Imaging Brazil 320: Pink Flowers in Parque Municipal in Belo Horizonte, MG (2011)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

320: Pink flowers

During the weekends, I was regularly found in the center of Belo Horizonte. Sometimes I visited the versatile Mercado Central on Saturday, or the cozy open air market Feira Hippie on Sunday morning, followed by a visit to Parque Municipal, the city park. A butterfly park was recently opened there, and various types of butterflies actually came across the colorful and fragrant flowers. Even in the absence of butterflies, it was very pleasant to wander around in the colored beds of various flowers. With my camera in hand. As a result, this beautiful flower with an intense pink color was pictured.

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2011, 2017

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Imaging Brazil 317: Lizard on the Wall in Belo Horizonte, MG (2011)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

317: Lizard on the wall

In a tropical country like Brazil, you regularly encounter cold-blooded animals in your home. Frogs and toads accidentally jump over your threshold, while geckos and little lizards hunt down the walls for insects in your living room. They are therefore useful animals, although not everyone is happy with their presence; many are even afraid of them. At least it’s a little shock to find such a reptile on an inner wall. Most Brazilians leave them in peace; the reptiles go away spontaneously, searching for their prey, possibly in another house.

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2011, 2017

Imaging Brazil 316: Sunset-Colored Tree Silhouettes in Belo Horizonte, MG (2011)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

316: Tree silhouettes

The Pampulhacampus of the Federal University in Belo Horizonte (UFMG) is particularly large, more than five square kilometers. The faculties, schools and institutes are spread over the green, wooded area. Every day there are about fifty thousand people, equal to the population of a small town, in the campus. Due to the vastness it is sometimes lovely to walk along or through the green areas. Natural forest trails give you the sensation of being in a natural park, far away from the urban noise. In the small forests it is possible to meet small monkeys, or small and medium rodents, or even a large lizard. The picture was made near the main entrance, during a colorful sunset, with the tree branches turning black against a reddish purple sky.

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2011, 2017

Imaging Brazil 312: Mountain Landscape in Minas Gerais, MG (2011)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

312: Mountain landscape

Minas Gerais state is one of the largest Brazilian states: its land area is similar to that of France and Switzerland combined. The state, with the centrally located capital of Belo Horizonte, is rich in mountains and rocks, which contain huge amounts of minerals. Iron ore, precious metals, precious stones and semi-precious stones are still extracted. The mining towns were very wealthy in the past, and it is still visible to the richly decorated houses and churches in these towns. When I was on my way to Diamantina, less than three hundred kilometers from Belo Horizonte, we drove along a fascinating mountain scenery, with rocks richly spread over the vast slopes and valleys.

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2011, 2017

Imaging Brazil 309: Dark Clouds over Faculty Building in Belo Horizonte, MG (2011)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

309: Dark clouds over Economics Faculty

From 2005 to 2014, I was regularly found in the campus of the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) in Belo Horizonte. I had my space at the Faculty of Biological Sciences, and I was a frequent visitor of the Faculty of Information Sciences. Since I was invited to join a student travel to Salvador in 2006, I have made many friends there, and have joined various gatherings and parties. I have played numerous matches of Braziliaan pool billiard (sinuca) in the early evening hours. The UFMG campus is really large, it more resembles a little town. Large faculty complexes are spread across the campus, only few faculties – among them the Faculty of Medicine –  remain outside this Pampulha Campus. One of the newer faculties is the Economics Faculty as seen on the photo. At that hour, really dark clouds hovered above bright colored complex.

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2010, 2017

Imaging Brazil 306: Pine Tree Branch in Belo Horizonte, MG (2011)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

306: Pine tree branch

Undoubtedly, you’ll find pine trees in the cold climates of North America, Northern Europe and North Asia. In temperate climates – including the Netherlands – you meet mixed forests of broadleaf trees and conifers. It is difficult to imagine that pine trees can also be found in tropical regions. Particularly in southern Brazil, where the winters are somewhat cold, you regularly find pine trees. The Brazilian pine, the araucaria, is the national tree of the state of Paraná. However, this tree species belongs to the conifer family. In the cold mountainous areas of Minas Gerais, many coniferous trees are found, especially at high altitudes. The pine tree in the picture is located near the Mangabeiras City Park.

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2011, 2017

Imaging Brazil 303: Pre-Carnival Percussion in Belo Horizonte, MG (2011)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

303: Praia da Estação

In contrast to Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Recife and Salvador, Belo Horizonte has no carnival tradition. For a long time, the time has been known as the place to go when you want to escape from carnival activities. More recently, the city has invested a lot in the development of carnival, including carnival parades. In 2010, a pre-carnival activity was created with the intention of better use of public areas in Belo Horizonte. The large, refurbished square in front of the railway station, Praça (square) da Estação, was renamed into Praia (beach) da Estação. Mainly students gathered during some Saturdays to enjoy the warm and sunny January days. They brought their beach towels, sunburn cream, and beer. A number of street carnival groups (‘blocos’) played there too. Some members of a percussion group are seen on the photo.

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2011, 2017