Blending passion and career is one of the hardest things in life. Not for Fabio Kotinda. The Brazilian photographer has found a way to turn his love of photography and travel into a career. Unlike many Instagram accounts driven by a certain aesthetic or photo type, Fabio is driven by capturing moments and conveying a certain sensation or emotion. Whether walking the beaches of Australia, hiking through Nepal, or discovering a new perspective of his hometown of Rio de Janiero, Fabio's photos transport you, not just to a destination, but to a moment in time.
Tell us about yourself!
My base is in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where I spent around 3 months of the year between my travels. For fun I love to surf; I've surf since I was 10 so whenever I can I’m in the water. A unique fact is that I’m Brazilian but my background is part Japanese and Italian so people often wonder where I’m from.
What is the best and worst thing about making a living as a travel photographer?
This best thing of being traveling all the time is to meet different people and have different experiences all the time. And the worst is to keep saying goodbye to all that people and places that you end up liking.
What’s your favorite place to photograph in the world?
If I have to choose one I would say Rio. Beautiful people and landscape. The state of Rio has amazing islands and mountains.
What gear do you recommend to someone who’s just starting out in photography?
You just need a camera that allow you to shoot manual and a tripod if you like long exposure shots and if you are a solo traveler and want to take pictures of yourself. And better than gear is to study a lot about photography so you can get the best from your equipment.
What photography accessory can you not live without?
I can’t live without my 35mm f2 Fuji lens.
What’s the craziest thing you’ve done to get a photograph?
I think lots of my shots I did something like waking up in the middle of the night to get the sunrise. Sometimes it's a long hike with below zero cold, or getting a scooter and driving for hours, or camping under a storm at a peak, or traveling through dangerous countries by myself.