Carlos Senra Barbosa

I am a military photographer in the Portuguese Air Force, a profession that has allowed me to witness history from just a few centimetres behind a camera. For more than a decade, I have documented the daily life, challenges, and achievements of the men and women who serve — from quiet moments on the flight line to the intensity of operations in the field.

My work has taken me far beyond Portugal’s borders. I have accompanied National Deployed Forces in Mali, Lithuania, Estonia, and Spain, capturing the spirit of service in environments where focus, resilience, and awareness are essential. I have also covered major international exercises for NATO and the European Defence Agency, including Hot Blade, European Air Transport Training, Tiger Meet, ASAREX, and Real Thaw. Each mission has shaped my eye, my discipline, and my understanding of what it truly means to serve.

Over the years, military photography has made me versatile — blending photojournalism, institutional communication, and operational imagery. It has also led me to specialize in aerial and in-flight photography, a field where I now proudly serve as an instructor. My professional training at Oficina da Imagem, recognized by APPImagem, gave me not only technical mastery but also the foundation to approach photography as both documentation and art.

Since 2012, I have collaborated continuously with Revista Mais Alto, producing imagery for articles, covers, and posters. I am the author of Museu do Ar em Imagem and a contributor to more than ten aviation books, projects that have allowed me to help preserve the visual memory of Portugal’s military aviation.

In every photograph, I seek the same thing: truth, legacy, and a story worth keeping. Because the camera is more than a tool — it is a way of ensuring that the moments that define us are never forgotten.