Thais Varela stands out in the photographic world for her vivid storytelling and dynamic approach to color and light. With an extensive background in portraiture, lifestyle, still life, and travel photography, she has cultivated a style that's as versatile as it is expressive. This versatility has made her a sought-after creative director and photographer, adept at both commercial and artistic projects.
Her portfolio, a curated selection of her favorite images, showcases Thais' ability to manipulate light and color to evoke deep emotions and capture narratives within a single frame. Each chosen image is a testament to her skill in creating distinctive color compositions that bring her subjects to life in unexpected and often breathtaking ways.
Based in Spain, Thais operates globally, bringing her unique visual language to a diverse array of projects. Through her lens, viewers are invited to explore a world where each photograph tells its own story, rich in detail and vibrant in its execution. As you peruse her portfolio, you encounter a journey through the eyes of an artist who not only captures moments but crafts them with the intent to move and connect with her audience.
We asked Thais to pick some of her favorite images and tell us about each one in this PROFOLIO…
Portrait with Flower and Orange Background:
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Interpretation: The shadowed face holds the flower like a beacon in the darkness. The orange background is an explosion of energy, contrasting with the serene sadness of the subject, as if they are holding the last spark of a passion that is about to fade away.
- Reason for choosing it: This photograph was created for the Honor Magic5 Pro smartphone campaign, standing out for its ability to capture restrained intensity. The image blends strength and vulnerability, creating a powerful composition that resonates with the viewer's emotions.
Black and White Cat:
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Interpretation: The little kitten, captured in a moment of alertness, seems poised to leap out of the image, escaping to a parallel reality. The black-and-white texture adds an air of mystery.
- Reason for choosing it: This photograph was taken at home of my kitten, Clavel, when she was just four months old. The image evokes a sense of unease and curiosity, inviting the viewer to explore what lies hidden in the shadows, an intimate and personal moment immortalized in black and white.
Couple with Red Shawls:
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Interpretation: The covered faces suggest hidden intimacy, a connection that does not need to be seen to be felt. The vibrant red symbolizes passion, but also internal struggle, the emotions that consume us and bind us together as one.
- Reason for choosing it: This photograph was taken during a workshop where I was a speaker in the Merzouga desert. It’s a nod to the famous painting "The Lovers," capturing a blend of mystery and complicity, reminding us that some of the deepest connections do not need to be explained.
White Chair with Flower and Dove:
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Interpretation: The empty chair is a symbol of absence, of what is no longer there but left its mark. The dove flying in the distance represents freedom, while the flower remains in balance, as a final vestige of beauty in a world that keeps moving.
- Reason for choosing it: This image was captured on the island of São Miguel, in the Azores. Originally conceived as a simple color composition, the unexpected appearance of the white dove added a magical dimension, transforming the image into a poetic scene that combines melancholy and hope.
Blue Flower on Blue Background:
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Interpretation: The flower, almost ethereal in its perfection, floats in a sea of blue, as if it were a star in an abstract sky. It is a symbol of purity and serenity, an island of calm in the middle of a sea of emotions.
- Reason for choosing it: This lily was the starting point for my ongoing personal project "Flora and Nostalgia," where I photograph flowers in different lights and textures. This project is especially valuable to me as it allows me to explore the beauty and simplicity of nature from an intimate perspective.
Still Life with Glasses and Fruits:
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Interpretation: This still life is more than just a simple arrangement of objects; it is a dance of shapes and lights, a composition that seems to freeze the passage of time. The fragile and transparent glasses contrast with the juicy fruit, reminding us of the duality of life: the ephemeral and the tangible.
- Reason for choosing it: This photo was recreated in my home, in a spot where natural light plays beautifully with the space. These kinds of still lifes are created during February and March, when the light in that spot is most favorable, allowing me to capture the essence of life’s small pleasures.
Dark Leaf with Colorful Background:
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Interpretation: The dark and solitary leaf stands as a symbol of resilience in the midst of a twilight of colors. It seems to defy time, capturing the last breath of light before night envelops it.
- Reason for choosing it: This photograph was created for a Spanish beer brand and was part of a series awarded bronze by the Spanish Advertising Creatives Club. The image stands out for its elegant simplicity and its ability to convey powerful fragility.
Desert Mountains under a Blue Sky:
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Interpretation: The image captures a mountainous formation in a desert under a clear blue sky, highlighting the majesty of natural forms. It was created in the Bardenas Reales of Navarra.
- Reason for choosing it: This photographic series emerged during a creative crisis, and working on it helped me reconnect with my passion, bringing me back to a safe place creatively. The image is a strong representation of the vastness and tranquility of nature.
Sand Dune in the Desert:
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Interpretation: The image captures the serenity and vastness of the Merzouga desert, using light and shadow to highlight the rippled textures of the sand.
- Reason for choosing it: It is a visually striking representation of nature in its purest form, evoking a sense of solitude and desolate beauty. This image encapsulates the majestic stillness of the desert, a place where time seems to stand still.
