PhotosAlma

10 Jun 2015

From Helsinki with love

I spent the last two weeks in Finland, most of that time in Helsinki. I have a love-hate relationship with Helsinki. I love it to a certain extent, but exceeding that it starts to wear me down. Saying that I have to add that it´s a lovely city in the summer. A bit hostile in the winter, though, like any other Northern city.

There are places in Helsinki that don´t look like Finland at all. They look more like some foreign city where I haven´t even been, yet. Ullanlinna, Kaivopuisto, Kruununhaka… ancient buildings full of colours and details. Very un-Finnish.

So, I can be a tourist in the very city where I was born, and that´s the way I like it.

All photos from Helsinki, 2010.

20 May 2015

Yellow is not a blue colour

There's no limit to the colours and patterns of painted tiles, azulejos. Azul means blue, and originally most tiles were blue and white, blue colour being the cheapest.

Some tiles look 3D, some are that. Sometimes it's difficult to know which is which. The eye is easily fooled!

Yellow tiles in intense sunlight are full of energy, joy, heat, calor. There's nothing blue or sad about them. Yellow is not a blue colour.

Top: Faro, 2012

Middle: Malta, Vila do Conde, 2012

Bottom: Vila do Conde, 2013

11 May 2015

The Good End (part 2)

Last week I shared with you some B&W photos of Bonfim in Porto. Being a city in Northern Portugal, Porto is far from black and white. It is all colour, if somewhat faded. That's what I love the most about Portuguese cities and villages; the colours - strong, live (viva), faded, peeled, fresh, luscious, of all shades and for all tastes. Bonfim is the perfect example of a traditional Northern town. When you close your eyes to the more modern buildings, that is. Personally, I prefer to see the beauty and forget the rest.

All photos Bonfim, Porto, 2015

4 May 2015

The Good End (part 1)

What do you see in the pictures? Derelict houses that should be demolished? Potential reconstruction projects? Memory of the good old days long gone?

The Bonfim ("good end") quarters in Porto do not have the best of reputations. Yet. Some of the historical houses have been renovated, beautifully, respecting the traditional beauty of the buildings. The rest are waiting for their turn. I happened to go there by chance, and found a piece of Porto that was all new to me. Sometimes the best things happen by chance. Actually, most times.

This time photos in B&W out of respect for the historical buildings. Next time: colours.

27 Apr 2015

The way to Santiago

For the past two years and something I've lived close to ways to Santiago, routes that lead pilgrims – catholic and non – to Santiago de la Compostela in Spain. It is not rare to see pilgrims on their way, with backpacks on their backs. Often they look weary, but nevertheless determined to reach their destination.

The way to Santiago, O Caminho de Santiago, intrigues me. What makes people do such a long and hard trip, what is the reward that awaits at the end? Maybe some day someone will explain me.

The yellow signs lead to Santiago. Painted every couple of dozens of metres, on walls, on streetlight poles, on more walls. Follow the signs and you can’t get lost. Or can you?

Top and middle: Azurara, Vila do Conde, 2012

Bottom: Vila Chã, Vila do Conde, 2014

18 Apr 2015

Black&white

What I love the most about photographing in Portugal is the colours. All the million and more colours in the azulejos, tiles, and the doors, window frames, gates, walls… Bright or faded, colours are everywhere. I love it.

But every now and then it is good to strip off the colour, see things in black and white. That’s when you see the essential in the form of things. The simplicity of it all.