Rui Pires is a Portuguese documentary photographer born in 1968. His passion for photography began in 1983, inspired by his grandmother, a travel photographer who gave him a medium format camera.
Rui Pires at a glance
- Born: 1968
- Nationality: Portuguese
- Known for: Documentary photography of disappearing ways of life
- Medium: Black and white film photography
- Style: Classical and humanist
- Notable works: Rural Moments, Lands of Allah
- Education: New York Institute of Photography
- Website: ruipires-photography.com
He is a graduate of the New York Institute of Photography. He shoots primarily in black and white film, controlling the entire process from capture to printing.
He is known for his classical and humanist style. He always tries to dignify the people he portrays.
His major projects include Rural Moments, documenting disappearing village life in Portugal. He also created Lands of Allah, a documentary about Berber and Tuareg people in North Africa.
His work has been exhibited at the European Parliament, the Royal Photographic Society, and the Museum of the Douro. He has donated over 300 images to the Museum of the Douro collection.
“In Rural Moments… the word crisis is unknown, maybe because this is the last places where the word ‘humanity’ makes sense.”
Rui Pires
What is Rui Pires known for?
He is known for his black and white documentary photography that captures disappearing ways of life, particularly in rural Portugal and North Africa.
Where is Rui Pires from?
He is from Portugal, born in 1968.
What are Rui Pires’s major photography projects?
His major projects are Rural Moments, documenting Portuguese rural villages, and Lands of Allah, about Berber and Tuareg people in North Africa.
Rui Pires won the Documentary Award 2013 from UNESCO and CFPA.
