Between Madrid and Vigo, Spanish photographer Francisco Fresneda builds a body of work that transforms the camera into an instrument of intimate exploration and personal therapy. At 37 years old, he balances his life as an artistic photographer with his passion for design, refusing commercial work that doesn’t inspire him to focus on personal projects and exhibitions. His photography – which moves between analog and digital formats – revolves around themes such as identity, presence, memory, and the act of observing, always approached with honesty, intimacy, and emotional depth in his search for the self.
His essay “The Nest” a finalist in the Photo Essay category of the FotoDoc Photo Contest 2025, is a work of rare sensitivity about a contemporary taboo: perinatal grief. Developed between 2024 and 2025 during the period when he was awaiting the birth of his own baby, the project was born from the perception that miscarriage remains a taboo subject, even among younger generations. By sharing the experience with other parents, Fresneda felt compelled to portray the silent pain that many mothers face, creating a visual testimony about unrecognized grief and interrupted expectation. The work connects organically with his previous photographic practice, deepening his exploration of identity and memory through a courageous and emotionally honest approach.
Learn more about this journey of grief and healing, and the projects that map physical and existential boundaries in the following interview.
