Taking the pulse with Andy Pereira

2026 Applied Arts Young Blood Photography Awards winner Andy Pereira, a 2025 graduate of Marsan College, creates work defined by a cinematic sensibility. His award-winning Twilight series prioritizes narrative over fleeting moments, shaped by precise control of light and a pursuit of raw, unfiltered emotion.

Fresh off his first Applied Arts win, we spoke with Andy about his creative process, artistic influences and what lies ahead.

What is your creative process (from idea to finished product)?

For this series, it all started with a personal text I wrote during a period of questioning and transition in my life. I like to write to clear my mind, but what truly allows me to free myself and take my reflections further is managing to translate what I feel into images. Once the text was down, I asked myself how to visually represent these emotions so that a person, even without context, could grasp what I was feeling.

I knew I wanted to immerse the series in a dark environment while keeping a symbol of hope. Chiaroscuro came to me quite naturally. I love going to museums to look at Renaissance paintings; their way of creating three-dimensionality through shadows and light inspires me immensely. To enhance this atmosphere and give texture to the image, I used my medium-format Fujifilm GFX 50s II camera with a Mitakon 65mm lens. Even when shooting at f/8, this lens has a very distinct, almost painterly optical rendering, which helped texture the darkness.

During the shoot, after sketching out the poses I felt were most important, I let myself be guided by the mood and creativity flowing in the studio. It was a true moment of letting go, and I am incredibly grateful to my model and my assistant who stayed with me in that creative bubble until the very end.

What inspires you?

Cinema is a huge source of inspiration for me, but beyond major works, I consume a lot of small-scale productions created by emerging artists. I love hunting for new projects on platforms like YouTube or creative forums.

People are also at the core of my creative process. I draw a lot of inspiration from what people around me are going through and how they tell me their stories. By talking with them, I often realize I’m not alone in navigating inner doubts or the transitional periods life throws our way. These conversations feed my mind, which then does the rest of the work by translating those emotions into mental images.

Aesthetically, as I mentioned with my "Twilight" series, classical painting and the use of chiaroscuro have a major influence on my work, as does the surrealist movement. In a slightly more contemporary approach, collage, whether traditional paper or digital via Photoshop, is another huge inspiration. For me, it's a fascinating medium because it strikes the perfect balance between the real and the unreal.

What are you working on professionally? Anything outside of the usual?

I am currently in a very exciting transitional phase. Having recently graduated from Collège Marsan, I divide my time between my role as a photography assistant at the school and building my freelance photography career in Montréal. I am particularly focused on expanding my client base and seeking new collaborations, both as a photographer and an assistant, to deepen my technical knowledge and understanding of the industry.

As for my personal projects, I have expanded the universe of "Twilight," which is actually the first chapter of a larger narrative. The second installment took the form of my graduation portfolio, “Résonance" which won the award for Best Portfolio and dealt more specifically with themes of a breakup and loss.

I am currently developing the third and final part of this series. I want to explore the theme of detachment and the difficulty of taking that step the often irrational fears we have of the unknown, and how this apprehension can sometimes prevent us from moving forward and beginning true healing.

What are your interests outside of work?

Outside of work, I have to admit I still think about and consume a lot of photography! But I'm also genuinely curious about the systems that shape our world which is probably why I am drawn to both philosophy and new technologies. When I want to truly disconnect, I love spending evenings with friends playing board games or watching movies together. Finally, I make the most of Montréal, which is truly my city at heart and a wonderfully inspiring environment to live in every day!

IG: ndy.film | W: andy-pereira.com

A promising start to a visual practice defined by intent and atmosphere—we look forward to what comes next for Andy Pereira.