Joel Santos

Portuguese travel photographer and documentary filmmaker Joel Santos has a knack for capturing compelling and unforgettable imagery, and his adventurous nature also means he eagerly embraces new technology.

Joel's images transport us to remote parts of the world, and invite us to consider the people who live there. Whether he's capturing stunning shots of active volcanos in Guatemala and Indonesia, cormorant fishermen in China, eagle hunters in Mongolia, or remote tribes in South Sudan and Ethiopia, his photographs and TV documentaries give us a fascinating glimpse into the lives of indigenous people around the globe.

Joel has an eye for the wild and the remote, and his photographs are in the tradition of great travel writers and artists – opening up new windows on the world while, simultaneously, reminding us where we have come from, and asking us where we are headed.

Born in Lisbon, Joel was a keen academic, acquiring an honours degree in Economics and a master's degree in Economics and Management of Science and Technology, but for the past 18 years he has followed his true passion: photography. The results of his labour are in great demand – he has worked for Microsoft, IKEA, National Geographic, GEO, ABC Studios and many more. He exhibits widely, writes articles for news media, leads photography expeditions all over the world, has authored nine books and created more than 60 documentaries for TV and streaming services. He is a magnet for awards too, garnering many major national and international accolades for his work, including being voted Travel Photographer of the Year (2016).

Joel describes his photography as being "about emotion, passion and positive storytelling. But, as a former economist, I tend to use mathematics as the structure to guide my way of writing with light; I see beauty in these mathematical elements and I try to use them when creating an image. That's how I feel my photography is, which in turn is how I am."

Joel is at the forefront of new techniques, too, being one of the photographers who in recent years has been experimenting with drones to create incredible videos and images, and present a new perspective on short documentaries for us to enjoy. His aerial documentation of the Danakil Depression salt miners and the Erta Ale lava lake in Ethiopia, together with the sacred lake fishermen in Ghana, scooped the Travel Photographer of the Year award in 2016.

"I'm humbled to be the first photographer to win that award with an aerial portfolio," he says earnestly. "Aerial photography and filmmaking provide a fresh and complementary perspective, which enriches the visual story, and documents something with a different depth and diversity. Sometimes I feel like a juggler because I have to be a pilot and a photographer at the same time, but I love it. Not being able to use a drone professionally would be like not being able to use a camera on the ground, they're both complementary and indispensable, and it's become a key part of my career." To date, Joel's aerial images have appeared in a catalogue of global media outlets including: the Guardian, The Daily Mail, The Sun, Courrier International, Visão, Expresso, The Weather Channel, MSN, SIC (TV channel) and OPTO (streaming service).

What's the secret to photographing someone you've just met for the first time?

"Always respect the places and the people. Use photography as a universal language to get closer to people, and avoid the urge to become a hunter who sees them as prey. The more respectful you are, the richer your results, opportunities and personal growth will be."


Do you do anything different to other photographers who work in these remote locations?

"I like to print the photos and give them to the people while I'm there; it's just fair that you give something back whenever you can."


Do you have a go-to shooting setup?

"Every time I go out, I react and I learn something new, I adapt and change my ways. It's a dynamic process and every situation requires a different technique. First one must find the subject, the light and the story. Only after that comes whichever technique yields the best result."


How do you decide where to go and what or whom to photograph?

"First, I decide what I feel passionate about. Then I do my best to scout, not only in my office beforehand, but mostly while travelling, leaving my senses open to something that I see, hear or feel."


Is aerial photography difficult?

"Don't trust drone marketing statements like 'it's easy'. Flying is easier than ever, but they only work in optimal circumstances. Fly safely, practice a lot and learn everything you can about piloting a drone and its maintenance. Soon you'll know about winds, navigation, the operational limits of batteries in hot and cold climates, etc and develop quicker reactions."

Joel Santos