Mariana Topfstedt

My nature has always been to be more observant than talkative, I believe this helped me to find a way to express myself through photography. Working as a freelance photojournalist for 4 years in São Paulo, Brazil, I have learned more and more about the value of photography by meeting people and knowing about their lives, knowing the difference and not having a pre-judgment of anything. What I always seek is reality and truth.

Although most of the time I was looking for relevant news, being on the streets gave me the perception that everything around me is important. What I'm going to photograph I do not know, it can be a beautiful thing or a tragedy. However, everything is part of life, not only my life but everyone's lives.

Going to this unique and timeless moment puts me in direct contact with the world and, consequently, it makes me understand life better and live intensely. I only photograph what is happening, so the outcome that these images will have on the viewer is not me who will tell.