Michael Clark

“Without a doubt, I will say that this was one of the most fun, well thought out and well-executed photography festivals I have ever been a part of and I have been a speaker at several big photography festivals. Bernardo, Gonçalo and Pedro, along with all of the volunteers, did a fantastic job putting this festival together. All of the little details were very carefully planned out and I felt very well taken care of both during the festival and on the road trip. Having a gallery exhibition at the festival along with the MasterClasses also really gave it a little something extra. I was surprised at how impactful the gallery exhibition was both for myself and for the attendees. Seeing my work hanging alongside the work of my peers was an amazing and even emotional experience for me. Thank you for that Bernardo!

The audiences at the Festival were also amazing. I have never seen an audience so hungry for inspiration and knowledge. The array of photographers that were brought in also helped make it a very special occasion for the audience and for myself. With such a wide array of photographers working in so many different genres, the audience really got a wide perspective of the photography industry and how we each work in our specific genres. For myself, it isn’t very often that I get to “hang out” with my peers like this at a photo festival, so even for us, the speakers, it was a special time to compare notes and talk about the industry.

Aveiro, and the Centro de Congressos, was the perfect venue for this festival as well. The city is easy to walk around, it is beautiful, and the setup with the hotel and the Centro really lends itself to a photo festival. It is always an honor to work with National Geographic in whatever way possible. My thanks to National Geographic and all of the sponsors for helping Bernardo and the crew make this festival a reality. I can definitely see this festival becoming one of the major photography festivals in the world like Visa pour l’Image, Look3 and Photoville…”

Mário Cruz

“The National Geographic Exodus Aveiro Fest, that happened in the beginning of December, exceeded my expectations. The environment of closeness created between the organization, the speakers and the public was remarkable. In fact, I think that the success of this first edition is due, in large part, to this fact.

The diversity of photographers provided a truly interesting exchange of experiences and it was easy to see that those who attended the lectures were equally interested in reports of photojournalism as in reports of adventure, the discovery of cultures and social experiences.

In fact, I was quite surprised by all the dynamics of the festival. After taking part in the Magnum festival in Birmingham and the Visa Pour L’Image festival in Perpignan, I was really happy to see that the National Geographic Exodus Aveiro Fest was able to create a new way of relating to all the participants, but also to promote the contact between the photographers and the audience.

As a speaker, I was particularly pleased with the feedback I received and also the best conditions for showing my work.

The success achieved and the panel of invited speakers put this initiative as a reason for international conversation and curiosity for future editions.

I received emails from international publishers and photographers interested in learning more about the festival.

This international curiosity increased with the course of the road trip. I think this part of the festival was essential to deepen the exchange of experiences.

The enthusiasm of the team led by Bernardo Conde was contagious and the city of Aveiro was a breath of fresh air for the excessive concentration of events in Lisbon and Porto.

I am sure that the second edition will be equally successful and that it will count with me but this time on the public side.”

Shams

“For a first edition, the National Geographic Exodus Aveiro Fest is a masterpiece. So great to be with all those talented photographers and filmmakers. The speaking sessions yesterday were all amazing. I closed the day by sharing my story about becoming an adventure film director. Unfortunately, I slowly started to lost my voice during the day… but I hope it gives some motivation to the audience to go outside and enjoy our world.”

GMB Akash

“The National Geographic Exodus Aveiro Fest in which I was invited along with some of the world’s best and most passionate photographers, videographers and experienced adventure travellers was an outstanding success and so well organized. We gave presentations about our work and masterclasses as well as exhibiting our photographs. I enjoyed talking and sharing my work with a new audience who were so compassionate and interested in the Asian part of the world. Good times and professional tips and stories were exchanged throughout the festival by new friends. The festival had organised an incredible road trip throughout the region for the photographers to see the pristine, wild and beautiful land. It was super. I really enjoyed my stay in Portugal. Love and Light to all of you.”

Ami Vitale

“Dear Bernardo and the entire Exodus team,
Thank you for creating such an inspiring forum this year. It was the highlight of my year! I have attended hundreds of photography seminars, workshops and events over my career and can honestly say that the National Geographic Exodus Aveiro Festival was the best one yet. You had a diverse talent pool that covered a broad spectrum of interests so everyone had something to learn, including myself. I think the most important aspect was the environment you all created. It was intimate, authentic, inspiring and there was a sense of community which can be a very difficult thing to achieve. Everyone felt comfortable enough to connect with one another and that is when the real exchange of ideas happens.
Congratulations! You moved mountains and this is just the beginning!”