Ok, let's start with your name, age and the reason for this web site.
Massalo, 21 years old. The reason for this web site... Well, I wanted to show the world (and not just the people who enter my room) how I see things, how I feel and understand them, I thought that with a web site I could, in a way, accomplish this, show you my ViSioN of the world.
That's a good reason isn't it?

So you are trying to "resume"(or show if you want) your ViSioN through
visual arts in general (photography, epaintings, etc...)? is that correct?
Yes. I believe that photography (and any other art form) is a language that, if used correctly, can express things that spoken or written words could never.
It is a powerful medium, and beautiful too.
I like taking pictures, it's a bit like fishing (I know it sounds strange): you are in contact with something that is bigger than you (the sea), and you are trying to capture a bit of it (a fish..or a shoe...), trying to capture "that moment", and when you do, when you take that "perfect" photograph (if there's any such thing), it's incredible.

Did you ever capture "that moment"?
Not really, but I've been close, and I know that every time I press the shutter I get closer.
 

When did you start taking pictures?
I don't know.... Early I guess....

Where you influenced by anyone? By other photographers or artists in general?
 Well I guess that I've been influenced by every photograph, painting, song, poem, book, story I've ever seen, heard or read... Specially the ones I've liked or disliked the most. That's how things are I think, every time I'm in contact with something I like, I end up absorbing
a bit of it.
 But yes, as a kid there was this guy in my flat, a friend of mine (much older than I), that used to take pictures for CDC (compania de danca contemporanea -Luanda, Angola), great pictures, and his passion for photography did impress me. 
I think that's when it all started. 
 Then came two other people, a friend and a cousin, then books (Robert Cappa, Dan Eldon, Henri-Cartier Besson....), and the story goes on...

Do you have a favourite photographer or photograph?
Photographs I do. There's about 10.000 of them. But there's one in particular, probably Cappa's most famous, I don't remember the name of the picture, but it's a shot of a spanish soldier in the exact moment of his death (bullet). It seems that it was an accidental picture, but in that shot
Cappa resumed the very essence of photography: the moment. 
Ironic I know...

Do you have a personal style?
I take pictures. Christian Dior has a style. I just take pictures.

What I meant WAS, do you have any particular method of work, do you have preferences in what settings, light, subject are concerned?
Hm... let me see. I prefer natural light that's for sure, much softer. I don't really care about which subjects to shoot, as long as they interest me...

Do you prefer black and white or color film?
Same. It really depends where, who, what and when I'm shooting. Both films have their strengths and weaknesses. Lately I've been concentrating on BW (building the portfolio.. .finally....), for portraits and low light pictures. 
BW is really great for softening tones, and reacts well in low light (even with slower films).
 

Do you like photographing people?
Yes, I do. It's funny, I got the impression up ''til' now that women react better in front of the camera than men do, they are just so more natural.
I guess that it has also something to do with the fact that I'm a man.
I love kids, they're  the greatest subjects, they just don't give a damn about you or your camera, they're even more natural than dogs are. 
Somehow dogs never seem to be just dogs in my pictures.. I'm almost sure they actually
try to act like humans in front of the camera, just like humans try to act like super models...
Incredible.

What  equipment do you usually use?
Well I usually just use my head and eyes.

I'm talking about cameras man! and accessories...
Oh... Normally I use a Pentax mz-50 body with whatever lens is mounted on it (usually 28-105mm zoom sigma), but lately I've been using my old Vivitar 3000s with a standard 50mm (reliable and sure thing). I'm obligated to walk around with a tripod for the low light stuff. Usually no filters (apart from the Uvs), but I do use a strong red filter occasionally.

Any odd stuff?
Yep, candles (great light).

Any ritual before and after?
Wait...We're still talking about photography right?

Erm...yes....
Not really, I do like to put some music though, while I'm shooting, it helps me concentrate.

Anything in particular?
hmm..no, choices change according with my mood at the time. For the "um tempo para incertezas" composition for example, I was listening to Massive Attack.
 

And about your writings, what is it all about? what do you write about?
About what I feel at the moment. It's mostly very personal stuff, these small books are more like diaries for me, each text has a very personal meaning, usually related to something that happened or was happening to me at the time of writing.

Do you have a favourite poem, writer or book?
Poems, there are so many... I like simplicity, and Jacques Prevert's poems are among my favourite for that. I also love e.e. cummings, Alda Lara, Agostinho Neto...
Writers and books, yes there are a few, Frank Herbert's "Dune" (the whole saga), Isabel Allende's "Aphrodite" etc....

Do you believe in God, massalo?
I believe that God must have been the greatest photographer of all times, he probably created this world to take different pictures, better pictures... But then he made the mistake of creating us (to pose I guess), and we ended up stealing the show from him.

Do you eat rice crispies?
Occasionally yes, with milk.

Do you drink coke?
One bottle everyday, just like the good doctor said.

What doctor?
The good one.

Do you consider yourself sane?
Well.... Sometimes yes, why?

No nothing, just asking...
ok. And now what?

Nothing.
Ok.....