29th October-20th December 2023
Pão de Açúcar in the Morning Light
Spending the last months of the year in Rio, his time, my experience was even more different than the other times I was there. While searching for long-term accommodation in Lapa, I stayed in a favela with an incredible view over Sugarloaf Mountain (Pão de Açúcar) and Botafogo. Every morning, the sun would rise over the bay, and I’d watch it from the window.
From up there, I tested my new tele-zoom lens, and I ended up taking hundreds of photos of the wild birds, the hundreds of shades of green and the movement of the city below. It felt surreal to be photographing nature and Rio’s skyline at once, all from my window.
Living in the favela taught me a lot. I explored it carefully, respectfully, and found it completely different than how it’s often portrayed. In fact, I felt safer there than on many main streets in the city. There’s a different kind of order, a strong sense of respect among residents, and an understanding that those who live there are to be protected, not harmed. It challenged my expectations and gave me a deeper connection to the city.
From up there, I tested my new tele-zoom lens, and I ended up taking hundreds of photos of the wild birds, the hundreds of shades of green and the movement of the city below. It felt surreal to be photographing nature and Rio’s skyline at once, all from my window.
Living in the favela taught me a lot. I explored it carefully, respectfully, and found it completely different than how it’s often portrayed. In fact, I felt safer there than on many main streets in the city. There’s a different kind of order, a strong sense of respect among residents, and an understanding that those who live there are to be protected, not harmed. It challenged my expectations and gave me a deeper connection to the city.
