The Lisbon Connection. Figaros Barbershop. Lisbon. Portugal

The Lisbon Connection is done, but the best is yet to come. It was amazing to work with (all of) you guys. We visit fantastic places, but the Figaros Barbershop in Lisbon just get into my skin in seconds. Our memory is a fantastic thing. A detail or a smell can bring you to your past in seconds, and create you immediately a very comfortable sensation. Shooting the “The Lisbon Connection” was fantastic for a lot of reasons, with a lot of lessons learned in between. But what I confirmed the most, is that, in the end, is all about persons, emotions and get to know each other in life.  This is the most important add-value: the true connection off all the persons involved, definitely “The Lisbon Connection”.  It was a pleasure to have you here “mates”! I can’t wait to see it done and publish by the two talented boys: Tim and Sven.

Expect the unexpectable. #0 Gliding Barnacles. Figueira da Foz

Guess what! Gliding Barnacles! August was almost gone, but the best was yet to come: the Gliding Barnacles festival at Figueira da Foz in the last days of the month. The prompt idea is the promotion of Figueira da Foz as destination of the world surf through the interaction between artistic culture and surf, with the city as background. A big program was design having has the event headquarters the old car Garage of Auto-peninsular, transformed into a multifunctional artistic display. From a shaping room to a rock star gig, we had a bit of it all. The surf was up scaled with the presence of renamed longboarders:  James Parry came along all from California; Michael Lay from England and Matteo Fabbri from Italy. Take it back to the roots was the major statement of these days. Amazing surfers and fantastic classic boards from BING surfboards had to prove their resistance and good trimming in the perfect wave sets of Buarcos and Cabedelo beach.  Tree days of fun, fantastic atmosphere, high level surf (sub)culture, surrounded by friendship, free spirits and rock and roll, in the celebration of what is gathering us, the passion for surfing. From the Barnacle Boys…. just expect the unexpectable! Well done boys.

Mr. Brock, Fenny Compton, England

 

I wake up at 3.45! I couldn’t understand why that song was playing in my phone in the middle of the night. A sleepy voice next to me said “is your phone". I realized then that it was time to wake up. Today is the London shooting day for #project60. I was excited; after all, I do love traveling. I just need a good reason and I had one. Is good to go to a city where you already know your way. Less surprise factor, but less risk factor too. You move faster and you know where to go. My destination, however, was not the city, but Fenny Compton, a small village one hour north of London by train, near Banbury. It will be my first time. The surprise factor!  Even knowing my way I couldn’t avoid spending good part of my morning in different queues waiting for tickets: train to Vitoria station, metro, and another train to Banbury. And there I was, sitting on the train, curious to finally meet Mr Elbank in person after all the social media interactions. I let Noiserv play in my iPod meanwhile I was looking over the window to the green British landscape. I couldn’t avoid laughing with the name of the song "this is maybe the place where trains are going to sleep at night". What a name for a song!  Mr Elbank arrived just like I imagined him. I had this strange impression. Do I know this guy already? In that moment I had the feeling that I did know him since ever. Maybe my friend Jesus Villar has a point: reincarnation does exist. A good start makes all the difference. We went to the village's Pub The Merrie Lion for a snack, and, of course, for a beer, make it two; after all we are in England. It is funny to get into people’s worlds so quickly. Brock presents me to everybody in the pub. I was imagining what they may think....Hum... another Brock’s beard guys. I think that at this point they are used to it. The shooting was fun, Brock knows what he wants. That makes things a lot easier. In a second I had all my things around the house, transformed temporally at Elbank Village Studio, and more important, I felt at home. We practice the new “Elbank look” over and over. It seems to work. A big full day where we reached our goal, where we exchanged ideas and projects, where we learned things from each other, where we became richer persons. Brock was happy with the result. I was happy too, for me and for him. Sarah and the kids arrived. Another dynamic start. The kids are lovely Elkie and Olive, and the ice was broken easily with a simple tool. How to make elastic bracelets? Sarah cooked a magnificent risotto, and I was invited for dinner. The red wine and the Portuguese cheese from São Jorge Island came into the table.  What a wonderful time. The project 60 seemed to be just a detail of the day. In the end it was all about people, experiences and relations. The perfect ingredients to ensure that our journey (in life) is really worth it. I give a big goodbye hug to Brock. I promise him that I will be back for the exhibition. I took the train back to London. I felt that small knot in my stomach. I know myself! I left something in Fenny Compton today. I definitely brought something too from that amazing family. Thank you Mr Elbank.

“Living in” – 10th Angkor Photo Festival - 2014

Angkor is one of the most important archaeological sites in South-East Asia and one of the largest archaeological sites in operation in the world. Visiting Angkor complex is a lifetime experience, for its beauty and for the history. Tourism seams to appear in all forms! In a back of an elephant, in a tuck-tuck ride, crowds expecting the wonder of the sunset, sleeping face admiring the sunrise over the stupas. But! Are we paying attention to all the details? Do we really see everything? What about people who lived within the Angkor Wat enclosure? Do we think about their feelings? Many people may not know that when the French first began to do research and conservation at Angkor Wat that there were Buddhist monks living very close to the main temple entrance. In fact, there are actually two Buddhist Wats within the Angkor Wat enclosure, called Wat Cheung and Wat Tbong. In my visit to Angkor in September 2013, while admiring this important archaeological site, I realize the importance that those faces had to me. No meter the fact that they are the workers working on the restoration of the site or just children playing, or making a living for a few dollars from the tourists, they were the true meaning of “my” Angkor Vat. Of course, having people live close to heritage sights can create many tricky issues. But they are part of this magnificent place, and we must respect that. This is the experience I wanted to share with “Living in” photo work.  

Phu Quoc Island. Vietnam.

This peaceful tropical paradise, floats in the warm turquoise waters in the Gulf of Thailand, 50kms from the Vietnamese mainland and a 50 minute flight from Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Open year round with a peak season from November to March, Phu Quoc is becoming well known for stunning beaches, untouched natural environment, the easy going and relaxed atmosphere, friendly locals, and fantastic food. The majority of Phu Quoc Island is dedicated to National Park and protected marine environment, providing a memorable experience, with plenty of exciting activities and places to visit. For the best down to earth shopping and life style experience, visiting the local markets on the island is highly recommended. While western style goods are very limited, the local markets offer a colourful range of fruit, vegetables, seafood’s and much much more. Duong Dong market located in the centre of town along the river is the islands largest and most exciting local market. At most times of the day this can be a busy place with the local traffic running along the road and boats coming and going, loading and unloading their goods, and it is here you will find lovely ladies in conical hats selling everything from tropical fruits to unusual fishing equipment. If enjoying a colorful decent crowd is your thing, I strongly recommend Duong Dong market when cruise ships arrive (usually once a week) at the pier, bringing thousands of travellers, who fill the town and market place. I you have luck, you will shot a nice photo like this one.

“Still living in”. Angkor Vat. Cambodia.

Angkor is one of the most important archaeological sites in South-East Asia. Stretching over some 400 km2, including forested area, Angkor Archaeological Park contains the magnificent remains of the different capitals of the Khmer Empire, from the 9th to the 15th century. They include the famous Temple of Angkor Wat and, at Angkor Thom, the Bayon Temple with its countless sculptural decorations. The Angkor complex encompasses all major architectural buildings and hydrological engineering systems from the Khmer period and most of these “barays” and canals still exist today. All the individual aspects illustrate the intactness of the site very much reflecting the splendor of the cities that once were. Angkor is one of the largest archaeological sites in operation in the world and UNESCO has set up a wide-ranging programme to safeguard this symbolic site and its surroundings. Tourism represents an enormous economic potential but it can also generate irreparable destructions of the tangible as well as intangible cultural heritage. Visiting Angkor complex is a life time experience, for its beauty and for the history. Tourism seams to appear in all forms! In a back of an elephant, in a tuck-tuck ride, crowds expecting the wonder of the sunset, sleeping face admiring the sunrise over the stupas. But! Are we paying attention to all the details? Do we really see everything? What about people who lived within the Angkor Wat enclosure. Do we think about their feellings? Many people may not know that when the French first began to do research and conservation at Angkor Wat that there were Buddhist monks living very close to the main temple entrance. In fact, there are actually two Buddhist Wats within the Angkor Wat enclosure, called Wat Cheung (northern wat) and Wat Tbong (southern wat). In my visit to Angkor in 2013, while admiring this important archaeological site, I realize the importance that those faces had to me. No meter the fact that they are the workers working on the restoration of the site or just children playing, or making a living for a few dollars from the tourists, they were the true meaning of “my” Angkor Vat. Of course, having people live close to heritage sights can create many tricky issues. But they are part of this magnificent place, and we must respect that. This is the experience I wanted to share with my photos too.