to right: my mother when she was sixteen, my grandmother, my grandfather ( he died before I was born ), and my mother again.

Me in great style!I was raised surrounded by women. My grandmother lived with us and my godmother lived in the same building, on the ground floor. — **Me in great style!**
I was raised surrounded by women. My grandmother lived with us and my godmother lived in the same building, on the ground floor.

My mother.She was beautiful in her youth. She still is. — **My mother.**
She was beautiful in her youth. She still is.

My grandmother MariaShe died when my father was about two years old. My father does not have any memories of her and this is the only photograph that he has. It is a tiny and very degraded photograph. — **My grandmother Maria**
She died when my father was about two years old. My father does not have any memories of her and this is the only photograph that he has. It is a tiny and very degraded photograph.

At the photographer Mário Pinto’s studio

At Castelo de VideFrom left to right: my father, António, my aunt Alice, my godmother Lourdes, my grandmother Eufrásia, my mother, Manuela, my godfather Adriano, my brother António, my godfather’s son, Paulo, and me. — **At Castelo de Vide**
From left to right: my father, António, my aunt Alice, my godmother Lourdes, my grandmother Eufrásia, my mother, Manuela, my godfather Adriano, my brother António, my godfather’s son, Paulo, and me.

My uncle António, at Lagoa de AlbufeiraI used to call him Titó. He was quite a character, always joking and laughing. Here, he is pretending to be a woman with an artefact that my mother made to exchange our swimsuits at the beach. I loved him as a … — **My uncle António, at Lagoa de Albufeira**
I used to call him Titó. He was quite a character, always joking and laughing. Here, he is pretending to be a woman with an artefact that my mother made to exchange our swimsuits at the beach. I loved him as a father, and he loved me as a son. We were very close to each other. I miss him heaps!

Well…

I bought my first reflex camera in 1988. It was a german Pratika because it was half the price of the Japanese brands. It’s still working today, but I always regret not having a Japanese one. Even today, this love affair with the tools is the trigger to keep me going taking portraits.

At 46 years old, I was able to go study photography at a deeper level at IADE university. I believe that my destiny is to live things somehow “out of time”! Maybe it is the right time! Since then, I have been working as a photographer venturing into these crazy times.

I like to work on projects involving people and their places, depicting a reality that can suggest different stories to the viewer. For me, the experience of the photographic act and the final picture play the same role in my life. I want to take portraiture to some pure essence.