Eyes that seek the Unseen
The Autumn light in Lisbon is wonderful, after 4:00 PM the tangential light of the setting sun makes all the details of the buildings and walls more evident. The contrast with the shadows is amazing and the increasing air humidity allow us a more sharp vision of the lines and surfaces around us. The sun is still bright, and it is a good time to relax by the river.
A boat trip up the Douro River, between banks dotted with small marinas, villages, lush vegetation, orchards, and vineyards—lots of vineyards. The trip ends in Peso da Régua.
Some images of Gaia and Porto, seen from the south bank.
The flat South banks banks of the Tagus, close to the sea, show the amazing effects of the Atlantic tides. Last Saturday morning I had a chance to make some photos by the river, in Seixal Bay. A very peaceful morning with bright sky and the flat river bed usually covered by water. The poet Kate McGovern wrote that
“… Low tide reveals the soul of the sea-
Its secrets, its treasures
its sorrows…”
A Beautiful photograph must never answer every question, or you’ll never come back to it. The question must always remain unanswered.
Rodney Smith 2009
The question remains: why is she closing her eyes ? Deep thougts ? Sadness ? Enjoying the warm sunlight on her face ? Or did the camera caught an unintentional closing of her eyelids ?
Some other questions could be asked, concerning other people : Is the guy wearing a basebal cap with her ? Why is the man standing on the pier looking backwards ?
A short poem from Guillermo Veloso
Winter boats are
shrink-wrapped ghosts
haunting the docks as
they await the sea
Looking west, the bridge and, closer, a lonely seagull
And a slow boat coming in
People sitting in a half-circle enjoying the afternoon
…or just turning their back to the city
Looking estwards, another sailing boat
and, more to the right side, two resting relics, a frigate and an old U-boat, waiting for visitors
The terrace of the small café at the museum was empty, in spite of the clear blue sky and the usual great view to Lisbon, across the river
I rather prefer to go there when people are sitting there sipping a drink and enjoying the view
(Sketch, brush-pens on paper)
A winter morning walk along the river, with a new camera that was kindly given to me at Christmas. On the left bank, in the shade, the restaurants are still empty.
The old stones on the ground show the humidity left over from the night
A seagull on top of a crane watches who passes by
The same small boats moored next to the pier, float on the dark water
At the end, a bench to rest and admire the city, in the sun, across the river.
During the tour, I made a cell-phone photo of a heart painted on the cement ground by an unknown street artist. People step aside to avoid stepping on it…
Let’s have a Good New Year.
It also depends on each one of us
Last Sunday I saw this solitary chair close to the river. A good place to sit and watch the sunset.
May the incoming New Year bring to all of us plenty of the so much needed peace and serenity
Happy New Year
Now from a morning walk along the North Bank. I was carrying the small Soviet-made camera Smena-8 and took advantage of the intermitent sunlight.
Some people standing, walking, running and cycling
A few steps West, a meditating person sittin on an old pier – and a couple walking slowly on the rocks as if looking for something.
A cheap plastic camera can make decent images !!!
Early morning fog at the Tagus South bank. Grey light, a sense of unknown space, vague unmeasurable distances , cold. And silence.
A walk yesterday along the south bank of the Tagus, on a calm morning with gray skies and little sun. Low tide leaves large areas of mud along the shore, covered in green slime. On the muddy surface an old fisherman is making repairs on his boat, probably as old as he is. Further ahead, a goose walks proudly, dominating his territory.
Another trip along the Tagus, with a Zorki-1 camera, an Industar-22 manual lens and a roll of Eastman plus-X (the camera, the lens and the film have been out of production for years). Old stuff, but it works.
Living next to the river makes us familiar with it, but it ends up becoming a banal presence for many people. We can contemplate it, run along the shore or, simply, turn our backs on it, ignoring it.
Or not even use the chairs that allow us to so easily look at it.
Saturday afternoon, South bank of the Tagus. People gather there to meet, eat and drink.
Some people prefer to be left alone. A moment of rest to settle ideas and feelings
Others choose to dance. A group of friends, or more probably an informal dancing class. They bring their own music and dance in pairs. One of them directs the others, giving instructions before each music sometimes correcting their movements. They seem to take this quite seriously – but they share and communicate a lot of joy.
Some people make and play their own music…
… while others sit and talk, probably about the good old times
There is a small beach on the Tagus bank, between two cliffs, just west of the 25th April bridge. In the XIX century there was a soap factory there, today only its ruins remain. To get there it is necessary to take a steep path, not easy to find. At the river level we can found two chimneys, parts of the brick walls, lots of rubble and the opening of an old furnace. The place is invaded by briars and thorny wild weeds. The pillars of a former pier are still visible protruding from the water. Some fishermen take advantage of that place, they keep there a small boat and their fishing gear.
João Avelar images 