Dublin Series - Bridges

Accepted as the symbol of Dublin, the Ha'penny Bridge (offically Wellington Bridge after the 'Iron Duke') was opened in 1816. Cast at Coalbrookdale in Shropshire in England, the bridge acquired its unofficial monniker from the toll paid to cross the river - one old half penny. The bridge was the only pedestrian bridge on the Liffey until the new Millenium bridge further up was opened in 2000.

The bridge has three lamps supported by curved ironwork over the walkway. In a bad state of repair, the bridge was closed in 2001 for major repair. It was reopened, with its original paint colour restored and changed made at the ends to allow standing room for pedestrians before crossing the road. The original line of the decking was restored. (http://irish-architecture.com)

Dublin Series - People II

One of this days, in one of my walks around this beautiful city when the sun decides to show up, I came across with this group of people, siting outside, enjoying the weather.

They looked so relaxed, chatting about their lives, thinking about lunch, or just sitting there, taking advantage of every ray of sun light, in contrast with the red wall, as background, with the windows closed not letting the sun illuminate the lives of the ones inside. 

And this four lives are so close, physically, but at the same time so far away.

Dublin Series - People

While photographing the "Cairo to Cape Town Challenge", Flagship Event, at the Mount Antville Primary School, organized by the Link Community Development (LCD), I had the unique opportunity to photograph, not only the event, but the kids, in this case, the girls of this school, in it's own environment. And, I've to say, that their enthusiasm and joy was contagious. Special thanks to Stiofainin and Kevin.

Dublin Series - Parks

Fairview Park (irish: Fionn Radharc)

Situated in the heart of Fairview, this park is famous for its playing grounds, a children's playground and tree-lined walks. The area also includes Dublin's first 50 metre swimming pool.

Killing of The Pig/A Matança do Porco

A few day ago, I published a photo-reportage about the Killing of The Pig, in a portuguese magazine called A23. The photographs are really strong and some people may find them disturbing. 

I grow up watching my family doing this kind of stuff, like they did with their parents, and for families that lived in the middle of the mountains, back in the 40/50's, isolated from the rest of the world, this was the only way to survive and provide food for the winter time for the whole family.

The text it's in portuguese but you can always watch the video.
Nuno Reis Goncalves

Dublin Series - Pubs

The word Pub, also Public House, it's a building where people go to drink and meet their friends. Pubs serve alcoholic and others drinks, and often also food. (By the Oxford Dictionary)

Dublin Series

After living in Dublin for almost 5 years, it's now time to show a little bit more about this unique city. The colours, the alleys, the people, the pubs and everything else.

With these series, it's my intention to celebrate the city it self and it's character.

Out of place!

Usually, when you talk about tuk-tuks, most of the times you'll think about Thailand, and the streets full of these noisy and fun taxis. But, the other day, walking around Dublin, I came across this tuk-tuk parked in a road... In Dublin! With an Irish license and taxes and seat belts, ready for a ride in the streets of Temple Bar.

Dublin, Ireland. 2009

Entrevista na A23/A23 Interview

Uma entrevista e' sempre uma entrevista. E quando e' a primeira tem um significado ainda maior.

Fui convidado pelo meu amigo e jornalista Ricardo Paulouro para responder a umas perguntas sobre a minha relacao com o mundo da fotografia e gostaria de partilhar esse momento com todos voces que passam por este meu espaco. 

Infelizmente, so esta disponivel em portugues.

Clica aqui para ler a entrevista.

Um Grande Bem Haja!

------------------------------

Hello everybody. I've been interviewed by my dear friend and journalist Ricardo Paulouro for the online version of the A23 magazine. Unfortunately, it's only available in portuguese and for that reason I would like to apologize for the rest of you who aren't portuguese speakers.

Take Care.

The Other Side of Manila

A Photo Essay about the city of Manila and their neighborhoods, from Malate To Paco, through Tondo, passing at the Smokey Mountain and the Pier 18.

A different perspective at the capital of the Philippines and the people, with the music of local artist Vicente Andres, the one arm musician.

Click here to watch the video.

"Where do you come from?"

In the way to Tondo, between the Pedro Gil PNR station and PNR Paco station, while walking around the railways, you'll always find someone to talk, specially in the shantytowns, where people never have the chance to share their life experiences with foreigners. 

And, again, they'll ask you for a photograph with the illusion of appearing in a newspaper or a magazine. Always with a smile. Always with a pose.

 

Sagada: Mountain Province

One day at the Rice Terraces

(To watch the video click here)

 

Photographs taken in Sagada, North Luzon. The Philippines, February 2009.

Children of the Smokey Mountain

For families around the Smokey Mountain, having children's was a way of getting more arms and hands to work as scavengers, in order to improve their income. Nowadays, mentalities have changed with the efforts of the many programs based around the former dump site to help residents of this area and parents are starting to be more willing to sacrifice them selfs to sent their kids to school. 

This photograph was taken in the surroundings of the former Smokey Mountain, officially closed more than a decade ago, where people still people scavenge for a living.

Kid at the Smokey Mountain, Tondo. Manila

The Lost Art

In the Kalinga region (North Luzon), the use of tattoos for body decoration, in case of women, and as a symbol of being a warrior, in case of men, was a very popular practice among tribes people but it's becoming a lost art.

This practice of drawing on the skin is performed using soot mixed with water and kisi needles.

The different patterns range from rinafarafat (fern-like), sinongchar (straight line), inob-ofog (mat-like), kinakadjaman (centipede-like), and minanmanuk (chicken-like).

This four photographs, taken in the villages of Chananau and Ngibat, represent some of the last tattooed women that are the living proof of this ancient art.

Albim Salamat, Former Smokey mountain Scavenger

Albim Salamat, 43 years old, was born in the Smokey Mountain and started to work as a scavenger when he was about 7 years old, and just stopped 30 years later. As he says, "I used to scavenge as a source to pay my studies".

It was the only way of getting money to study because "there was no timetable or shifts", and in the end of the day he could get the money to "pay the bills without having to wait for the end of the month".

Albim now works as Community Develop Worker in a program called "Out of School Youth" that consists in motivating teenagers to go back to school and try to finish theirs studies.

 

This picture is part of a series of shots taken in the Smokey Mountain, in Manila (The Philippines), which portrait the old dumpsite, the social housing and the new dumpsite. 

Saint Valentine's Day

This popular holiday is used as an excuse to sent cards, flowers or any other presents to show our girlfriends or boyfriends how much we love, care and think about them.

It's also a good photographic opportunity as shop owners double their efforts to make their stands as appealing as possible, in order to call the so needed customers in the actual crisis.

Of course, the person walking the dog helps to add something to this photo.

Happy Late Valentine's Day.  

Seagulls

...

Dublin this morning

The city of Dublin has been hit by a heavy snowfall this morning (08 Feb.), that left the city covered in white. For some, specially drivers, the white scenery was not welcomed but for others, like this two kids in the photo, was a sign of fun. And, probably, their first time enjoying putting up snowmen or, even better, rolling down this hill at the Fairview Park.

Photographic Exhibition in Dublin

Plan B Ireland is organizing a photographic exhibition about the Daily Life of the Children of Burkina Faso, with pictures from Reuters photographer Finbarr O'Reilly, from the 3 to 27 of February. Admission Free.

The Campaign Award

The Sony World Photography Awards are inviting amateurs photographers to capture the beauty of football in places you’d least expect to see it. 

For more information and to enter the Campaign Award Competition click here.