Portugese photographer Zé Pedro Henriques almost wanted to quit photography. But even if we hide, maybe our passion always finds us again at the end.
“This last year has been a mess in terms of photography for me. Last August I decided I wasn’t going to develop any film roll for a whole year, but little did I know that it would be hard to keep that promise. I actually ended up developing only 3 film rolls and kept away 13. Got one broken camera, another stolen as I left it outside my house for 5 minutes and someone took it; gave another one away as a christmas gift to my little cousin, and ended up with none. Negative thoughts about quiting photography ran wild through my mind throughout January. I ended up quitting something else, which was a lot better for me I guess. But in February I bought a new camera, through an awesome deal, however I had to use my Dad´s old Pentax lenses with it, and up until today I dont feel confortable using them as daily kit, because I’m plain scared of breaking them. Well, in April I finally bought a new one, with half of the money coming from my sweet girlfriend, who has been helping me out getting everything straight in my head. So I got an Olympus mju-ii, which is a pocket film camera, and that changed my approach to photography; I just have to slide it out of the pocket and its ready to shoot, capturing unique moments as well, but in different locations and more closed environments. So for this series, I chose 13 photos, one for each film roll I developed.”
The dog – that’s Bubu asking us if can come in the front
The guy with white jacket and the funky mustache – that’s one of my best friends wearing a complete make over/outfit for our celebration on the 4th of July
The pool hug – that’s my friend Francisco and his girlfriend at our old house. I miss that pool a lot.
Triple Exposure Dj – That’s Francisco once again at one of our Balearic Parties.
The girl walking on the edge of the mountain – that’s my beautiful girlfriend during our last trip to Geres in the north of Portugal.
Pinkish Yellow Flower – That’s a Plumeria branch, that I took from Madeira’s Island in September and when it was slowly evolving into a tree. But our other dog has destroyed it.
Those flowers are the ones people use to make Leis in Hawaii (flower necklaces), they have such a unique smell. I still got the last Lei (all dried) that I’ve got from my family when I left Hawaii 7 years ago.
Friendship Kiss. That’s Vera and Andre sharing a friendship kiss. I don´t only live with them but they are part of my family for as long as I can remember.
Mirror Shot. That’s Barbara Alves holding the camera. She is my amazing friend, always supporting my activities and if I had to pick someone else to live with the 4 us, I would pick her. And in the back, Francisco. This a bathroom shot at our friends wedding, which was a crazy beautiful night. I call it the Estoril Pie – The wedding.
The girl cleaning her sunglasses. That’s Josy Monteiro a beautiful Portuguese model. I’ve never seen someone with such a cool Afro.
Colorful Dance Floor – That’s at our friends wedding.
A wild cow I came across in Geres.
The guy with the blue shirt and pink wrist bands is Tiago. One of the best Djs from Lux club. His nights are called Trust and they take place once a month, so if you are in Lisbon make sure to come.
The girl at the coffee shop wearing blue. That’s Marianne again, she is an amazing model and even better girlfriend :)
7 comments
It’s interesting to see how even passionate photographers can feel discouraged. Zé Pedro Henriques’ journey is relatable. I think it’s important to reconnect with what inspires us, especially during tough times. His dedication to push through is motivating. I can relate to that feeling of wanting to give up when things aren’t going well.
“What a rollercoaster of a year, but I’m so glad you didn’t quit! Losing gear is heartbreaking, but finding that Olympus mju-ii sounds like exactly the spark you needed. There is something so special about the spontaneity of a pocket camera. This series is beautiful, and knowing the story behind these 13 rolls makes the photos even more impactful. Props to your girlfriend for the awesome support, too!”
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Zé Pedro’s story of keeping 13 undeveloped rolls for a full year before finally developing them is such a compelling statement on patience and creative trust. The resulting images have that beautiful grainy intimacy that digital capture can never quite replicate — you can feel the weight of that waiting in every frame. During my own creative downtime between editing sessions I usually head over to most bet for some live entertainment to recharge, and then come back to analog work like this feeling genuinely refreshed.
Zé Pedro’s story of almost giving up but being pulled back by the craft resonates deeply — that stolen camera moment must have been devastating, yet it clearly didn’t break his connection to the medium. The grain and warmth of those 13 saved film rolls feel genuinely personal, like a creative diary left unopened for a year. For those who enjoy discovering visual storytelling and creative culture online, see more of what is being shared out there.
Zé’s reflection on stepping back from photography after losing his cameras really resonates — sometimes the best reset is giving yourself permission to walk away and rediscover what drew you there in the first place. The Olympus mju-ii was a perfect choice; that compact always-ready quality rewires how you see potential shots throughout the day. A friend from Kathmandu who loves both analog photography and online entertainment (he recently got into https://mostbetnepal.bet/) shared this post with me, and that triple-exposure DJ frame is the one we keep coming back to together. Beautiful and honest work from Zé.