Interview by Rui Pastorin
As the city gears up for the 73rd edition of the Macau Grand Prix (MGP), a variety of events themed on the international motorsport event are being held. Among them is an exhibition at the Rui Cunha Foundation (FRC) gallery by Lisbon-born photographer António Duarte Mil-Homens, who has been capturing the annual event through his lens since 1999.
Following up on his 2017 showcase at the gallery, this edition launched with an opening ceremony last night that was officiated by guests and representatives including Consul General of Portugal in Macau and Hong Kong Alexandre Leitão.
Photos taken over the past four years line the gallery’s walls, showing frames that capture high-speed motorsport action and decisive moments along Macau’s Guia Circuit, a challenging 6.2-kilometre street circuit that has garnered both respect and recognition from many racers around the world.
Speed is, of course, a key point that Mil-Homens hopes to convey through his photos, along with the competition found at the start and finish of each race, which goes back to the title of the exhibition: “START & FINISH”
For Mil-Homens, capturing that energy is an ongoing passion. “It’s always a pleasure to try and capture the ambience and the action”, the lensman said in an interview with the Post after last night’s opening ceremony.
While Mil-Homens noted that Macau continues to see “a lot of very good drivers” competing in the city, he also remarked on how much harder it has become to photograph them, pointing out the increasing number of restrictions and fewer designated photo spots year after year.
“It’s more and more difficult to get different angles, to get the kind of pictures I could take 10, 15 or 20 years ago. Now it’s almost impossible”, unless, in some cases, you are an official photographer or reporter.
Moreover, the veteran photographer, whose professional career spans 52 years with an extensive, varied portfolio, also touched on the possibilities brought on by technology and modern cameras ranging from speed to going fully automatic to a more accurate autofocus when photographing the event.
“It’s much easier than before”, Mil-Homens said, looking back at the times when he was still taking pictures with no autofocus and with film, which might only offer 36 frames compared to the thousands of photos stored in a single, tiny memory card.
“We’re seeing, all over the world, good pictures” not only in capturing the Macau Grand Prix and racing, but other genres and subjects. But while Mil-Homens added that making things easier is a good thing, it isn’t always the best, especially when building a strong foundation. For this, he said, he was happy to have had the opportunity to learn the craft before cameras evolved into what they are today.
“I’m very happy to have started 52 years ago with film, with no autofocus, auto settings. This gave me a basis for what I can achieve, even today. Of course, I have to keep updating and upgrading, but this is counting on the basis of what I started 52 learning years ago”, Mil-Homens said.
With this year’s Macau Grand Prix taking place from November 19 through 22, Mil-Homens offered advice for those hoping to capture the action themselves, particularly the importance of taking photos starting from the practice sessions in order to “learn the best angles, the opportunities, the kind of lenses you can use in this or that situation”. But most of all? “Keep enjoying and keep taking pictures”.
The exhibition is on until November 21. Admission is free. Stay tuned for more photos in an upcoming page 4.
Veteran photographer António Duarte Mil-Homens poses in front of some of his photos on display at the Rui Cunha Foundation (FRC) Gallery at 749 Avenida da Praia Grande, Luen Pong Building. – Photo: Rui Pastorin
