Once in a while I get a staggering email from a photographer. The latest greeted me when I returned from Paris; ten images in my inbox from Portuguese photographer João Pina, from his new series about the incredible violence that plagues Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Not only is the work amazing, but Pina’s edit is spot on, and his text is compellling. I will share them with you, so you can see for yourself….
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Dear Colleagues and Friends,
Attached you can findsome images of my latest body of work. In the past two years I madeseveral trips to Rio de Janeiro to create a visual story on one of themost violent cities in the World with an average of 18 people killeddaily for the past 20 years.
During these time, I managed tohave access both to the Police during their operations inside theFavelas, but also managed to photograph some of the most important drugdealers of the city, and of course the major victims of thesenon-declared war is always the civilian population who is caught dailyon this crossfire. This is now another personal project of mine tocontinue in the next few years. So any feedback, suggestions and inputis more then welcome.
The complete feature can be seen in my website.
Joao Pina
Currently in Afghanistan.
Powerful photos. Very much worth clicking on the link to see the whole set. It’s a fascinating counterpoint to the images of the Rio Carnival that we’re seeing so many of, right now. It’s possible (even likely) that some of the people in Pina’s photos are members of samba schools and spent the night marching through the Sambodrome. I’d like to see a project that brings these two realities together. Thanks, Rachel.
Thanks for sharing this…quite impressive.
The detail to strike me first was in the group photo: flip flops. Guns and flip-flops seem so fundamentally at odds.
WOW!!
Whoa, those are amazing.
Wow. Both beautiful and grueling.
Wow,so amazing
Wow, awesome shots!
Thanks!
This is amazing work – incredible contrast, I’ll have to read more about this guy.
J Camp
Atlanta Photographers
Not only are the images informative they are beautifully shot. You seem to have captured a interesting moment and from an original perspective. The work reminds me of Salgado’s work
wow! mind blowing images, shocking scenery! and simply amazing photography! I’m particularly impressed with the first dancing shot, light contrast, bw conversion everything speaks of master… and the shot were bunch of militants play fusball, impressive, showing another part of this people… that maybe they have to fight to live, but they are also human, just trying to survive and get by…
amazing series!
Great shots!!!
hi
i found your blog doing a search for inbox images. these are some nice photographs. i will browse around and look at other posts. take care
[...] Pina works on incredible breadth of issues, all related by their focus on the harshest of social violence. Most recently, his work on the gangs of Rio de Janeiro has garnered attention, here and here. [...]
Seriously, thank you for introducing me to such a great artist. Joao Pina deserves wall space along side the legends.
Once again – great post, and great find!
-Josh