Eyes that seek the Unseen
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…”
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
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 !!!
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
A variety of scenarios in the banks of the Tagus
João Avelar images 