Fotografei voce na minha ROLLIEFLEX

Hi there!

14 years ago or so, I've started to listen to Brazilian music, and immediately fell in love with the Bossa Nova, and with the unique voice and interpretation of João Gilberto. One of the first songs that I've heard was the classic Desafinado (written by Tom Jobim). I tried to understand the lyrics, back then they were all difficult for me... but one word was really strange and not logical - ROLLIEFLEX. I took a Portuguese dictionary, but it wasn't there... Google or Wikipedia in the late 90's were more like a science fiction... so I had to accept the fact that I won't understand the word.

Later on it was easy to understand and to find out what was ROLLIEFLEX. It was a beautiful German camera, created in the late 20's (it is still being manufactured). You can read about it here.

Anyway, last week a friend who is a photographer, showed me his latest purchase. It was a cute little Rollie from the 70's, I was so surprised, and the whole story with the Bossa Nova came back to me again. I told him about the song and he asked me what was the line about. Well... in the song it says "Fotografei você na minha rolleiflex, revelou-se a sua enorme ingratidão" which means I captured you in my Rollieflex, and revealed your enormous ingratitude. After that, I just took a picture with the camera, and quoted the same lyrics. It was kind of a closure :)

For dessert, please listen to this classic and beautiful song - Desafinado

Photography - Copacabana's curve

It was a cloudy day in Rio de Janeiro, a pretty good weather if we consider the last 4 days of a non-stop rain. yet it is normal climate for march there. I woke up in the hostel, last night we had a party here, and I was pretty darn tired. After two months there, it wasn't so exciting for me. Some people have complained that they lost their cameras or their wallets, other were sure that there was a thief in the house. I wasn't worried, I've locked my things in the locker since the first day here, but yet I had to check the locker...

Those bastards! they broke it!

My computer, passport, credit cards, and travel checks.....  They still were there... but wait a minute! something is missing... Damn! it was the rent for the last month, they took it all! and I have to check out tomorrow.

All of that happened before breakfast.

I just sat there, dazed and confused... thinking what to do now, there is no way I could get the money in one day.

Barbara walked towards me, she was happy, it was her last day in Rio and it was the first day she could actually go to the beach. "Why the long face?", she asked me, holding the beach towel. I told her, she could see that I was pretty upset. "Never mind the beach", she said, "lets go directly to the police station and report". I tried to tell her "No, you should go to the beach, it's your last day here", but actually I really needed some company, especially hers. It was funny, I only met her 5 days ago, but I started to feel something.

We went to the tourist's police, and I reported, obviously nothing will happen, I thought to myself, but nevertheless it felt right.

It started to rain, but I felt pretty relieved and happy to have Barbara next to me, I only had like 10$ in my pocket, and it was all my money, But I couldn't care less.

The rest of the day was so good, so funny, and I almost forgot the incident I had that morning, I just lived the moment. She was an architect, she new almost every building in the city. In some point she asked me if I'd like to see the Copacabana beach from the best point of view in town. I said of course.

A few minutes later, we were on the roof of one of the most luxurious hotels in Rio (she knew how to charm the staff members too).

It was raining again, the weather was cold, I was robbed, but I was so happy!

Here is the view I saw from the hotel.

You can imagine that I have special sentiments for that photo ;)

(When I processed the picture, I tried to show the colors of the Brazilian flag. You can really see the yellow, white, blue and green).

Thanks again for visiting my blog, have a great day!



Btw : If you liked the picture you can find it as poster at IBadishi digital art zazzle store.

Pop art - The colorful homeless

Hi there!

As I wrote on the previous post, 3 years ago I decided to take a break from my life, and went to Brazil. I planned to absorb the atmosphere, the music and the people.
My first week was in São Paulo. I was overwhelmed, a huge city (11 million people), very energetic, loud and dynamic. I was walking on the streets trying to get the feel of the city, watching the people on there way to work,  learning the sounds of this big metropolis. It was 3 weeks before the carnival, and everywhere around you could find groups of people rehearsing. I tried to follow them, to track them and just to enjoy the music. One day I heard a sound of percussion, and I couldn't track the source, the traffic and the city buzzes confused me. Finally I found myself walking under a bridge, below the traffic jams and the commotion - staring at a group of women rehearsing and singing samba songs. There was a guy there, who looked like the band leader, or conductor, he gave some instructions, praised the girls and sometimes corrected them - as you can see on the pic.

As I approached, I realized that the guy was a little bit drunk, and the girls didn't pay any attention to him, but nevertheless he continued to give the some musical tips.

I should have noticed before that he was a homeless guy, who just wanted to have some fun, but as I told you before I was a little overwhelmed and a bit naive.

Anyway I thought that guy was really interesting, and asked his permission for a picture. and that was the result.

This guy made me think about all the homeless people, that are in a way fading in front of our eyes. Most of the people don't notice them, or try to avoid them if they asking them something, and that made me feel sad.

I really liked the portrait of this guy and decided that he will be the star of my next pop art. I decided to do it in an Andy Worhal style, but this time it will not be a regular celebrity, It will be a street celebrity.

 I decided to add color, glamour and some drops of  fun to the image. I believe I've recreated the carefree and happy carnival atmosphere, that I found on a February day under a bridge, in São Paulo.