Imaging Brazil 363: Fisherman and Fisherbird in Rio de Janeiro, RJ

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

363: Fisherman and heron

When Portuguese navigators entered Guanabara Bay on the first of January 1502, they were convinced that they had arrived at the mouth of an immense river, which they called the January River: Rio de Janeiro. Soon, it was realized that they had arrived in a giant bay: Guanabara Bay. This bay, however, is quite polluted; it is therefore not recommended to consume fish caught in the bay. However, it is not forbidden to catch the fish. This fisherman is trying not to lose his patience, while his heron neighbor shows great patience. He might plan to attack his human neighbor’s prey.

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2012, 2017

Imaging Brazil 360: View from Leme Beach, RIO DE JANEIRO (RJ)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

360: Leme Beach

It was on a sunny morning in August, when I made a long walk from Arpoador – where I was hosted in a hostel – to downtown Rio. It took a full day to reach the center of the ‘Cidade Maravilhosa’. It was still a bit hazy when I started walking, but soon the sun appeared. There were not many people on the beach: it was relatively cold, too cold to enter the sea, and it was a normal working day for many Brazilians. I took my time, took some pictures, and I reached Leme Beach – a continuation of Copacabana Beach- in about two hours. There I reached the Mureta do Leme (Leme Wall) and the Caminho dos Pescadores. From there, I had a splendid view of the entire Copacabana Beach, as seen in the photograph. 

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2012, 2017

Imaging Brazil 355: Estácio de Sá Monument, RIO DE JANEIRO (RJ)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

355: Estácio de Sá monument

The region of Rio de Janeiro was discovered by the Portuguese on the first day of 1502. But it took more than six decades before the city of Rio de Janeiro (São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro) was founded by Estácio de Sá, who was in charge to make an end to the French occupation of the region. The founding date is the first of March 1565.  In the decisive battle against the French and their indigenous allies, on 20 January 1567, he was hit in the eye by a poisoned arrow and died one month later. When the city wanted to honor Estácio at the celebration of the fourth centenary of Rio, people asked openly why there was no statue of the City’s founder. They tried to obtain an image of Estácio, but failed. Instead, a triangular obelisk was created by architect Lucio Costa, with a large room at the base of this obelisk. The monument is located at Aterro do Flamengo, along the Guanabara Bay. 

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2012, 2017

Imaging Brazil 355: Estácio de Sá Monument in Rio de Janeiro, RJ (2012)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

355: Estácio de Sá monument

The region of Rio de Janeiro was discovered by the Portuguese on the first day of 1502. But it took more than six decades before the city of Rio de Janeiro (São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro) was founded by Estácio de Sá, who was in charge to make an end to the French occupation of the region. The founding date is the first of March 1565.  In the decisive battle against the French and their indigenous allies, on 20 January 1567, he was hit in the eye by a poisoned arrow and died one month later. When the city wanted to honor Estácio at the celebration of the fourth centenary of Rio, people asked openly why there was no statue of the City’s founder. They tried to obtain an image of Estácio, but failed. Instead, a triangular obelisk was created by architect Lucio Costa, with a large room at the base of this obelisk. The monument is located at Aterro do Flamengo, along the Guanabara Bay. 

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2012, 2017

Imaging Brazil 352: Bird at the National War Monument in Rio de Janeiro, RJ (2012)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

352: Bird at Monument

When you want to go from the center of Rio de Janeiro to Copacabana Beach, it is probable that your journey will follow the long Aterro do Flamengo. At the beginning of this urban park that is flanked by wide avenues, you will find the Museu do Arte Moderna, and next to it the immense monument that commemorates the participation and losses of Brazil in the Second World War: the ‘Monumento aos Mortos da Segunda Guerra Mundial” or “Monumento as Pracinhas”.  The below grade mausoleum holds the remains of 468 soldiers of the Brazilian Expeditionary Force that died in action in Italy. Outside, there is the 31 meter high monumental portal, a granite statue representing the soldiers of the land, naval, and air forces, an abstract sculpture that represents the Brazilian Air Force, and a large mosaic that honors both the navy and merchant marine who died at sea. A long, shallow pool allows natural light in the mausoleum and regulates the temperature. At the moment of the picture, a sea gull rested on the margin of the pool.

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2012, 2017

Imaging Brazil 338: Detail of Jackfruit in Belo Horizonte, MG (2011)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

338: Jackfruit in detail

One of the biggest tree fruits you can find on our planet is the jackfruit, also known as nangka. The jackfruit originates in India, but is now found in Southeast Asia, North Australia and Eastern Brazil, where this fruit is locally known as jaca. There is a lack of clarity about the name jackfruit. One source refers to a Scottish botanist, while another source refers to the Portuguese word jaca, which in turn has a reference to the Malay word chakka. The shell on the photo is of the hard jaca-dura variety. These fruits can measure up to one meter long and weigh over forty kilos. It is therefore important to be careful not to be hit by such a fruit. In the city park Floresta da Tijuca in Rio de Janeiro, the jackfruit tree was the first variety to be planted there. With much success: Now, several thousands of young shoots are destroyed annually, in order to preserve the natural balance in the urban forest.

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2011, 2017

Imaging Brazil 200: Crazy Carnival Bloco in Rio de Janeiro, RJ (2008)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

200. Carnival group 

MARCH 2008: Carnival group

It was just over a month since the carnival was held in Rio de Janeiro. The biggest party on Earth, as boasted by the Carioca’s (residents of Rio), had attracted many carnival revelers, and tourists from home and abroad. You would think that it would be quieter afterwards in the city, at least for some months. On the contrary. As seen in the picture, I witnessed a small show of a so-called bloco de carnaval, a carnival group. Back then it was Easter, this bloco used this theme in their call for attention to more tolerance and less violence and prejudice. The motley crew drew a lot of attention, especially from curious tourists, and I was one of them.

 

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2008, 2016

Imaging Brazil 187: Koi Carps in Rio de Janeiro, RJ (2008)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

187. Koi carps 

SEPTEMBER 2008: Koi carps

It is hard to imagine that these colorful carp variant became known to the world only in 1914, when these fish were displayed at an exhibition in China. This nishikigoi, as they are also called, are the result of spontaneous mutations in the common carp. They are regarded as Japan’s national fish, and are now grown and maintained throughout the world. Also in Brazil, as I encountered these colorful carps in a pond – as part of an art piece – at the main entrance of the headquarters of BNDES (Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Econômico e Social), the Brazilian Development Bank in downtown Rio de Janeiro. The shadows on the water surface show a striking resemblance to the line pattern of the carps.

 

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2008, 2016

Imaging Brazil 182: Tram on Arcos de Lapa in Rio de Janeiro, RJ (2008)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

182. Tram 

AUGUST 2008: Tram

Lapa is a very popular location in Rio de Janeiro. Virtually every tourist is attracted by the diversity of nightlife in this district, which is part of downtown Rio. Lapa is also known for the huge arches of the aqueduct, which was constructed in the middle of the eighteenth century, in order to transport fresh water from the Carioca River to the city center. Late nineteenth century, the aqueduct got another function: now it served as a tram rail track, uphill to the equally popular Santa Teresa District. At the time I left the huge arches – the largest measuring more than seventeen meters high – behind me, the tram just rode on the former aqueduct.

 

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2008, 2016

Imaging Brazil 179: Imperial Palm Tree Lane in Rio de Janeiro, RJ (2008)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

179. Imperial palm trees 

MARCH 2008: Imperial palm trees

The famous Jardim Botânico (Botanical Garden) in Rio de Janeiro hosts more than six thousand – mostly tropical – plant species. One of the tallest and impressive species is the imperial palm tree. More than four hundred palm trees are planted in two straight rows that flank some principal paths in the Botanical Garden. It is believed that het Portuguese Prince Dom João VI himself had planted the ‘mother palm tree’ in 1809. The actual imperial palm trees are descendants of this so-called Palma Mater, which, incidentally, has succumbed to a lightning strike in 1972. Thirty years after the plantation, the Palma Mater started to flower and carry fruits. The then director of the Botanical Garden commanded to collect all flowers and fruits, in order to trying to maintain exclusivity of the imperial palm tree in the Garden. However, his policy wasn’t successful, and thus more imperial palm trees are found outside the Garden. Nonetheless, the imperial palm trees are very famous, and are now shown in the Jardim Botânico logo.

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2008, 2016