Born in 1974, Brazil, Alexandre Meneghini began his career working as a freelance photographer after graduating in Geography and Business Administration. In 2002 he begun working as a full time stringer for The Associated Press in Brazil, becoming a staff photographer in 2005. He was then transferred to Honduras, Guatemala and later on to Mexico.
He was the winner of the People category in the Open competition of the 2016 Sony World Photography Awards.
Hi Alexandre, congratulations on winning the People category in the 2016 Sony World Photography Awards. Tell us about your winning image
This place is known as "little beach of 16" because the number of the road that leads there, but it is not exactly a beach. It's a place full of rocks right in the middle of houses that leads to the sea. A group of older people meet there to swim and chat on a daily basis and I went there to do a feature for Reuters about hot weather in Cuba.
There is humour in the image, but also a sense of friendship. What do you see when you look at the image again?
I see two good friends enjoying life. In fact they have known each other for a long time and they are very good friends indeed. They told me afterwards that they did not realize I was taking their photo.
Why photography?
I see photography as a personal diary. It's something spiritual to me. I have the impression that the more I travel and the more I meet different people, the spiritually richer I get. Photography is the tool I have to enter people's lifes. Photography opens not only doors but also minds.
Do you have a photographic philosophy?
Walk, walk, walk. Wait a little bit and walk again. The best images you will take are simply walking on the street.
alexandremeneghini.com
worldphoto.org/swpa
