Afonso Salcedo
@afonso.me
• Portrait and Documentary Photographer
• Lighting Artist (Disney/Pixar)
• Los Angeles, CA 🏳️🌈🇺🇸🇵🇹
• IG https://instagram.com/afonso.salcedo
https://afonso.me
• Lighting Artist (Disney/Pixar)
• Los Angeles, CA 🏳️🌈🇺🇸🇵🇹
• IG https://instagram.com/afonso.salcedo
https://afonso.me
Bad news: my app had a bug. Good news: it’s now fixed, and my progress is even better 💅
Now that the Oscar nominations were announced my Oscar film watching marathon is officially in session. Lots more to see but I’m doing way better than prior years.
Let’s do this 🫡
Now that the Oscar nominations were announced my Oscar film watching marathon is officially in session. Lots more to see but I’m doing way better than prior years.
Let’s do this 🫡
January 22, 2026 at 4:46 PM
Bad news: my app had a bug. Good news: it’s now fixed, and my progress is even better 💅
Now that the Oscar nominations were announced my Oscar film watching marathon is officially in session. Lots more to see but I’m doing way better than prior years.
Let’s do this 🫡
Now that the Oscar nominations were announced my Oscar film watching marathon is officially in session. Lots more to see but I’m doing way better than prior years.
Let’s do this 🫡
I built an iOS app to track Oscar nominations. This year I also added a web backend to update the database live during tomorrow’s announcement, hopefully faster than last year, fewer errors.
Will it work? We’ll see at 5:30am.
Will it work? We’ll see at 5:30am.
January 22, 2026 at 12:35 AM
I built an iOS app to track Oscar nominations. This year I also added a web backend to update the database live during tomorrow’s announcement, hopefully faster than last year, fewer errors.
Will it work? We’ll see at 5:30am.
Will it work? We’ll see at 5:30am.
Our dog Lady is trying really hard to save democracy but she keeps getting distracted by treats and food.
I’m sorry everyone.
I’m sorry everyone.
January 20, 2026 at 6:16 PM
Our dog Lady is trying really hard to save democracy but she keeps getting distracted by treats and food.
I’m sorry everyone.
I’m sorry everyone.
Final week at Paramount. Eight months on The Last Airbender: The Legend of Aang, one of the most creatively challenging films I’ve worked. Grateful for an amazing team.
Now focusing on photography and whatever comes next.
PS. Image below is not from the film. Stay tuned for more on that.
Now focusing on photography and whatever comes next.
PS. Image below is not from the film. Stay tuned for more on that.
January 19, 2026 at 9:00 PM
Final week at Paramount. Eight months on The Last Airbender: The Legend of Aang, one of the most creatively challenging films I’ve worked. Grateful for an amazing team.
Now focusing on photography and whatever comes next.
PS. Image below is not from the film. Stay tuned for more on that.
Now focusing on photography and whatever comes next.
PS. Image below is not from the film. Stay tuned for more on that.
Lovely morning tradition in LA hiking up Runyon. Never gets old.
January 18, 2026 at 6:28 PM
Lovely morning tradition in LA hiking up Runyon. Never gets old.
2016: Documenting the Temple of Promise build at Burning Man. Weeks in the desert. Sony featured the work on their Alpha Universe homepage and it became an Action Magazine cover.
Ten years later, still shooting Sony. Still chasing stories worth the conditions.
Ten years later, still shooting Sony. Still chasing stories worth the conditions.
January 17, 2026 at 1:11 AM
2016: Documenting the Temple of Promise build at Burning Man. Weeks in the desert. Sony featured the work on their Alpha Universe homepage and it became an Action Magazine cover.
Ten years later, still shooting Sony. Still chasing stories worth the conditions.
Ten years later, still shooting Sony. Still chasing stories worth the conditions.
Showed up early. The building gave me something unexpected.
Light and geometry were too good to ignore.
Light and geometry were too good to ignore.
January 16, 2026 at 3:11 AM
Showed up early. The building gave me something unexpected.
Light and geometry were too good to ignore.
Light and geometry were too good to ignore.
Oscar marathon: Avatar: Fire and Ash complete. Not my kind of story, but the craft is of course pretty great. Where does VFX end and animation begin?
The artists pushing these boundaries deserve recognition even when the narrative doesn’t connect.
The artists pushing these boundaries deserve recognition even when the narrative doesn’t connect.
January 13, 2026 at 2:27 AM
Oscar marathon: Avatar: Fire and Ash complete. Not my kind of story, but the craft is of course pretty great. Where does VFX end and animation begin?
The artists pushing these boundaries deserve recognition even when the narrative doesn’t connect.
The artists pushing these boundaries deserve recognition even when the narrative doesn’t connect.
Finally watched “Come See Me in the Good Light.”
Andrea Gibson and Megan, holding each other through the unbearable. Poetry as lifeline. Love as practice.
One of the most honest films about mortality I’ve seen.
Andrea Gibson and Megan, holding each other through the unbearable. Poetry as lifeline. Love as practice.
One of the most honest films about mortality I’ve seen.
January 11, 2026 at 4:46 AM
Finally watched “Come See Me in the Good Light.”
Andrea Gibson and Megan, holding each other through the unbearable. Poetry as lifeline. Love as practice.
One of the most honest films about mortality I’ve seen.
Andrea Gibson and Megan, holding each other through the unbearable. Poetry as lifeline. Love as practice.
One of the most honest films about mortality I’ve seen.
We just watched this documentary film “Cover Up” last night on Netflix (shortlisted for Best Documentary) and it was so, so, so good.
Incredible story about the work and career of Sy Hersh and his investigative journalism. It’s the perfect film to watch this day and age.
Have you seen it?
Incredible story about the work and career of Sy Hersh and his investigative journalism. It’s the perfect film to watch this day and age.
Have you seen it?
January 8, 2026 at 7:53 PM
We just watched this documentary film “Cover Up” last night on Netflix (shortlisted for Best Documentary) and it was so, so, so good.
Incredible story about the work and career of Sy Hersh and his investigative journalism. It’s the perfect film to watch this day and age.
Have you seen it?
Incredible story about the work and career of Sy Hersh and his investigative journalism. It’s the perfect film to watch this day and age.
Have you seen it?
One year ago today. Smoke from the Palisades and Eaton fires turned LA’s sky pink and orange through the day.
To everyone still rebuilding, you’re not forgotten.
❤️ LA
To everyone still rebuilding, you’re not forgotten.
❤️ LA
January 7, 2026 at 4:37 PM
One year ago today. Smoke from the Palisades and Eaton fires turned LA’s sky pink and orange through the day.
To everyone still rebuilding, you’re not forgotten.
❤️ LA
To everyone still rebuilding, you’re not forgotten.
❤️ LA
Another evening watching one of the strongest contenders, Sentimental Value.
Incredibly beautiful film by Joachim Trier, well worth the journey. I could easily see this winning Best Foreign Film this year, after it won Cannes as well.
What did you think?
Incredibly beautiful film by Joachim Trier, well worth the journey. I could easily see this winning Best Foreign Film this year, after it won Cannes as well.
What did you think?
January 7, 2026 at 5:14 AM
Another evening watching one of the strongest contenders, Sentimental Value.
Incredibly beautiful film by Joachim Trier, well worth the journey. I could easily see this winning Best Foreign Film this year, after it won Cannes as well.
What did you think?
Incredibly beautiful film by Joachim Trier, well worth the journey. I could easily see this winning Best Foreign Film this year, after it won Cannes as well.
What did you think?
Drove the North Bay this morning documenting flood conditions from king tides and storms. Communities seemed prepared, less severe than expected. If you're in these areas, slow down through flood zones, stay alert.
Captions in alt-txt.
Captions in alt-txt.
January 3, 2026 at 10:17 PM
Drove the North Bay this morning documenting flood conditions from king tides and storms. Communities seemed prepared, less severe than expected. If you're in these areas, slow down through flood zones, stay alert.
Captions in alt-txt.
Captions in alt-txt.
Oscar shortlist tracking is live in my app 🎬
12 categories. 112 films. 137 hours total.
I've watched 14%. My own app is judging me.
Nominations drop Jan 17 — what shortlist categories are you prioritizing?
12 categories. 112 films. 137 hours total.
I've watched 14%. My own app is judging me.
Nominations drop Jan 17 — what shortlist categories are you prioritizing?
January 3, 2026 at 3:46 AM
Oscar shortlist tracking is live in my app 🎬
12 categories. 112 films. 137 hours total.
I've watched 14%. My own app is judging me.
Nominations drop Jan 17 — what shortlist categories are you prioritizing?
12 categories. 112 films. 137 hours total.
I've watched 14%. My own app is judging me.
Nominations drop Jan 17 — what shortlist categories are you prioritizing?
Some of my favorite sessions this year were long conversations with entertainment workers, then portraits. Continuing Stories of Resilience into 2026. If you want to share your story, let’s talk.
December 29, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Some of my favorite sessions this year were long conversations with entertainment workers, then portraits. Continuing Stories of Resilience into 2026. If you want to share your story, let’s talk.
Ellis Creek on a Sunday morning. Fog, a hawk, a crawfish looking for trouble. A good walk.
December 28, 2025 at 10:52 PM
Ellis Creek on a Sunday morning. Fog, a hawk, a crawfish looking for trouble. A good walk.
Finally outside after being sick. Petaluma delivered cold sunshine, quiet trails, crows surveying their domain. Sometimes the camera is just an excuse to take a walk.
December 28, 2025 at 12:09 AM
Finally outside after being sick. Petaluma delivered cold sunshine, quiet trails, crows surveying their domain. Sometimes the camera is just an excuse to take a walk.
Still sick, but we made it north before the storm rolled in. Now California braces for serious rain and wind. Stay safe out there, everyone.
December 23, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Still sick, but we made it north before the storm rolled in. Now California braces for serious rain and wind. Stay safe out there, everyone.
At 46, I’ve stopped worrying about a lot of things. Wrote about what happens when you finally let the thing you’ve carried your whole life take up the space it deserves.
open.substack.com/pub/fonziela...
open.substack.com/pub/fonziela...
December 22, 2025 at 2:59 PM
At 46, I’ve stopped worrying about a lot of things. Wrote about what happens when you finally let the thing you’ve carried your whole life take up the space it deserves.
open.substack.com/pub/fonziela...
open.substack.com/pub/fonziela...
Foggy nights in LA turn the city into something cinematic.
This was the Arts District a few years back, with street lights cutting through the mist. I love when the weather does the work for you.
If I wasn’t sick, I’d be out chasing moments like this.
This was the Arts District a few years back, with street lights cutting through the mist. I love when the weather does the work for you.
If I wasn’t sick, I’d be out chasing moments like this.
December 22, 2025 at 5:20 AM
Foggy nights in LA turn the city into something cinematic.
This was the Arts District a few years back, with street lights cutting through the mist. I love when the weather does the work for you.
If I wasn’t sick, I’d be out chasing moments like this.
This was the Arts District a few years back, with street lights cutting through the mist. I love when the weather does the work for you.
If I wasn’t sick, I’d be out chasing moments like this.
Lady has some things to say…
December 20, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Lady has some things to say…
Soon. Excited for another excursion here.
December 20, 2025 at 2:08 AM
Soon. Excited for another excursion here.
The remarkably beautiful and tender Train Dreams, directed by Clint Bentley with stunning cinematography by Adolpho Veloso.
So incredibly beautiful. I felt I could breathe this film.
Have you seen this yet? My heart is full.
So incredibly beautiful. I felt I could breathe this film.
Have you seen this yet? My heart is full.
December 17, 2025 at 4:26 AM
The remarkably beautiful and tender Train Dreams, directed by Clint Bentley with stunning cinematography by Adolpho Veloso.
So incredibly beautiful. I felt I could breathe this film.
Have you seen this yet? My heart is full.
So incredibly beautiful. I felt I could breathe this film.
Have you seen this yet? My heart is full.
Fascinated by these Christopher Anderson’s Vanity Fair portraits of White House staffers: extreme close-ups that reveal everything. The intimacy borders on confrontational.
December 16, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Fascinated by these Christopher Anderson’s Vanity Fair portraits of White House staffers: extreme close-ups that reveal everything. The intimacy borders on confrontational.
Months of failed loaves, but this one finally worked. Sourdough teaches the same lessons as photography and creative workflows: patience, attention, trusting the process.
Always huge respect for all the bakers (and photographers) out there :)
Always huge respect for all the bakers (and photographers) out there :)
December 16, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Months of failed loaves, but this one finally worked. Sourdough teaches the same lessons as photography and creative workflows: patience, attention, trusting the process.
Always huge respect for all the bakers (and photographers) out there :)
Always huge respect for all the bakers (and photographers) out there :)