Halftone is a special printing technique that simulates continuous tones in an image. And it is now also the name chosen by a new photographic association in Macau, which aims to bring together contemporary photography lovers from various backgrounds, organise collective exhibitions and develop training projects in the field. The first exhibition was opened in May at the Portuguese Bookshop.
João Miguel Barros, one of the 18 founding members, explains that “Halftone is not a professional association of photographers; it is an association of people who like photography, an open and inclusive association”.
The main objective of this non-profit cultural association is the promotion of contemporary photography in its various aspects. “It is an inclusive and wide-ranging association, and is open to all those who have an interest in photography as an artistic expression and/or documentary, independently of their experience or practice,” explains the official website.
António Mil-Homens
The association hopes to promote the photographic work of its associates, as well as organising exhibitions, publishing a magazine, books and monographs, organising discussions and developing pedagogical and educational projects.
João Miguel Barros believes that Halftone will be “the substantial motor for us to develop activities in the area of contemporary photography”. And the common meeting point for the founding members is their passion for photography.
“There are professional photographers, there are photojournalists, there are photoartists and there are people who don’t want to have that kind of label and just do photography as a hobby. It is this diversity that creates a great richness within Halftone,” indicates the local lawyer and photographer.
Andre Ritchie
In the future, the association wants to expand to the Chinese community and hopes to reach 50 members by the end of this year.
“We really want to grow, not only in the Portuguese community, but also in the Chinese community”.
Halftone will publish a photography magazine three times a year. “This magazine will have 40 pages and will publish portfolios of associates and eventually of other people; we are still defining the editorial content,” indicates Barros.
David Lopo
Those responsible for Halftone are now working on a programme of activities for the next two years, which will include exhibitions, workshops and conversations about photography.
“One area that is very important for us is training – namely trying to establish partnerships with schools and other entities in order to make children and young people aware of photography,” he adds.
“In three months we’ve managed to do a great number of things. We have already set up an exhibition and a website, we have a project budget to make a magazine, and we are preparing an activity plan in terms of training,” says Barros, adding that “this association has unique conditions to do positive work to promote photography in Macau”. This is because, according to him, “there are many people who are interested in photography”, but a certain factor was still needed.
Sales Marques
“It was missing a key that would start the motor and get the engine running. Once the key is turned and the motor has started working, I don’t think it will stop in the future,” he says.
The basement of the Portuguese bookshop will serve as Halftone’s headquarters, allowing the association to develop its activities from there.
“The Portuguese Bookshop has been an incubator and an interesting engine for photography”, notes João Miguel.
The inauguration of a photography exhibition with works by the founding members took place in May, serving to introduce Halftone to the public.
Sara Augusto
“There are some very good photographs, which proves that there are people doing very good photography, but who until now never had the opportunity to get on a train that would reveal their work,” João Miguel points out. “The exhibition shows that the association is diverse and inclusive”.
www.halftone.photo
