Behind the Lens: Creativity and “Camera-derie”

Article by Tess Robeson - photo selections by Cindy Trozze 

One chilly winter night in December five members of Behind the Lens, IWP’s amateur photography group, ventured out into the cold Cascais air to take photos of Christmas lights at the town centre. Undeterred by the weather, the ladies had a wonderful time nurturing their creative spark for the photo shoot.

Members of Behind the Lens have gone on monthly photo shoots since the photography group’s inception in August 2024. Lucinda “Cindy” Trozze, who has completed various photography courses, including a detailed online iPhone photography course, founded the group.

“I envisioned getting serious photography enthusiasts together to explore and photograph a variety of places and things,” said Cindy. “I wanted to encourage members of the group to see an opportunity for a great photograph in some of the simplest things. I’d like to see people get away from the tourist’s ‘aim and shoot’ perspective and focus on the elements that make a great photograph truly great.”

When Cindy created Behind the Lens, her original intention was to have the group’s members use any type of photographic equipment. “I was a member of a digital photography group for a while,” explained Cindy. Later she decided to let the group morph into one where members “feel comfortable exploring their creativity.” The group has since become a smartphone photography group. “Smartphones are capable of taking truly fantastic images without the time-consuming elements involved in digital camera photography,” noted Cindy.

Behind the Lens members meet once a month at the Mercado da Vila in Cascais to plan and discuss photo shoots, trade photography tips and techniques, and share other relevant information such as photography exhibits or where one can print outsized photos. Cindy asks the members to post two or three favorite photos from each photo shoot on the group’s WhatsApp page. The ladies encourage each other by complimenting posted photos.

Group members have completed a number of photo shoots: at the Parque Marechal Carmona, Cascais, in August; the Carmo Convent in Lisbon in September; Cacilhas in October; Alfama in November; the Christmas lights in Cascais in December; sunset at Boca do Inferno in January; and the National Pantheon in February. Oftentimes a photo shoot ends in a group lunch or dinner, contributing to community and camaraderie among the members.

More photo shoots are scheduled this year, including the Cascais Citadel and Marina at night, the Mouraria area in Lisbon, and the wildflowers at Trilho das Vinhas. “We live in such a great area,” Cindy quipped, “that I don’t believe coming up with ideas for photo shoots will be much of a challenge.”