Afonso Salcedo

Gutted to see Teen Vogue’s entire politics team laid off today. Their work was consistently excellent, some of the best political journalism for young people.

Wishing all the affected journalists the best 🙏

Afternoon silence while reading, learning new things, and meditating on my creative process.

I needed this today. Also with the best company for diving into an artist’s perspective on work and life.

Halfway through Sally Mann’s new book ‘Art Work: On the Creative Life.’

I’ve always loved peeking behind the veil to learn about the life behind artists I admire and respect. Her perspective on the work, the process, the choices, the chaos… it’s been a very enjoyable read on photography so far.

YouTube video by Sydney Opera House Beth Gibbons | Live at Sydney Opera House

If you need a solid break from reality with one of the best musicians out there, Beth Gibbons and the Sydney Opera House released her recent live concert.

So astonishingly beautiful.

youtu.be/apAoxiEKBcU

Vote Save America organized a texting event today for Prop 50 in Los Angeles. It was fun volunteering to spread the word.

Beer, community, democracy. Polls are strong but meaningless without turnout.

CA: return your ballot. This is how we win.

Cognitive Science and the Questions That Don’t Leave You How a conversation on Threads led me back to my 21-year-old self, and my 80-year-old professor.

A Threads conversation about determinism led me to find my undergrad writings from 1999/2000, and to reconnect with my cognitive science professor.

He's 80, still asking whether AI can truly understand. I'm still asking too, just through photography.

New essay:

open.substack.com/pub/fonziela...

Recent morning session with Jasmeet in LA. She’s a photographer herself with amazing Taylor Swift tour documentation.

Collaborating photographer-to-photographer brings different energy. These three portraits each reveal something distinct.

Grateful for sessions like this.

Shot this at the Louvre three years back.

Sunday’s crown jewel heist, when thieves scaled a lift, smashed cases, grabbed €88M in Napoleonic treasures in 7 minutes, with visitors inside, feels surreal.

That kind of audacity in broad daylight at the world’s most-visited museum is staggering.

You would think 🤔

Demolition crews tearing into the White House East Wing today for a $250M ballroom. Government shut down. Workers unpaid. But we can always find money for monuments to power.

What we choose to build, and tear down,reveals everything…

Protesters gather at Hollywood and Vermont, Los Feliz, CA, Oct. 18, 2025, addressing democratic governance concerns.

The creativity and earnestness on display today reminded me why documenting these moments matters. From sign-making prep to peaceful assembly, civic engagement in action.

#nokings

At No Kings protest tomorrow with my camera.

If you're going: know your rights, stay aware, have an exit plan. If documenting, back up images immediately and be careful posting identifiable faces.

Protest safely. Document what matters.

Delicate Arch natural stone arch at sunset with golden light on red rock and mountain range in background at Arches National Park

Delicate Arch, 11 years ago. Found this digging through old archives.

Some images hold up over time. This one still works.

If only I could edit haha

U.S. Representative Maxine Waters in a pink suit speaks passionately at a podium with AIDS Walk Los Angeles branding, arms raised, against a black background with blue accents.

U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters at AIDS Walk LA opening ceremony, West Hollywood Park, Oct. 12, 2025. Annual walk supports APLA Health’s HIV/AIDS programs.

From Sunday’s documentation of the event for APLA Health.

Red AIDS Walk Los Angeles press badge with lanyard on wooden surface

Photographed AIDS Walk LA yesterday. Exhausting work, but got some great shots and met amazing people.

More images coming soon.

#photography

Setting up for AIDS Walk LA tomorrow.

The Sony cameras versus the Nikon F50 my dad gave me as a kid… learned on film, shooting digital now.

Different tools, same practice.
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Black and white photo of silhouetted figure in foreground with aerial cityscape view visible in background creating layered double-exposure effect

Boyfriend in front of TV screensaver at home.
The layering made me look twice.

#photography

Silhouette of single bird perched on power lines against pale gray sky at sunset

From my balcony: bird on a wire, LA sunset.

The best moments happen when you’re just paying attention.

Trying new gear during paid gigs is the best way to know what actually works.

Photographing AIDS Walk LA Sunday, so I am looking forward to seeing how this 50-150mm/f2 lens performs.

#sonyalpha #photography

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More from Joshua Tree: storms, clear days, wildflowers, and night skies.

The desert’s range of light in a single weekend is something else.

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Slow Horses continues to be one of the best and most entertaining shows on Apple TV+.

Gary Oldman 👏👏👏

Thank you David!

Official photographer for AIDS Walk LA this Sunday. If you’re walking and see me out there, say hi!

Looking forward to documenting the day.

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#losangeles

Dead cholla cactus skeleton standing upright among yellow wildflowers in Joshua Tree National Park with soft desert landscape in background

Cholla skeleton standing alone among wildflowers in Joshua Tree.

Old and new, decay and bloom. Nature holds it all at once.

#photography

One Battle After Another is phenomenal. PT Anderson at his best.

One of those rare films where every element comes together perfectly. This is why I love cinema.

#film

Remembering Steve Jobs Today marks the 14th anniversary of Steve Jobs passing away, at the age of 56. He died just one day after Apple unveiled the iPhone 4S and Siri. ...

14 years since Steve Jobs died. I remember his last visit to Pixar weeks before, still asking questions, still invested in the work.

Grateful for that chapter of my life.

Joshua Tree National Park landscape showing granite rock formations surrounded by desert vegetation under cloudy skies with spring green throughout

The desert after rain. Joshua Tree with unexpected wildflowers from recent storms. Not the usual season, but nature doesn’t follow schedules.

#sonyalpha #photography

Finishing another week of Last Airbender work before a creative weekend: studio portrait edits, prepping upcoming shoots, One Battle After Another Sunday, Frankenstein premiere Monday.

The work and the inspiration feed each other here in LA. Back to it!

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