Com a chegada do fim de 2024, mantendo um hábito que cultivo há mais de 10 anos, faço uma pausa, geralmente no meio da noite, enquanto metade do mundo dorme, para refletir sobre a minha jornada e como este ano se revelou diante de mim. 

Ao acessar o que as lentes da minha câmera registraram e ao relembrar as histórias que conta cada “disparo”, concluo que 2024 realizou parte dos sonhos do Nabil de 14 anos. Nessa época, no interior da Amazônia, onde nasci e vivi meus primeiros anos, aventurar-me pelo mundo parecia uma aspiração fora do alcance. Ao me comparar com meus amigos, me vem à memória as palavras da minha mãe quando eu perguntava por que eles viajavam tanto, enquanto nós permanecíamos no mesmo lugar. Com sabedoria ela me dizia: “Chegará o momento em que você viajará pelos motivos certos”. 

Ciente dos meus privilégios, grato pelas oportunidades que me foram apresentadas e, mais do que isso, pela coragem de tê-las usufruído (considerando que tenho medo de avião), gosto de lembrar de como cheguei até aqui.

Colocando em números, porque eles me conferem uma noção mais precisa de todas as minhas atividades, o ano de 2024 foi concluído com um total de 38 voos que me levaram para 5 países e 13 cidades diferentes. Aterrissei em 4 continentes. Comecei no Oriente Médio, dei uma passadinha pelo inverno europeu em pleno janeiro, desci em direção ao caloroso verão na América do Sul e de passagem várias vezes, não por acaso, na América do Norte. 

Às vezes, não consigo responder qual é o meu endereço, gerando várias brincadeiras sobre eu estar sempre de passagem e fazer moradia em aeroportos. Mas preciso dizer que em quase todos estes lugares me sinto turista porque, na verdade, encerro o ano onde tudo começou - no Oriente Médio, que além do Brasil, é um dos únicos lugares que realmente considero casa.

Cada viagem rendeu centenas, senão milhares, de fotos de paisagens com cores vibrantes, culturas diversas e uma infinidade de “primeiros momentos”. Transitei por ruas movimentadas de cidades icônicas - Londres, Rio de Janeiro, Nova York e Santiago, mas também atravessei ruas silenciosas de bairros que não recordo o nome, mas memorizei o som. 

Seria impossível descrever todas as experiências em apenas alguns parágrafos ou em uma seleção de fotos. No entanto, não posso deixar de mencionar alguns de tantos momentos inesquecíveis:

Faltam palavras para contar sobre o privilégio de participar de eventos na sede das Nações Unidas em Nova York, como a Comissão sobre o Status da Mulher e a Cúpula do Futuro (Summit of the Future). Pela primeira vez, no mesmo quarteirão da sede da ONU, presenciei a Assembleia Geral das Nações Unidas, um evento anual que acontece em setembro. Pude interagir com algumas das pessoas mais incríveis que já conheci, dentre elas presidentes, primeiros-ministros e embaixadores. Não posso deixar de citar o momento em que o comboio do (até então atual) presidente dos Estados Unidos, Joe Biden, passou por mim - não uma, mas duas vezes.

E claro, a emoção de assistir ao meu primeiro show da Broadway na Times Square, onde aprendi diretamente do palco que abrigava o espetáculo Hamilton, sobre a história americana. Entre reuniões e eventos, assisti ao musical O Rei Leão. De terno e gravata voltei rapidamente à minha infância, aos sons de Circle of Life, enquanto lágrimas escorriam no meu rosto, por estar realizando mais um sonho.

Sem contar a experiência de me sentir em um filme ao estar sob a variedade de sons e tons que tomavam o céu de Nova York durante os fogos de artifício do 4 de julho, vistos de um prédio colado ao Empire State Building na 5ª Avenida.

O ano também foi repleto de emoções ao capturar a alegria radiante de noivas e noivos no dia de seus casamentos, entre eles amigos próximos.

As fotografias a seguir oferecem apenas um vislumbre do que 2024 realmente significou para mim. Para além do meu trabalho, essa seleção é uma tentativa de preservar as experiências pessoais e as amizades que fiz ao longo deste ano. Um esforço para encapsular as sensações captadas em 2024 - porque por trás de cada cena existe um instante experimentado por mim - não só como fotógrafo, mas como indivíduo. 

“Em que lugar do mundo você está?” - Essa foi a pergunta que recebi com mais frequência durante estes 12 meses. Portanto, te convido para uma jornada visual por meio dessas imagens. Visitaremos lugares icônicos, mencionados anteriormente, e caminharemos por bairros em que a arquitetura impressionante mescla história e modernidade. 

Contemple a vista do Big Ben e London Eye, em Londres, da Brooklyn Bridge e dos famosos arranha-céus em Nova York, finalizando na majestosa Golden Gate Bridge em São Francisco. Em solo brasileiro, refresque-se nas praias de Copacabana e Ipanema antes de pegar a ponte aérea para a “Concrete Jungle” brasileira, a nossa selva de pedra: São Paulo.

Aos usuários de Tik Tok ou Instagram: com esta apresentação fotográfica, “the season of 2024 comes to an end”. A temporada de 2024 chega ao fim.


 

 





      

 
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As the calendar year comes to a close, I find myself pausing in the stillness of late-night hours, when half the world is asleep, to reflect on the extraordinary journey that 2024 has unfolded before me.

A practice I have developed over the last decade or so, is to take some time at the end of the Gregorian year to look back at the photos I took. As I scrolled through my photo gallery finding what my camera lens registered and the stories it wove from each “click” into my travels, I came to a realization that this year resembles the dreams of the 14-year-old Nabil—a time when adventure seemed just out of reach for a Brazilian kid, born in the country side of the Amazon. I often recall my mother’s words when I would compare my life with my friends’ and wonder why their ' families traveled extensively while ours would remain country bound. With a lot of wisdom she simply said, "The right time will come when you will travel for the right reasons." 

Aware of the privileges I carry today, thankful for the opportunities ahead of me, and, beyond that, the courage I had to make this dream possible (considering I am afraid of flying), I never forget the path I have trodden to get where I am.

Putting it into numbers, because they give me a precise idea of all my activities, 2024 concluded in a total of 38 flights across 5 countries and 13 cities, in 4 different continents: starting in the Middle East, to the European winter, down to the warmth of South America up to North America a few times, ending back in the Middle East, where my year started. Blurring the lines of where I call home.

Each journey yielded an unexpected gallery of vibrant landscapes, diverse cultures, and a multitude of “firsts.” I navigated the bustling streets of iconic cities like London, New York, Rio de Janeiro and Santiago, but also crossed the quiet streets of neighborhoods, whose names I can’t recall but whose sounds I vividly remember.

It would be impossible to convey every experience in just a few paragraphs and photos. Yet, I cannot overlook some unforgettable moments:

Words aren’t sufficient to describe the privilege of attending events at the United Nations Headquarters such as the Commission on the Status of Women and Summit of the Future, and witnessing from across the street the United Nations General Assembly for the first time, interacting with some of the most amazing people I have ever crossed paths with - each moment contributing to this rich tapestry of experiences. And the remarkable moment that the current President of the United States, Joe Biden’s convoy passed by me—not once, but twice. Experiences in which I do not take for granted as a photojournalist.

And of course, the exhilarating thrill of witnessing my first Broadway show in Times Square, teaching me the American History with Hamilton. And, in between meetings and events, wearing suit and tie, I watched The Lion King, as tears flowed down my cheeks, as the sound of Circle of Life and drums echoed in the theatre, taking me back to my childhood.

I could not leave aside the movie scene of the stunning array of colors during the Fourth of July fireworks, viewed from just across the Empire State Building, painting a night to remember.

To conclude the many opportunities of capturing the radiant joy of brides and grooms with their families and friends on their wedding day, many of them being my close friends.

The following photographs offer just a glimpse into what 2024 truly meant for me. Setting aside personal experiences and the wonderful friendships I made on the road, this gallery is an effort to encapsulate the thousands of photos captured throughout the year - because behind every image there is an instant experienced by me - not only as a photographer but also as a human being. 

"Where in the world are you?" was the most frequent question I received, so I invite you to join me on a visual journey through these images. From iconic landmarks and diverse neighborhoods to stunning architecture that seamlessly merges history with modernity. 

Behold breathtaking views that span from the Tower Bridge in London to the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City, all the way to the Golden Bridge in San Francisco, along with the enchanting Copacabana beach and the vibrant hills of Rio de Janeiro, culminating in the urban landscape of São Paulo's known as the Brazilian concrete jungle.    

And as the famous Tik Tok audio says “And with that the season of 2024 comes to an end.”

 





      

 
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Após todos estes anos trabalhando com a fotografia, cheguei a conclusão que a fotografia conecta, transporta, expressa e eterniza. A fotografia nos informa, inspira e surpreende. A fotografia compartilha e congela o tempo. A fotografia conta histórias. A fotografia cria consciência, traz alegria e esperança. A fotografia nos ensina a história que já foi documentada, porém segue engavetada. A fotografia também pode ser educação e, muitas vezes, a verdade.

Já que estamos falando de fotografia, decidi falar também sobre o Instagram. 8 de julho de 2012, a data da minha primeira publicação no Instagram. Hoje, considerado um dos aplicativos mais influentes das redes sociais. Depois de 11 anos e mais de 4000 postagens, nunca pensei que conseguiria alcançar tudo que alcancei até hoje. Durante os últimos 11 anos postando no Instagram, aprendi não apenas sobre fotografia e seu potencial de influenciar o mundo, mas também sobre sua magia e sua singularidade como forma de arte. O Instagram também me ensinou sobre a vida.

No Instagram eu analiso, pesquiso e aprendo sobre os conteúdos que sigo. Eu me conecto e me envolvo, eu estudo. Os que acompanham meu trabalho no Instagram, podem notar que meu perfil era o @nabilsami9. Depois de mais de uma década, decidi dar um passo adiante e gostaria de introduzir o novo nome para o perfil: @nabilsamiphotography. É o mesmo perfil, a mesma pessoa por trás das fotos - eu -, mas com uma mentalidade diferente sobre como usar esse recurso diferenciado para fotógrafos. Hoje começa um novo capítulo para mim como fotojornalista. É um espaço virtual para informar, compartilhar e tentar embelezar e de alguma forma impactar a página dos que me seguem.

Há alguns anos, escrevi um artigo descrevendo as redes sociais como uma das potências mundiais da atualidade. As pessoas usam, seguem e confiam na mídia sem questioná-la, embora devessem.  Decidi formalizar esse espaço virtual que tanto uso, com a esperança que me ajude a conectar as fotos que capturo com o resto do mundo. Quero que essas fotos sejam janelas para as casas das pessoas, que sejam memórias de lugares antes visitados fixadas em suas paredes, quero que essas mesmas paredes ganhem cores mesmo quando a foto for preta e branca. Quero que isso, que hoje é meu, também seja seu. 

A seguir, compartilharei um pouco da minha história e do caminho que percorri que tornaram possível a criação do @nabilsamiphotography. 

É uma reflexão pessoal que vai além do Nabil Sami fotógrafo.

 ESTE SOU EU

Conhecido desde o ensino médio por carregar uma câmera fotográfica para cima e para baixo, para documentar tudo ao meu redor. Essa reflexão me faz lembrar das palavras de Susan Sontag, escritora e crítica de arte, em seu livro “Sobre fotografia". Ela escreve o seguinte:

“Colecionar fotos é colecionar o mundo". 

Então, acho correto afirmar que nós, fotógrafos, podemos ser chamados de colecionadores do mundo. Ou melhor, todos nós habitantes da Terra somos colecionadores do mundo.

Logo, foi isso que decidi fazer: colecionar o mundo.

Hoje, depois de 31 anos de vida, depois de visitar 24 países e ter morado em cinco deles, com duas exposições e um livro publicado: ESTE SOU EU. Alguém apaixonado pelo mundo das artes, sempre buscando a perfeição e sempre atraído pela beleza da vida. Observo profundamente cada detalhe à minha frente. Os erros, as conquistas e o que pode ser melhorado. As cores e as dimensões dos lugares que visito. A diversidade e a unidade das pessoas do mundo em que vivemos. Assim, sem saber, há muito tempo venho colecionando tudo o que está ao meu redor, tudo que eu vejo no meu caminho da vida.

A simplicidade de um local e o luxo de uma cultura. Colecionei olhares profundos. Olhos azuis e castanhos. Cabelos crespos e lisos. Colecionei o negro e o branco. A mulher e o homem. Colecionei fotografias de crianças, jovens, adultos e idosos. Passei por lugares que me permitiram colecionar a essência de diversas religiões. Colecionei um pouco do Oriente e do Ocidente, do Sul e do Norte, colecionei momentos de alegrias e tristezas.

Enquanto refletia sobre o "Este sou eu", uma conversa que tive em Israel há alguns anos, no meio da pandemia, com um amigo me veio à mente. Ele perguntou: Como você quer ser lembrado neste mundo? 

Decidi estudar Jornalismo ainda aos 17 anos. Escolhi uma carreira que me daria a oportunidade de conhecer novas pessoas e contar suas histórias. Eu seria capaz de dar voz àqueles que não têm neste mundo tão injusto. Eu me comunicaria com o mundo, enfrentaria desafios e, é claro, sairia da minha zona de conforto para ver a beleza em todos os aspectos da vida. Quando mergulhei nesse mundo da fotografia, tudo o que eu esperava era buscar a verdade e observar o mundo para que, através das lentes da minha câmera e o uso do poder das palavras, eu pudesse documentar a realidade, dando ao mundo uma ideia do que a humanidade está buscando e trazendo à tona algumas realidades difíceis que estão ocorrendo na sociedade. Este sou eu. 

Durante a pandemia, embora meu trabalho não fosse relacionado à fotografia, fiz o possível para não parar de publicar fotos no meu Instagram e de vez em quando publicar artigos fotográficos no meu site. Não porque eu quisesse que meu trabalho fosse amplamente divulgado durante aquele tempo, mas foi durante esse período que recebi mensagens de pessoas que nunca conheci na vida dizendo que minhas fotos lhes trouxeram conforto durante a pandemia, que lhes trouxeram alegria e calma durante aquele período de incerteza e agonia. Durante aquele tempo em que as notícias cobriam mortes e injustiça eu buscava, por meio das minhas fotos, refletir a paz do mundo em que vivíamos. 

Foi quando percebi que sou apenas um mero instrumento. Meus olhos e, por extensão, minha câmera são usados para capturar o que os outros precisam ver. A verdade é que a maioria das pessoas que seguem meu trabalho não sabem quem eu sou, mas saber que minhas fotos ajudam a promover uma mudança me dá propósito na vida. E é assim que quero ser lembrado neste mundo. A maioria das minhas fotos hoje são de natureza, paisagens e, quando a oportunidade vem, retratos. É dessa forma que mostro a beleza da diversidade desse mundo em que vivemos.

Este sou eu. Nabil Sami Silva. Mas eu uso Nabil Sami como meu nome "artístico". A verdade é que, se você ainda está lendo isto, é muito provável que já me conheça. Mas caso nunca tenhamos nos conhecido pessoalmente, agradeço por estar aqui lendo e de alguma forma conectando a minha fotografia com a sua vida.

Depois de me formar no ensino médio, o mundo se tornou a minha casa. É claro que a adaptação a novos lugares e culturas pode ser desafiadora, mas onde quer que eu esteja, procuro ser criativo e sempre encontrar uma maneira de servir à humanidade, assumindo os riscos de usar esse ser interior criativo para acrescentar algo a qualquer lugar que eu vá, a qualquer coisa que eu faça e a quem quer que eu conheça. Escolhi o jornalismo por causa da maneira como as imagens falam comigo. Embora elas tenham uma maneira silenciosa de se comunicar, sempre senti que falávamos o mesmo idioma. Como Minor White, fotógrafo e professor americano, escreveu certa vez: "A fotografia é um idioma mais universal do que as palavras". Portanto, não importa meu lugar, sempre encontrarei uma maneira de me comunicar com os outros. Usando minha criatividade e minha fotografia. 

Onde quer que eu esteja, sinto essa conexão entre o operador (fotógrafo) e o referente (pessoa que está sendo fotografada). Independentemente dos preconceitos que eu possa ter latentes em mim, sempre me esforço para deixá-los de lado e apreciar as pessoas e sua singularidade, tento ver a realidade interior de cada ser humano, sua essência divina, sua alma, algo que nossos olhos materiais e limitados têm dificuldade de entender, algo que só podemos sentir.

A foto do começo deste post também fala mais alto do que as palavras podem descrever. A essa altura, você já sabe que sou apaixonado por documentar o mundo ao meu redor. Sempre uso as fotos para conversar com as pessoas, para mostrar aos outros o que eles não conseguem ver. E, ultimamente, estou tentando usar fotos para conectar as pessoas umas com as outras. Este sou eu. Um instrumento para documentar a beleza deste mundo afora, um instrumento para documentar a verdade. Pode ser uma paisagem, um retrato,  uma arquitetura... e a lista continua. Foi isso que fez a @nabilsamiphotography passar de uma ideia para a realidade. A arte de ser criativo, a arte de fotografar, a arte de dar vida às imagens, a arte de pintar com luz. A arte de contar histórias visualmente. A página @nabilsamiphotography não é apenas uma conta do Instagram, ela será muito mais do que isso.

Hoje começa um novo capítulo, a maneira como usarei o Instagram mudará um pouco. Estou feliz que @nabilsamiphotography trará novos horizontes, novas oportunidades. Abrirá novas portas e janelas. @nabilsamiphotography não pertence somente a mim. É um espaço de todos! Será um espaço para aprender e ensinar, para conectar, compartilhar e explorar. Um espaço em que a fotografia não vai ser somente observada, a fotografia vai ser discutida. @nabilsamiphotography - Este sou eu!

After all these years working with photography, I came to a realization that photography connects, transports, expresses and eternalizes. Photography informs, inspires and amazes us. Photography shares and freezes time.  Photography tells stories. Photography creates awareness, brings us joy and hope. Photography teaches us history that has been once documented. Photography can also be education, and many times, the truth. Photography is the past, the present and will tell the future.

Since we are talking about photography I thought of exploring my involvement on Instagram,  today considered one of the most influential applications on Social Media.

July 8, 2012, that was when I first posted a photo on Instagram. After 11 years, over 4000 posts, I never thought I would achieve everything I have so far. During the past 11 years on Instagram, I learned not just about photography and its power, but I also learned about its magic, and its uniqueness as a form of art. Instagram also taught me about life. I learned that Instagram isn’t just an app for photos — today it is much more than that. I use the app to analyze, to research, to learn. to connect and engage, I use Instagram to study. 

Those who follow my work on Instagram might notice that my handle was @nabilsami9 up to now. After more than a decade I have decided to take a step further and would now like to introduce @nabilsamiphotography. It is the same account, same person behind the photos – me – but a different mentality as to how to use this powerful resource for photographers, creators, and opinion makers. But truly, it is a new chapter for me as a photojournalist. It is a social space to inform, to share and to beautify. An account where the concept of meaningful photography will be explored and shared.

A few years ago I wrote an article describing Social Media as one of today's world powers. People use, follow, and trust the media without questioning it, even though they should. I decided to formalize this virtual space that helps me to connect the photos I take with the rest of the world. I want these photos to be windows to people's homes, to be fixed memories on their walls, to be colors where colors can’t be found, even when the photo is black and white. I want this, what is mine to also be yours.

Below I will share a bit of my story and the path I’ve trodden, which made @nabilsamiphotography possible.

It is a personal reflection that goes beyond Nabil Sami just as a photographer.

THIS IS ME

Known since high school to carry a camera up and down. To document everything around me. This reflection reminds me of the words of Susan Sontag, writer and art reviewer in her book “On Photography”. She writes: "To collect photos is to collect the world”. 

So I guess, we photographers even better, all of us can be called world collectors. That is what I decided to do; to collect the world. 

Today after 31 years of life. After visiting 24 countries and living in 5 of them, with two photo exhibitions and a published book: THIS IS ME. Someone passionate about the world of arts, always striving for perfection and attracted to beauty. Looking deeply into every detail of life. The mistakes, the achievements and improvements. The colors and dimensions of places. The diversity and the unity of the people of the world we live in. The new and the old. And without knowing it, I have for a long time been collecting everything that crossed my path:

The simplicity of a place and the luxury of a culture, deep looks from brown and blue eyes, straight and curly hair, the black and the white, men and women, children, youth, adults and the elderly, I have walked through places collecting various religious cultures, I’ve collected a bit of the east and of the west, south and north, happiness and sadness. A bit of every continent in this world.

As my reflection dwelt on “This is me”, a conversation vividly came to mind:     

How do you want to be remembered in this world? This was a question raised by a friend in a conversation a few years ago in Israel, in the midst of the pandemic.

When I was 17, I decided to study Journalism. I chose a career that would give me the opportunity to constantly meet new people and tell their stories. I would be able to give a voice to those who cannot speak. I would communicate with the world, face challenges and, of course, get out of my comfort zone while seeing the beauty in every aspect of life. When I immersed myself in this world of images, all I hoped to do was to seek the truth and observe the world so that through the lens of my camera, and through the power of words, I could document reality, giving the world a taste of what humanity is working towards, and bringing to the forefront some harsh realities in today’s society.

During the pandemic, even though my full time work was not photography related I did my best not to stop posting photos on my Instagram and periodically write photo essays on my blog. Not because I wanted my work to be widely spread and well known, but it was during that time that I got messages from people I had never met in my life, saying that my photos brought them comfort during the pandemic, that my posts brought them joy and calm during that time of uncertainty and agony.

That’s when I realized that I am just an instrument, and my eyes, and by extension my camera were there just to capture what others needed to see. The truth is they don’t know who I am, but knowing that my photos help to make a change gives me some purpose in life. And that’s how I want to be remembered in this world. Most of my photos today are of nature, landscapes, and portraits. And during the pandemic – when  I was living in Haifa, Israel, serving at Bahá’í World Centre – most of my photos were of the Holy Places and their gardens.

This is me. Nabil Sami Silva. But I go by Nabil Sami as my “artistic” name. The truth is, if you are still reading this, it is very likely you know me already. But if you have never met me in person, I hope that you like my photos. And they bring you some sort of joy.

After graduating from high school, my home became the world. Of course adjusting to new places and cultures can be challenging, but wherever I end up, I try to be creative and always to find a way to serve humanity, always taking risks in using this creative inner being to add something to wherever I go, whatever I do and whoever I meet. I chose journalism because of the way images spoke to me. Even though they have a silent way of communicating, I always felt we spoke the same language. As Minor White, an American photographer and educator once wrote, “Photography is a language more universal than words”. So the truth is, no matter where home is, I will always find a way of communicating with others.  

Wherever I am, I feel this connection between the operator (photographer) and the referent (person being photographed). No matter what prejudices I may have latent within me, I always strive to put them aside and appreciate people and their uniqueness, I try to see the inner reality of each human being, their divine essence; their soul, something difficult for our material and limited eyes to understand, something we can only feel.

The opening photo of this post also speaks louder than words can describe. At this point, you are well aware that I am passionate about documenting the world around me. Always using photos to speak to people. To serve humanity. To show others what they can’t see. And lately trying to use photos to connect people. This is me, an instrument to document beauty, to document the truth. It can be a landscape, portraits, architecture and the list goes on. This is what made @nabilsamiphotography turn from an idea to reality – the art to be creative, the art to photograph, the art to give life with images, the art to paint with light. The art to visually tell stories. @nabilsamiphotography isn’t just an Instagram account, it is going to be much more than that.

Today a new chapter begins, the way I will use Instagram will slowly change. I am happy that @nabilsamiphotography will bring new horizons, new opportunities, and will open new doors and windows; @nabilsamiphotography doesn’t belong just to me. It is ours! It will be a space to learn and to teach, to connect, to share and explore. A space where photography won’t just be seen, it will be discussed. @nabilsamiphotography - This is me!

“Fotografar, é colocar na mesma linha, a cabeça, o olho e o coração” ― Henri Cartier-Bresson

Aprendi que no Brasil dia 08 de Janeiro é o Dia do Fotógrafo ou Dia Nacional da Fotografia. Esse ano fui pego desprevenido. Ainda em Israel no dia mundo da fotografia dia 19 de Agosto, procurava escrever algo sobre a arte que a fotografia é. Hoje no dia Nacional Brasileiro da Fotografia aproveito para compartir mais uma vez esse texto escrito antes.

Aprendemos que se comunicar um com o outro é uma necessidade na vida de todos os seres humanos. Após a sobrevivência física, a comunicação é a necessidade mais básica e vital. Algo que sempre existiu e que sempre existirá.

No mundo de hoje, quase todos nós usamos a fotografia para se comunicar. Usamos a fotografia como a prova do que aconteceu ontem e do que acontece hoje. Usamos a fotografia para compartilhar informações através de objetos, retratos ou paisagens. Usamos a fotografia para provar o que se pode fazer, o que se pode comer, para mostrar onde se está viajando ou onde se vive. Em pleno 2023 existe agora este entendimento de que a fotografia é uma prova de presença. Não tem foto, não aconteceu. Porque isso?

A fotografia congela um momento significativo, que nunca mais voltará a acontecer. Com a fotografia; as pessoas podem contar histórias. Com a fotografia podemos coletar o mundo, documentando coisas que vemos, coisas que fazemos, coisas que queremos manter em nossas vidas para sempre e ter onde voltar e relembrar.

A fotografia traduz as emoções neste idioma visual universal que todos podem entender. Se utilizada de forma correta, a fotografia é considerada um dos melhores meios para compartilhar a verdade.

Com a ausência de palavras e sons, o fotógrafo precisa saber como criar uma narrativa visual contando uma história, uma história poderosa e impactante, querem mostrar o que aconteceu, e com a fotografia, o que aconteceu, não somente fica no passado. O fotógrafo precisa aprender a traduzir o que as pessoas veem ou sentem nas imagens feitas. O fotógrafo precisar teletransportar o espectador para aquele exato momento da vida que o mesmo fotografou.

Neste post, decidi compartilhar alguns dos meus trabalhos para celebrar o Dia Nacional Brasileiro da Fotografia. As imagens abaixo variam de detalhes, a paisagens e retratos. Não estou usando este post para contar uma história ou como me sinto neste momento. É um resumo dos momentos que coletei, que vivi, que documentei. Das ruas onde caminhei, das paisagens que me deparei, e da diversidade de culturas que enxerguei. Tem fotos do passado, do presente que me ajudam a escrever um futuro. Tem fotos do Ocidente e do Oriente. Tem céu, terra e mar. E talvez tenha você.

Feliz Dia Mundial da Fotografia, não apenas para os fotógrafos, mas para todos nós que usamos a fotografia para nos conectarmos com pessoas que não podemos ver ou encontrar. E para nos conectarmos com lugares, que não podemos ver como os outros veem. A fotografia é linda e forte

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First photo taken in 2022 in Bahjí, Israel

A practice I have developed over the last decade or so, is to take some time at end of the Gregorian year to look back at the photos I took. 

It reminds me of what’s happened over the period, the places I’ve been, who I’ve been around, and how I used my time. 

In these last few days I noticed that 2022 was a year that I never thought it would end the way it did. I would say that 2022 was full of surprises. Unexpected events, important decisions were made, a year of growth, and courage.

I tried documenting a bit of everything, with the focus in documenting life. Photos of people with and without masks, people hugging, streets full again, and this time I didn't want to add any screenshots of zoom meetings, because this year, it was a year we lived the way we always liked. Telling stories of connection, unity, joy, and accomplishments. 

I realized that it was a year to celebrate, celebrate the places I visited and some of the work I accomplished. This year, different than others, it was a year to go to the streets, to meet up people again and to live life. I learned to enjoy more these moments that we can share with one another. 

In Israel many of the photos were taken in the Bahá'í gardens where we won't find anywhere else, places with an unique architecture to be found in the Middle East. A place I will always call home.

Every opportunity to visit, often only for brief moments, drew me in much closer.  My eyes, and by extension my camera, captured greener greens of the grass, the olive covered fields and the cypress trees, whiter pebbled paths, deeper reds of rooftop tiles, and of course a more royal gold crowning the Queen of Carmel.

In 2022 a chapter of my life came to an end, a chapter I thought it wouldn't come anytime soon. I might have not finished to write the chapter the way I planned, but it was an exciting closure, and from Brazil I will keep on writing. 

This chapter in Israel, surrounded by majestic paths, where now visitor are back to walking on it. The fountains, the lampposts, the marble and bronze eagles and the other ornaments that adorn the gardens in Haifa and Bahjí.  Gates with golden details, blue and green windows, the balcony that surrounds the Mansion in Bahji with its view to the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh, and its surrounding gardens. The perfect dimensions of each detail in the gardens we gaze.

With the closure of this chapter I immediately began to write another one, with the same eyes using the same extension knows as my camera and lenses. I started to observe a different Brazil that I left behind long time ago and now an opportunity was raised to keep telling this story, a story to remind, reunite, and celebrate, and to embrace this culture I was raised in.

I opened the same suitcase and I placed the most important item, the courage to return home the same way I was courageous to hop on a plane discover this vast and diverse world we live in. I noticed that despite the chaos we currently live in, there is a lot of joy, friends, family, memories and blank pages to be filled and photos to be taken.  

I came back to this Brazilian life, and found the sunset of the "Wonderful City" (Rio de Janeiro) and the palm trees in the city of Bahia that I once lived in. I came back to celebrate the goals in the World Cup, that even though we didn't win; the games brought a lot of memories, joy, sadness and sometimes frustration. It was a time of the year that for a country that is so divided the nation came to cheer together.

2022 wasn't planned, it was a year I lived. And it will forever be remembered. A year with one closure, a year with new beginnings, and most important, 2022 it was nothing like other years. But nevertheless it was a year full of photos. A year of documentation, a year that I hope that with these photos showed what I live and see–and what I feel. Photos that I also hope you to connect not only with the sacred but to realities you might never see. With beautiful scenarios, I try to show that the world is not only about hate, prejudice or envy. There is much more out there.

The beauty of being a photographer is that the photo I take, isn't just mine, it is also yours, a photo that becomes our. Photos that are to be seen, observed and lived. What is mine is yours. And now looking forward, I hope that 2023 will be filled with painting, painting with light that illumines the world. Painting with lights that is photography. 

This selection of photos is just a glimpse, not even getting to 1% of what I lived or photographed, but it demonstrates the beauty I was exposed to, and decided to share with you. I hope you like, having a chance of living with me what I lived in these past 365 days. 

Há um pouco mais de 10 anos, a cada final de ano criei o hábito de relembrar as fotos que tirei ao decorrer do ano.

Me ajudar a relembrar do que aconteceu, os lugares que visitei, com quem estive e de que maneira utilizei meu tempo.

Esses últimos dias percebi que 2022 foi um ano que eu jamais pensaria que terminasse da maneira que terminou. Ou melhor, eu diria, 2022 foi um ano cheio de surpresas. Situações inesperados, decisões importante a serem tomadas, um ano de crescimento e de muita coragem.

Tentei documentar de tudo um pouco, mas com o foco de documentar a vida. Fotografias de pessoas sem e com máscaras, pessoas se abraçando, ruas cheias de novo, e dessa vez não vai ter print de zoom, porque esse ano, foi um ano vivido da maneira que gostamos. Contando uma história, de conexão, união, de felicidade e vitorias.

Eu percebi que foi mais um ano para comemorar, comemorar os lugares que visitei, os trabalhos que realizei, o sonho que conquistei. Esse ano, diferente dos outros dois, foi um ano de ir para a rua, de encontrar com pessoas e viver a vida. Aprendi a aproveitar mais os momentos que podemos ver em pessoa.

Ainda em Israel, foram muitas fotos dos jardins que não existe em lugar algum, a arquitetura única em um lugar no Oriente Médio. Um lugar que foi e sempre será minha casa. 

A cada oportunidade que tive, mesmo que por poucos instantes, aprendi a usar meus olhos, e como extensão minha camêra para capturar:

os verdes dos jardins e as diferentes cores das plantas, e flores no Monte Carmelo 

continuei a fotografar o campo de árvore de oliveira, 

os ciprestes, 

os caminhos de pedras brancas e vermelhas, 

e claro o ouro coroando a “Rainha do Carmelo”.

Foi um ano que chegou ao fim um capítulo que eu jamais imaginasse que terminaria, não se terminei de escrever da maneira que eu planejei, mas foi um desfecho emocionante, que continuo escrever ele daqui. Um capítulo em Israel, rodeado de caminhos majestosos, jardins onde encontrava a calma e a paz interna. Cada detalhe da arquitetura, os portões com detalhes de ouro, as janelas azuis e verdes, a varanda da Mansão de Bahjí, com vista ao Santuário de Baha’u’lláh.

Com o fim desse capítulo, sem perder tempo comecei a escrever outro, com os mesmos olhos e aproveitando essa extensão da minha camêra comecei a enxergar um outro Brasil que deixei para trás e agora a história continua, uma história para relembrar, reunir, reaproveitar, e abraçar a cultura em que cresci e que deixei de viver por muito tempo.

Abri a mala e coloquei o mais importante, a coragem de voltar para casa com a mesma coragem que entrei em cada avião para descobrir esse mundão em que vivemos. Voltei com medo mas me surpreendi. Eu percebi que aqui mesmo em caos tem alegria, tem amigos, tem família, tem lembrança e muita pagina em branco para serem preenchida e muita foto para ser tirada.

Eu me encontrei a vida, encontrei o pôr-do-sol da cidade maravilhosa e os coqueiros da Bahia em que vivi. Voltei para comemorar o gol da copa do mundo que mesmo não trazendo o hexa trouxe muito memória, alegria, tristeza e por vez um pouco de frustração.

2022 foi um ano nada planejado, foi um ano vivido. E para sempre vai ser um ano bem lembrado. Um ano com desfecho, e um ano de recomeço, só que o mais importante, 2022 nada diferente como outros anos, foi um ano de muita foto. Um ano de documentação, um ano em que espero que as fotos mostraram o que eu vivo, vejo e sinto. Fotos que ajudam a capturar a realidade para outros. A Cada foto que eu tirei espero ter capturado seja positivo ou negativo mas seja ela a realidade. Com essas fotos espero levar sorriso para o rosto de vocês. E com fotos da beleza do mundo que vivemos ajude a ver que esse mundo são vive somente de odio, preconceito ou inveja. Mas uma vida com muito amor, união e celebração.

A beleza de ser fotografo é que a foto tirada por mim, não é só minha, ela também é sua e passa a ser nossa. É para ser vista, observada, vivida. O meu, é seu! E agora olhando para frente, para um 2023 cheio de pintura, com a luz que ilumina o mundo.  

Essa seleção de fotos talvez não chegam ao 1% que vivi, mas demonstra as belezas que enxerguei e decidi mostrar. Espero que gostem, vivem comigo o poco que vivi nesses últimos 365 dias. 

“Tokyo 2020” brought a mix of emotions and fascinating moments in the history of sports. Empty gymnasiums and stadiums. No fans, friends or family members around to attend the games. A result of having the first Olympic Games during a pandemic. Games that were all silently captured by a media team showing the world what we couldn’t see from close. From the podiums to the streets the spotlight remained in the team of photographers, the ones to carry out the responsibility of sharing the truth, transporting us from behind our screens to the emotions of the scenes captured through the eyes of others, being able to “capturing beauty others might not notice”. Because of the advancement of technology, Olympic lovers from all around the world were able to follow the news instantly. As someone remarked, the media team deserved a medal, a gold medal. A diverse team coming from every corner of the world to play on the same team.  

With the statement and events mentioned above I reflected on the power and the meaning of photography for 2021 World Photography Day, and how much photography connects us.

How many of you receive, take or send a photo daily? How many of you couldn’t attend a wedding, a birthday celebration or graduation? How many of you couldn’t visit your newborn family member? How many of you smiled or cried when seeing a photograph? How many of you laughed out loud from a memory after receiving a photo? How many of you felt connected despite the distance, place or time?

After many years I came to a realization that photography, connects, transports, expresses and eternalizes. Photography informs, inspires and amazes us. Photography shares and freezes time.  Photography tells stories. Photography creates an awareness, brings us joy and hope. Photography teaches us history that has been once documented. Photography can also be education, and many times, the truth.

We can agree that today we all carry hundreds, maybe thousands of photographs in our pockets.

Millions of photos are uploaded daily, across multiple news sites and social media platforms, once again showing that photography is part of our daily lives. With photography people explore creativity, develops patience and concentration, increasing attention to details. With photography the world can see the unseen, having power to transform one’s mind, heart and soul. Photography captures true beauty.

When meaningful it tells something uplifting about humanity. When meaningful, photography has the power to silently change the world, to create opinions, a tool to initiate meaningful conversations.

For this year, I invite you to also reflect and explore the meaning of “meaningful photography”. 

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Happy World Photography Day! For last year's World Photography Day photography gallery click here

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For many months I put my camera on the side. First we couldn't leave the house, later we couldn't go far, and then, I felt people were hiding behind a mask. 

New identities were never fully in scene, the ones I knew - there were times I couldn't recognize. It was weird and sad at the same time. I couldn't see their full expression to capture beauty. 

Then I realized this is all part of history. Of life. Not only changes needed to be done, but there was a need of one self adjustment. It was a time to challenge my creativity and show that there is beauty behind every mask. 

For the next days, weeks, months and perhaps year. I will be sharing photographs that eventually will become stories. Stories that can change a whole nation.

You can also follow on instagram at - @nabilsami9 for more photos

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Communication is a necessity in every human beings’ lives. After the physical survival, communication is the most basic and vital need. Something that has always existed and will always exist.

In today’s world almost every individual use photography to communicate. As a proof of what happened yesterday and what happens today, to share information through objects, portraits or landscapes. To prove what one can do, eat, to show where one is traveling to or live. There is now this understanding that photography is a proof of presence.

Photography freezes a significant moment, that will never happen again. With photography people can tell stories. With photography we can collect the world, documenting things we see, things we do, things we want to keep in our lives forever.

Photography translates emotions in this visual universal language that everyone can understand. If used in a correct way, photography is considered one of the best mediums to share the truth.

With the absence of words, the photographer needs to know how to create a visual narrative and needs to know how to tell a story, a powerful story. Needs to learn how to translate what people see or feel in images. Teleporting the viewer to that exact moment of life.

In this post I decided to share some of my work to celebrate World Photography Day. It varies from details, to landscapes and portraits. I am not using this post to tell a story or how I feel right now. It is a summary of moments I’ve collected. It is part of a work in how I choose to communicate in this virtual world.

Happy World Photography Day, not only for the photographers, but for all of us that use photography to connect with people we can't see or meet. And to connect us with places, we can't see the way others can.

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           For some people being around others is an option for others, being surrounded by people, strangers or not, is a choice to be made. Well, the latter was my case. When I was 17, I decided to study Journalism. I chose a career that would give me the opportunity to constantly meet new people and tell their stories. I would be able to give a voice to those who cannot speak. I would communicate with the world, face challenges and, of course, get out of my comfort zone while seeing the beauty in every aspect of life. When I immersed myself in this world of images, all I hoped to do was to seek the truth and observe the world so that through the lens of my camera, and through the power of words, I could document reality, giving the world a taste of what humanity is working towards, and bringing to the forefront some harsh realities that are taking place in society.

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          I remember when I was working as a writer for one of the local newspapers in Brasilia, Brazil. My sections’ editor, who happened to be my professor would always tell me that as a journalist we had to avoid staying in the newsroom as much as possible while phone calls and emails were to be used only in times of emergency (I guess being in lockdown can be an example of that). Being in the streets is a must for a journalist.  We needed to see everything up close in order to feel what was happening and to be able to convey the events and the emotions through writing. As the years passed, I learned that my duty as a journalist goes beyond sharing the truth. Sometimes with the lack of audio-visual materials, writing had to become as clear as a painting to describe as much as possible what was seen or heard. However, there were times I felt that my written paintings could make it too abstract for the reader to understand what I was trying to report. That’s when I decided to paint with light, as I believe that photography can really connect people; not only to one another but also to the world. Photography helps with understanding both the challenges and opportunities facing our world today.

          From a young age I always felt more comfortable with storytelling through photography rather than through writing. But in university, I saw how much the photo and the written words complement one another and how much the role of the photojournalist needs to be in perfect harmony with the work of the writer. I chose journalism because of the way images spoke to me. Even though they have a silent way of communicating, I always felt we spoke the same language. As Minor White, an American photographer and educator once wrote, “Photography is a language more universal than words”. No matter how silent photos could be, they could be heard in every corner of the world. But whenever I wrote something, only a small group of people were able to understand, and the truth is that I wanted find a way to speak to the world. The only way I could make it happen was by using photography. I was always attracted to the beautiful scenes around me, but when it comes to portraits it is a different story. The diversity of the portraits around the world show that differences are in fact the reason for unity among nations, as in a garden with its diversity of flowers and plants.

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The writer, Ananda Beleza once wrote about the art of writing: “The good in writing is that you won’t always write about yourself. You can become a character, a scriptwriter, a narrator or observer.”

          The same applies to when you are a photographer. However, with the absence of words, you need to know how to create a visual narrative. You need to know how to tell a story. You need to be a scriptwriter, you need to be the narrator, find the character and most importantly you need to observe and connect with the person in front of you, a person that has feelings, a soul and a story to tell, a story that isn’t fiction, it is real.

          In the same way that my editor would always encourage journalists to be out on the streets, Robert Capa, war photographer and photojournalist, in his book “Slightly Out of Focus” reminds photographers, “if your pictures aren't good enough, you're not close enough”. Applying this thought to taking portraits, it makes everything much more human. You feel this connection between the operator (photographer) and the referent (person being photographed). No matter what prejudices I may have latent within me, I always strive to put them aside and appreciate the people and their uniqueness, I try to see the inner reality of each human being, their divine essence; their soul, something our material and limited eyes have difficulty understanding, something we can only feel.

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          Today, my photographs are what I live and see–and what I feel. I try to connect my soul with the moment I am experiencing, capturing reality for others. Every shot may capture a positive or negative aspect of the world, it might be shocking sometimes, but that is the reality for many. With the smile of a young or old person I try to transmit their happiness into another life; I try to put that same smile on someone else’s face. With beautiful scene I try to show that the world is not only about hate, prejudice or envy.

          It has been 11 years since I decided to study journalism. After 4 years of studies and 7 years of travel and work in the field of communication a lot has changed. I am not a writer, editor, or a chief-editor. I don’t take photos every day let alone photograph portraits. But I will always carry the understanding of the power of words and images, seeing both as important tools to change the world we live in. I don't announce breaking news or appear on the screen, but as a journalist, I will always carry the responsibility of sharing the truth that we find in the world, on what is happening out there. Considering the world’s circumstances today, we can only see what is happening out the window, and the only thing I can see in my window right now, is the reflection of a caged photojournalist.

"The landscaping initiated at the inception of the Holy Year of thirteen thousand square meter area immediately surrounding the Qiblih of the Bahá'í world, involving extension of its outer sanctuary, to be designated henceforth as the Haram-i-Aqdas, is virtually concluded, paving the way, successively, for the embellishment and extensive illumination of the entire area and erection of stately portals, presaging the rearing at a future date of a magnificent mausoleum in its heart. The striking enhancement of the beauty and stateliness of the most holy spot in the Bahá'í world constitutes a befitting tribute to the memory of the Founder of the Faith, within the hallowed area adjacent to His resting place, on the occasion of the centenary celebrations of the birth of His glorious Mission." - Shoghi Effendi

Abdu'l-Bahá describes that Spot as the "Luminous Shrine", "the place around which circumambulate the Concourse on High". In a letter written on his behalf, Shoghi Effendi uses the analogy of the plant turning in the direction of the sun to explain the spiritual significance of turning towards the Qiblih:

“...just as the plant stretches out to the sunlight--from which it receives life and growth--so we turn our hearts to the Manifestation of God, Bahá'u'lláh, when we pray; ...

we turn our faces ...

to where His dust lies on this earth as a symbol of the inner act.”

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"The word magic cannot well define what was taking place at every moment. It was like a powerful and ever-present force of enchantment creating beauty in a hundred places at the same time. Shoghi Effendi was moving about directing, counselling, cautioning, encouraging, explaining, demonstrating how to do apparently impossible things, and rejoicing in the transformation of the land under our very eyes. In the afternoon a drizzle came down but he would not leave the grounds, determined to accomplish as much as was possible before sunset. Markers and trees placed by the previous owners, who had never permitted either the purchase of the land or extension of the gardens around the Shrine, were removed. Young trees were brought in and planted along the paths; the outer semicircular line was doubled to make a wide tree-bordered avenue. Iron gates, steps, stone decorations, flowering plants, top soil and grass seeds were brought from Haifa, from Mt. Carmel, the Ridvan Garden, and the Master's House to give consistency to the superb embellishment plan."
 

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“The ‘inner sanctuary’ is the roofed area consisting of a beautiful central garden, the surrounding paths of which are covered with rugs, and where the privileged pilgrims and visitors stand in prayer and view the ‘Blessed Threshold’ and ‘the Holy of Holies,’ where lies interred, in the words of the Guardian, ‘the holiest dust the earth ever received into its bosom.'"

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"Many years later we were to go there together, and I was shown the famous Bábbacombe downs by the Guardian and we walked in the park he had visited so long before - a park with deep red-coloured paths which I believe were the very ones that impressed upon his mind the beauty of red paths and green lawns and ornamental vases in conjunction and inspired him years later to duplicate them in his own beautiful gardens at Bahji and on Mt Carmel."  - Ruhiyyih Rabbani
 

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"After his (Shoghi Effendi) passing, in fulfilment of his own expressed intention, a third terrace was raised on the other two, placing the final touch on his magnificent arrangement of the Shrine gardens. This new concept meant that his original cart-wheel design of gardens was entirely abandoned, for the system of converging paths on a common centre was no longer feasible. Many times Shoghi Effendi would alter his plan because his eye, on the spot, revealed to him something he felt was more beautiful and worthy." - Ruhiyyih Rabbani

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"On the west side, and at the rear of the Shrine, there were some olive trees, a few eucalyptus trees, and some ancient pines, which at the time of Bahá'u'lláh's residence in the Mansion were the only source of shade and coolness, during the torrid heat of the long Palestinian summers. This was the condition of the grounds around that Blessed Spot when I first saw it." - Ugo Giachery

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"Gradually the gardens in both Haifa and Bahji were all illumined with beautiful four-branched wrought-iron lamp posts, ninety-nine of them being erected in Bahji alone. When the night came that these were lighted for the first time, on the occasion of the Ridvan Feast in 1953, and we approached Bahji by car the sky glowed as if we were approaching a small city! The Guardian told the Persian pilgrims that it had always been light, but now it was "light upon light". (In the original there is a beautiful play upon words alluding to Bahá'u'lláh as light.)" - Ruhiyyih Rabbani

"In a period where we live a real explosion of information that reaches us from every sensory means, we need to learn the difference between “to see” and “to gaze” something. What we see, it passes by. Since the act of seeing it is almost a reflection, therefore, a transitory effect. What we gaze, we register and feel. But we need to go beyond gazing: we need to connect profoundly with the space around us." - Iradj Eghrari
 

“The gardens which surround that structure (Shrine of the Báb), in their rich variety of colours and plants,

are a reminder that the human race can live harmoniously in all its diversity.

The light that shines from the central edifice is as a beacon of hope to the countless multitudes

who yearn for a life that satisfies the soul as well as the body." - The Universal House of Justice

The fragrance of the roses, the diversity of the plants, the petunias, santolina, geranium, marigold, snapdragon, and the smaller cactus.  The diversity in colors; red, yellow, purple, black or white. The green of the grass and trees.

 
The view of the bay...  

..and its 19 terraces. – A beautiful and majestic path.

The fountains.

The marble and bronze eagles.
 

The lampposts.

The lights that illumine the mountain.

"Shoghi Effendi - like the Master before him - was a great lover of light. He hated gloomy interiors... the Shrines were all full of lights, large and small, and one of his first acts as Guardian was to have placed over the door of the Bab's Shrine that faces the terraces and the straight avenue at the foot of the mountain that leads to the sea, a bright light." - The Priceless Pearl, Rúhíyyih Rabbání
 

 “This beautiful and majestic path, which extends from the Shrine of the Báb to the City of Haifa in line with the greatest avenue of that blessed city, which is adorned with trees and verdant paths and illumined with bright lights, which is the object of admiration of the people of this region and source of joy and pride to the authorities of this land...” -  Shoghi Effendi

This work lays out a vision of the Colombian territory and its communities through imagery. It is organized into four different categories: Us (Nosotros), What we do (Lo que Hacemos), With Whom we share (Con Quien lo Compartimos), and The World we Live in (El Mundo que Habitamos).

Us (Nosotros):

What we do (Lo que Hacemos):
 

With Whom we share (Con Quien lo Compartimos):
 

The World we Live in (El Mundo que Habitamos):
 

In this exhibition, the format of the selected photos varies in a way to reveal the diversity and the evidence of highlighting the universality of the human experience.

Community Building is a set of images that shows individuals, families,

and groups of people who contribute to their society’s future.

Given the opportunity to travel around different countries of the World, I arrived in Colombia with the purpose of visiting six provinces of the country: Bolívar, Cauca, Córdoba, Distrito Capital, La Guajira and Sucre. These visits allowed me to immerse myself in the day-to-day life of each village, neighborhood and city—I began to see the rich culture found within Colombian simplicity. And it was during these visits that I was able to capture moments through my lens that I hope will tell the world about the Colombia that I witnessed and experienced.

Even with the existence of a great diversity of age, gender and culture, one could find things that all these regions had in common.  I encountered youth who, with their actions, were dedicating time to making a profound change and educating the children in their communities.  I met children that embrace and grow up sheltered by the loving attention of the youth in their community.  I was welcomed by families that live with traditional art and travelled to villages that have preserved their language and traditions. Independently of the distance between regions, independently of what the society does for their villages, independently of their level of education—together, they all work diligently.  At the forefront of their thoughts and actions is the desire to contribute to the common wealth of Colombia.  Together they all work to build communities

Having experience in visual content creation, and inspired by my passion to document and address some realities around the world from my own perspective, I document portraits, communities, everyday life, villages and cities. My aim is to offer an overall vision of the diversity and oneness of human manifestations, of its uniqueness and of the analogies between ethnical groups and cultures.

I invite you to see the full set of images from the exhibition Community Building displayed in Cali, Colombia. 

And to read about the exhibition “The World’s Physiognomy”  displayed in Brasilia, Brazil.

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I don’t want to be negative about social media.  I want to understand more about what we already know: the influence social media has on our lives and the power of the Internet on our social lives.

Power: is a complex concept and according to Christian Fuchs in his book, Social Media: A Critical Introduction, “power has to do with who controls society, who is taking important decisions, who owns basic resources, who is considered as being influential, who has the reputation to influence and change society, who is an opinion maker, or who defines dominant normal, rules and values.”

The question is then “Who is power?”

I consider social media as one of today’s world powers. People use, follow, and trust the media without questioning it, even though they should.

We are living in a time when children, adolescents, youth, and adults, are all victims of this technological world. Once you are in, it is almost impossible to get out.

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and many other social spaces are becoming doors to enter into this world called “social media”.  Today more than ever, we need to study and learn about what social media really is and what is the best and safest way of using it.

We take advantage of every spare moment we have to quickly check our phones. With all of the messages, emails, Facebook notifications, Twitter posts, swiping up and down, we end up forgetting what is happening around us. It can be anytime, anywhere; in the line at the movies, in the lift, at a store’s cashier, during family lunch, during class, while driving, and sometimes even during meetings with your boss. The Internet has become a reason for distraction, while for others, disrespectful. But how can we change that?

Our phones, tablets, watches, and computers have become part of our body, an extension of our identity. How can society remind itself that life does not happen over a screen? How can we see that we should use these tools that have become extensions / prosthesis of our bodies, to help us to move forward in our lives and contribute to the advancement of civilization, making a positive influence of this power.

It is easy to come to a conclusion that today we breathe social media in our daily lives. It has become people’s workspace, a way of communicating, and removing any distance between two or more people.  These are all positive influences. But is that always the case?

In the beginning of his book, Christian Fuchs asks:

What is social about social media? 

Are not all media social?

These questions have to do with another question:

What does it mean to be social?

I invite you to reflect on these questions and leave you with a few thoughts.

Social media only exists because of the invention of the Internet, an extraordinary tool created to facilitate tasks for every human being. But is it also affected by the decline of human values that affects every aspect of our lives. From our home to our work environment or educational spaces.

With social media people no longer have the feeling of being alone anymore, not because they have someone next to them all of the time, but because they are sleeping and waking up with their smartphone next to them. For many, smartphones (without a soul or feeling) have become their first and last contact of the day. The tool that was supposed to draw people closer together is actually pulling them further apart from one another.  We have lost the ability to foster relationships.  We have all probably seen families, friends, and couples, sitting next to or across from each other, probably after having planned that night to be together and enjoy each other’s company, while in the end they end up staring at their screens all night, forgetting to enjoy the moment they were waiting for.

When we see, we judge; when we read, we relate the event to our lives; and, when we reflect, we realize, something has to change.

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The discovery of the Internet revolutionized the world of communication. As Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith, visualized in 1936:

“A mechanism of world inter-communication will be devised, embracing the whole planet, freed from national hindrances and restrictions, and functioning with marvellous swiftness and perfect regularity.”

We can also emphasize that the Internet: facilitates global ventures, democratizes access to knowledge, allows worldwide placements, and contributes to research for solutions of how to preserve this world to guarantee humanities wellbeing.

Social media allows us to share news, events, photos, and many other things we are exposed to. Social media is not a person, but it is known as the most influential source of power nowadays. Social media has become the opinion maker of the 21^st century. Therefore, I ask you: How can we make sure that we will use social media for a greater purpose? 

Only you can answer the questions you came across in this post. Each one of us creates our own social space. But the social space we create can impact on the rest of the world. What you write, the photos and videos you post, what you delete, what you share. All have an impact.  Social media offers a space to share what you believe, what you trust, what you agree or disagree with. So let's think, how can we use social media as a positive tool, to bring people closer together, and to create meaningful content?

I packed the night before I left. In my bag I took previous experiences, the knowledge I had gathered in my 26 years of life, a little bit of Spanish, my faith and risk, I took a big risk. It all started on April 4th, 2017.

As a communicator my biggest fear was the lack of people to talk to, leaving behind friends and family, telling them I would be back very soon, which wasn’t the first time that happened. Instead, I brought every single photo I took in the past 8 years of my life. This is the advantage you have as a photographer when you collect photos, you collect the world – meaning you are never really alone. You use the light to write stories, to meet new people, to write a future - It is up to you, to make this light fade away or not. With the silence of your eyes, you decide what you want to collect.

Silence, a new way of communicating with the world in front of lenses. 

3,982km away from home, that’s where I started to write another chapter of my life. Changing plans and habits, far from the Central Plateau in the heart of the Brazilian Capital, Brasilia, arriving in the foot of the Andes in Santiago, Chilean Capital. That’s when I started to see the world again. 

Santiago, Chile

I met new people that quickly became like family members, saw friends I thought I would never see again; I saw children, youth and adults from various different cultures. I saw new places In the fall, winter, spring, and summer. I laughed and cried. I said hi’s and goodbyes. 

A place that was unusual had become home in a few days time. I had dreams that were blown away by the snow falling from the sky, freezing the time I had thought it would last forever. On top of the ice I had to slide into a different reality taking me up to the Northern part of South America; Cali, Colombia. 

On the way up I had a layover back where I left everything behind. This time the good-bye was going to be shorter, only 7 weeks. Little did I know that I had no idea what was planned. After arriving in Cali, 24 hours were enough to make those 7 weeks a little bit longer. 

It was the beginning of a journey that changed my life. The warm Colombian culture melted the ice I had slid up from Santiago, Chile, uncovering new plans, new dreams and new horizons, making my life flow like a river. I opened that same suitcase with experiences, knowledge, this time with a little bit more of Spanish, some more faith in my work and I decided to take the risk again, the risk of leaving everything behind, one more time. I discovered that each of these elements I bring with me is like a piece of a puzzle, called life. 

12 months ago, I thought I had left home for two months. Today, I realize that after 12 months, I found a place called home (for now), far away from where I left everything behind.

Home = One’s place of residence, the social unity formed by a family living together, a place of origin.

“The photographer, unless in rare cases, where the opportunity comes extemporaneously, can only say a thousand words with a photograph, if capable of writing a thousand matching words, using a feather.  The one, who comes to have this ability of combining the photograph with the writing, can consider himself an authentic photo-reporter. - Jehovah

As a photojournalist I acknowledge that it is a complicated task to translate a photograph in a thousand words. I believe that a photograph can leave you with no words, in awe, thoughtful, however, in rare cases it will make you think of a thousand words to describe that same photograph in front of you. 

A photojournalist to translate a photograph in a thousand words, with its “click” isn’t enough. It’s necessary to be a human being, to observe and to converse, it is necessary to go beyond your creativity to translate the photography world into words. Furthermore, I often asked myself, how is to be a photojournalist? How is to tell stories through photography? How is it to reflect feelings with the light?

I am glad I never got these answers before graduating, as the beauty of photography is to get these answers from your own images, from your own objects, from the portraits you take, from the photos you make, so later on you can sit and try to translate your work in a thousand words. You close your eyes, imagine you back on that same scene, try to get yourself out of the back of the camera and remember every single moment you lived from that photograph. You close your eyes, get back to that frame of second, hear the beats of your hearts, and you write a thousand words.

We learned how to communicate with the glance, the glance of the photographs. And talk with the sound, the sound of the words.

Four years ago I wrote on this same website; “I hope to be able to seek the truth and observe the world, so that through the lens of my camera, and through the power of words, I can document reality”.

I walked in a path of a journalistic education for a period of four years. I dove in words, and sank in photography. That was the moment I learned how to strive to be a true photojournalist, it was when I realized that a photograph can’t live without the word, and vice-versa. According to Jehovah, that is what it means to be a photo-reporter. Make the photograph and the writing as if they were one.

The union between the photo and the word

One day my photography learned how to communicate with the words from MeUniverso (MyUniverse). My eyes read the written letters, and heard the spoken words, by the Brazilian Journalist-Lawyer, Ananda Beleza.

April 3rd, 2017. MeUniverso emerged with my photojournalistic world.  As a journalist I always searched for the truth in words to accompany my photographs, I just couldn’t imagine that these words would come from a different journalist – Ananda beleza. I always knew that I had to use my photographs for a higher purpose, and through Ananda’s Beleza art of writing, I found the purpose I was searching for.

I learned how to detach from my visual creativity and see the world through various looks, stories and other’s experiences. But I never stopped using the lens of my camera, and the power of words to show you the world we live in. To show the truth.

In the Portuguese version of this text, I invited my readers to follow @meu.u.niverso by Ananda Beleza. Putting your fears on the side, diving in her words the same way I dove. As her texts are all in Portuguese, with the little I know from Ananda’s Beleza written world, I will try to share what her Universe consists of.

On her first text written on the same day our creative world’s emerged, 4^th of April 2017, she wrote:

The good in writing is that you won’t always write about yourself. You can become a character, a scriptwriter, a narrator or observer.

It is to put into words; impressions, scenes and developments. It is to experience others lives and keep your mind busy. It is a Universe of vowels that create stories, and consonants that describe memories.

It is a description of the present and invention of the future.

It is the perfect way to imagine, to feature and to hide without feeling you are a coward.

“MeUniverso” - (MyUniverse) -, isn’t only mine. It is a point of view, it’s also empathy, and will forever be poetry”. –

 Ananda Beleza

Today, Ananda and I are journalists, we don’t work in a newspaper or in a newsroom; we aren’t reporters, editors or chief-editors. But we both understand the power of words and photography, seeing both as an important tool to change the world we live in. We don't sign breaking news or appear on the screen, but we, as journalists, we carry on the responsibility of sharing the truth. 

“O fotografo, a não ser em casos raríssimos onde a oportunidade surge extemporaneamente só poderá dizer mil palavras com uma foto, se também for capaz de, com a pena, escrever as mil palavras elucidativas correspondentes. O que tiver a habilidade de conseguir essa combinação pode se considerar um autêntico repórter-fotográfico”. – Jehovah.

Como um fotojornalista reconheço que não é fácil traduzir uma foto em mil palavras, acredito que uma foto pode te deixar sem palavras, de boquiaberta(o), pensativo, mas raras vezes farão você pensar em mil palavras para acompanhar a fotografia.

Um repórter-fotográfico para traduzir uma foto feita, em mil palavras, o “clic” não é suficiente. É preciso ser humano, observar, conversar, é preciso ser mais criativo para traduzir o mundo fotográfico em palavras. E logo me perguntava, como ser um fotojornalista? Como contar histórias por meio da fotografia? Como refletir sentimentos com a luz?

Aprendemos a comunicar com o olhar, o olhar das fotos. E conversar com os sons, sons das palavras.

Há quatro anos escrevi neste mesmo site, por meio das minha lentes fotográficas, do meu olhar fotográfico, e com o poder das palavras, procuro buscar a verdade e mostrar ao mundo onde realmente vivemos. 

Trilei um caminho na educação jornalística por quatro anos, mergulhei nas palavras e me afoguei na fotografia. E foi aí que aprendi que para ser um verdadeiro fotojornalista, a foto não pode viver sem a palavra, e vice-versa. 

Até que chegou um dia em que o meu mundo fotográfico aprendeu a conversar com as palavras do @me.u.niverso. O meu olhar escutou as palavras ditas, e leu as palavras escritas por Ananda Beleza. 

Foi no dia 3 de Abril de 2017, as palavras do MeUniverso se juntaram com o meu mundo fotojornalistico. Sempre procurei nas palavras a pura verdade para minhas fotografias, só não imagina que as palavras viriam de outra jornalista – Ananda Beleza. Sempre procurei um propósito para minhas fotos, e por meio da arte da escrita de A.B., o encontrei. 

Aprendi a desapegar da minha criatividade visual e enxergar o mundo através de outros olhares, de outras histórias, de outras experiências, mas nunca deixei de usar as lentes da minha câmera, e o poder das palavras para mostrar a vocês o mundo em que vivemos. A verdade.

Convido vocês a seguirem o @me.u.niverso por Ananda Beleza. Leiam cada palavra atentamente. E sem medo, mergulhem nas palavras da mesma maneira que eu mergulhei. 

Perhaps the right question is: “Why don’t I think about goodbyes?”

In a world where we are often busy with our daily routines; school, work, extra curricular activities, traffic, shopping, family, friends; we tend to get home and think about the next get away trip. When things don’t go well at home, we think of leaving to start a new life. All we want is to go away and forget about our problems, or at least our busy routines.

Sitting on your comfortable couch, watching Netflix, laying in your bed, going up and down your phone screen: these are considered the best places to think and imagine where you want to go next. We think about everything: if our next place will be to a city next to our home, or a country to which we have never been before, the budget, the date, who we want to go with. Should we take the camera, GoPro, or the latest phone to take the best photos (and sometimes when you are alone, the best selfies, to post on Instagram or facebook.

We wonder about what we will eat, what are the best tourist destinations, what cultural events to attend, which beaches are the best or most empty, or for those like me, who like to explore big cities, we think about what are the tallest building or highest mountain in town to see the whole city or that beautiful sunset.

Or to be emerged in the diversity area of that place to take the best portraits. We check our budget and think: hotel, hostel or AirBnb? Shared or private room? Should I go alone or with a group of friends?

We all know that either alone or accompanied, we always look forward to meeting new people, and most of the time, that person will be from a country far away from yours. We get excited, but we never think about the goodbye at the end of the trip. The preparation happens, we book everything, and we go, for weeks, months, or even years.

After 25 years attending conferences, traveling to places I have never been before, living abroad three times, meeting people with the same purpose as mine, I have learned that I easily get attached to people, places and moments, because they are responsible for helping me to create the best memories of my life.

These are people:

People that I learn a lot with, people that concentrate their energies and time in making this world a better place. People I sit with to laugh, sing and have conversations that can change my day, that can change my life, that can change the perspective of the world around me. People that I often walk in the same path of service.

            People who I try to make the most of my time with, but it never feels like enough. And all of a sudden you realize that tomorrow will be the last day you will spend together, at least for that time. You start thinking, you get sad, cry, and concentrate all of your energies in the negative side of that word: goodbye.

There are times you deal better with some goodbyes than others, sometimes you know that goodbye will be just a see you soon, but there are other times you just avoid, you ignore, you choose not say goodbye, you regret not giving that last hug or being close to that special person. You pretend all is well and being in touch over a phone screen will be just fine. But we know that one day we all go back to our busy routines and forget about being in touch, or we choose not to.

During those days you create memories, and thanks to the advancement of technology, the photos you take and the videos you record can all become lifetime memories. You post them, share them once, and after, 1,2,10 years, Facebook will keep reminding you about that memory you had with that person in that country, and sometimes I think: I wasn’t strong enough to say goodbye, and now all I have is memories and distance.  

Today as I write this, I wished I could find the answer for such attachment.

Life has taught me to try to love those around me, to learn from one another, and to see the best in people. I get attached, and if I try to be in touch with you, it is because somehow you changed my life with your actions, with what you said or the way you let me be part of your life, and this is the reason I don’t like to think about goodbyes: there is no “good” in “goodbyes”.

Rainn Wilson once said; “The past and future are illusions, one is a dream and the other just hasn’t happened yet. Life is really only available to you in the present moment…be here now. Strive to live. The past and the future are simply anxious illusions.”

For my future I hope that ‘goodbye’ becomes ‘see you soon.’ And when I think about the past, I am thankful, because life gave me the opportunity to meet great people at great places and to create great memories. You might see thinking too much about the past as a negative thing, but for me, it is a way of being thankful for the opportunities I have had.  And for that same past I had, I never want to say goodbye. 

All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them. - Walt Disney

It's the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting. - Paulo Coelho

Do not let yourself be carried away by the distance between your dreams and reality. If you are able to dream, you can also make them come true. -William Shakespeare

         December 20^th 1991. A child was born full of dreams, however, lived without knowing if those dreams would ever come true.

This same child faced rivers, ferryboats trips in the north of Brazil, ocean waves in Salvador. Passed through the amazon forest, walked up the Pelourinho (Pillory) and took the Elevador Lacerda down towards the Central Plateau in the Capital of Brazil. In the West faced snow and loneliness, in the East, the heat from the desert and saw the human diversity centered in one same spot, in Mount Carmel, Israel. In Brazil ended one of his chapters in his life and started a new one in the foot of the Andes in Santiago, Chile. Always thinking that his dreams were somewhere unreachable, without knowing that in fact, that dream was in his hands, in front of him.  However he was constantly lacking two important things, courage and the audacity to trust in his instincts, and the conviction that his dreams could come true.

The dream: of taking everything and everyone closer to those that couldn’t see from afar. The dream, to show the worlds realities through photography. The dream that somehow, he could contribute to the betterment of the world around him, with each photo taken as he walked in this endless path, called life.

Susan Sontag, writer and art reviewer, in her book “On Photography”, writes: To collect photos is to collect the world”.

Without knowing it, that child’s dreams were coming true. He collected everything that crossed his path: the simplicity of a place and the luxury of a culture, deep looks brown and blue eyes, straight and curly hair, the black and the white, men and women, children, youth, adults and the elderly, walked through places collecting various religious cultures, collected a bit of the east and of the west, south and north, happiness and sadness.

With these collections, now an adult, he noticed that we live in a very rich world, rich in diversity.

Something that he learned from observing the world and his own mistakes is that, from afar we find everything beautiful and diverse. However when we draw near, everything becomes different, at times, we think it is dangerous. From afar we feel sorry, closer we get afraid. From afar we are curious, closer we want distance.

Unfortunately, all of these things occur because many times we are afraid of getting out of our comfort zone. Missing opportunities of meeting new people, cultures and realities. Missing opportunities of learning about people that can change the world. And even though these people might be different from each of us, in the end, they can have the same purpose of life as yours. Life constantly gives us opportunities of breaking these barriers, however we end up building stronger ones.

In this path towards this dream, I don’t want these photographs just to be beautiful, impacting or different from what we see in our daily lives. I ask each one of you, as you encounter with each portrait, detail, look, culture, and each soul, not only to stare, but also to reflect on what you see. Try to observe profoundly each photo taken.

Unconcerned where you hide your prejudices, try to put them aside and appreciate each photo and its details and try to see the inner reality of each human being, try to see the soul, a divine essence, and other attributes that our material and limited eyes have trouble contemplating. 

As in this world we are never alone, to make a dream come true, we need more than willpower.

Throughout this path whenever I thought it wasn’t bright enough, I faced many lights to guide me, lights that will never fade away; I am thankful for God’s enlightenment, my parents for their spiritual and material education, my brother that even from afar, is present. My friends that saw me growing up and believed in me, some that are close to me, and some special ones that are far away, living their own dreams. I can thank my journalist colleagues, and my former teachers that taught me to give voice to those that can’t speak, to tell stories of people that the world has never met, taught me how to write and speak what the world needs to read and listen, I thank my teachers who have taught me how to become an opinion-former, a journalist, a photojournalist.

The truth is, that in the end of each day, I am especially thankful for each human being that I crossed paths with, some I saw only for milliseconds; long enough not only to illumine this endless journey, but to illumine my life. These were people that I never met, that I won’t meet, and will probably never cross path with again. But thankful to each one of them, thankful for the diversity in humanity, that child’s dream starts to come true.

It doesn’t matter if a girl is from Thailand or from the United States of America, if a youth came from China or from Brazil. It doesn’t matter if the person standing next to you is from the North or from the South. Or if someone came from Africa or Europe. What really matters is that we share one world, one home.

Bahá’u’lláh, founder of the Bahá’í Faith states: “The World is but one country and mankind its citizens”.

Roland Barther, French writer in “Camara Lucida”, writes

“I observed that a photograph can be the object of three practices (or of three emotions, or of three intentions): to do, to undergo, to look. The Operator is the Photographer. The Spectator is ourselves, all of us who glance through collections of photographs - in magazines and newspapers, in books, albums, archives... And the person or thing photographed is the target, the referent, a kind of little simulacrum.”

Today the target, the referent, a kind of little simulacrum, it’s a small portion of the diversity that represent the human family. Today the target, the referent, a kind of little simulacrum, it’s the set of portraits that makes the impossible to become possible, the existence of “The World’s Physiognomy”, a collection of portraits showing the worlds different features. An heterogeneous world of which you and I have the privilege of been part of.

"Os sonhos existem para tornarem-se realidade". - Walt Disney

"Os sonhos têm um preço. Há sonhos caros e baratos, mas todos os sonhos têm um preço". - Paulo Coelho

"Não se deixe levar pela distância entre seus sonhos e a realidade. Se você é capaz de sonhá-los, também pode realizá-los". - William Shakespeare

20 de dezembro de 1991. Nasce uma criança cheia de sonhos, mas que vivia sem saber se um dia se tornariam realidade ou não.

Essa criança enfrentou rios, viagens de balsa no norte do Brasil e as ondas da capital baiana. Passou pela floresta amazônica, subiu o pelourinho e desceu o Elevador Lacerda em direção ao Planalto Central. No Ocidente, enfrentou a neve e a solidão. No Oriente, o calor do deserto e a diversidade humana concentrada em um só lugar: no Monte Carmelo, em Israel. No Brasil concluiu um dos capítulos de sua vida. No pé das cordilheiras dos andes em Santiago, no Chile, iniciou um novo. Foram momentos percorridos e vividos por uma criança que sempre achou que o sonho estava fora de seu alcance. Mas nunca é tarde demais e essa criança percebeu que aquele sonho estava à sua frente, mais do que isso, estava em suas mãos. O que faltava era a coragem, a ousadia de acreditar em seus instintos e a convicção de que sim, todos aqueles sonhos podem se tornar realidade. 

O sonho: levar tudo que vi e todos que conheci ao alcance daqueles que não podem enxergar de perto. O sonho de mostrar a realidade do mundo por meio da imagem. O sonho de contribuir para a melhoria do mundo com as fotos registradas no decorrer deste caminho infinito que é a vida.

Susan Sontag, escritora e crítica de arte em seu livro "Sobre fotografia" escreve que: "Colecionar fotos é colecionar o mundo”.

Sem saber, o sonho daquela criança estava se tornando realidade. Ela colecionava tudo que passava pela frente. Colecionava a simplicidade de um local e o luxo de uma cultura. Colecionava olhares profundos. Olhos azuis e castanhos. Cabelos crespos e lisos. Colecionou o negro e o branco. A mulher e o homem. Colecionou crianças, jovens, adultos e idosos. Passou por lugares que o permitiram colecionar a essência de diversas religiões. Colecionou um pouco do Oriente e do Ocidente, do Sul e do Norte, de alegrias e tristezas.

Com estas coleções aquela criança, hoje adulta percebeu que nós vivemos em mundo rico, rico em diversidade. Com isso aprendi que:

De longe achamos tudo muito bonito e instigante. Mas quando nos aproximamos é diferente, estranho e, às vezes, perigoso. De longe sentimos pena, de perto sentimos medo. De longe somos curiosos, de perto queremos distância.

Isso tudo porque, infelizmente, muitas vezes nós temos medo de sair da nossa zona de conforto. Perdemos, assim, a oportunidade de conhecer novas pessoas, culturas e realidades. Deixamos escapar a chance de ouvir histórias de pessoas que realmente podem mudar o mundo. Deixamos de conhecer indivíduos que parecem muito diferentes de nós, mas que no fundo têm o mesmo propósito de vida. Na tentativa de quebrar barreiras, por receio, acabamos construindo outras ainda mais fortes.

Neste caminho em direção ao sonho, não quero que os retratos registrados sejam somente bonitos, impactantes ou diferentes do que vemos no nosso dia-a-dia. Eu peço que, ao se deparar com cada retrato, com cada detalhe, com cada olhar, com cada cultura e com cada alma deste trajeto, seja feita uma reflexão. Tente observar profundamente cada registro e admire de forma genuína o que uma foto pode te oferecer.

Quero que você esteja despreocupado, que deixe de lado possíveis preconceitos e que  aprecie as imagens de maneira que os detalhes possam transparecer. Busque enxergar a realidade interior de cada ser humano, aquela essência que é divina, sua alma que é incolor e tantos outros aspectos que nossos olhos materiais e limitados têm dificuldades de contemplar. Encontre afinidade em cada olhar e compaixão em cada expressão.

Neste mundo não estamos sozinhos. Para chegar à um sonho precisamos de muito mais do que força de vontade.

Neste caminho, em que muitas vezes pensei que estava escuro, tive várias luzes para me guiar;  luzes que jamais se apagaram e luzes que me revelaram a direção. Eu sou grato pela iluminação de Deus, dos meus pais que me agraciaram com uma educação espiritual e material excepcional, do meu irmão que mesmo ausente, se faz presente. Sou grato aos meus amigos, que me viram crescer e acreditaram em mim. Agradeço aos poucos que estão presentes fisicamente e aos tantos outros amigos especiais que estão longe vivendo os seus próprios sonhos. Quero agradecer aos meus colegas de sala e aos professores que me ensinaram a dar voz aos que não podem falar. Esses verdadeiros mestres me ensinam a contar histórias de pessoas que o mundo nunca conheceu, me ensinam a escrever e falar o que o mundo precisa ler e ouvir e me ensinam a ser um futuro formador de opinião.

Mas a verdade é que tenho que agradecer especialmente a cada ser humano com quem já cruzei o caminho, mesmo que por milésimos de segundos. Muitos não conheci, não vou conhecer e nem mesmo vê-los novamente. Mas tenho consciência de que graças a cada um destes indivíduos e graças à diversidade humana, o sonho daquela criança começou a se tornar realidade.

Não importa se uma menina é da Tailândia ou dos Estados Unidos, se o jovem veio da China ou do Brasil. Não importa se quem está ao seu lado ou a sua frente veio do Norte ou do Sul. Se uma pessoa é da África ou Europa. O que importa é que compartilhamos um só mundo, um mesmo lar.

Bahá’u’lláh, fundador da Fé Bahá'i disse: “A terra é um só país e os seres humanos seus cidadãos”.

Roland Barthes, escritor francês em "A Câmara Clara" disse:

"Eis-me assim, eu próprio, como medida do saber fotográfico. O que meu corpo sabe da Fotografia? Observei que uma foto pode ser objeto de três práticas (ou de três emoções, ou de três intenções): fazer, suportar, olhar. O operator é o fotógrafo. O spectator somos todos nós, que compulsamos, nos jornais, nos livros, nos álbuns, nos arquivos, coleções de fotos. E aquele ou aquela que é fotografado é o alvo, o referente, espécie do pequeno simulacro."

Hoje, o alvo, o referente, espécie do pequeno simulacro, é apenas uma parcela da diversidade que representa a família humana. Hoje, o alvo, o referente, espécie do pequeno simulacro, é o conjunto de retratos que faz com que o impossível se torne possível. É a existência da "Fisionomia do Mundo", uma coleção de retratos que valoriza as diferentes feições do mundo. Um mundo heterogêneo do qual eu e você temos o privilégio de fazer parte.

       After analyzing each episode, what stood out the most is that this show does not only teach us about photography, but with its footage in 4k and the testimonials of each photographer and its crew, together with the voice of the narrator, we learn that there is a power of communication behind every person, place and object.

       The series of six episodes in season 1 of the show, about five photographers following their work as they capture the perfect shot and show viewers the world we live in, invites us to travel with them to the most remote areas in the world, far away from concrete jungles, suits and offices, public transportation, hours of traffic, children, men and women, so that we learn that the world is much more than what we are exposed to.

These five photographers (Darren Jew, Richard I’Anson, Krystle Wright, Art Wolfe and Peter Eastway) translate into action and words what photography means to them. 

       After watching Tales by Light some may say they are risking their life to get the perfect shot. People like these five photographers are the ones responsible for taking these remote areas to the home of each of the 7 billion people across the globe that are limited in where they go to. Travel photographers, teach us photography, history, geography, and most important, they teach us what is to live life. They put their fear on the side and face the greatest things created on earth.

       We can notice that by reaching places that are different from what you live back home, the key to get the best photographs is being respectful and only interact when your object wants to, if you do so, you are going to get better pictures, better experiences, you will have the time of your life.

       Each episode has and average of 24 minutes, taking us to places that have never been explored let alone photographed. They travelled to the crystal clear waters of the South Pacific Archipelago of Tonga, to the Port Town of Rabaul, and the most threatened tribal communities in Papua New Guinea, to the Northern India, to the blue water of Vanuatu seeking the clarity and light to capture the immersive world of free diving, to the top of canyon in the United States of America, some go to freeze actions in Alaska, to the wildlife in East Africa, to Antarctica and Ethiopia, creating traditional photos to become valuable records of what was once.

       Today photographers live in the best time, with the modern technology it has enhanced the ability to capture what they are after, fast shutter, high ISO cameras, wide lens, telephoto and drones makes it possible to capture what you hardly even see with your naked eye, photographers can literally freeze the time in front of them, and watching Tales by Light it is the perfect example of that. 

Below you can see some of the photographers work and some inspiring phrases they shared with the world. I hope it can also inspire you to watch the show and to learn more about photography and how photography can change the world in front of you.  

Darren Jew - Without the ocean we lose one the lungs of the planet and it’s a critical aspect of the whole web of life and so I hope that the pictures that I create are the ones that will make a difference and can help people appreciate and respect the once, it’s the only one we’ve got. Darren Jew - "Without the ocean we lose one of the lungs of the planet and it’s a critical aspect of the whole web of life and so I hope that the pictures that I create are the ones that will make a difference and can help people appreciate and respect the ocean, it’s the only one we’ve got"

Krystle Wright - "Photography changed my perception of the world. My eyes are continually drawn to the ever-changing light. My perspective is now constructed of depths, layers and dimensions."

Art Wolfe - "I want to encourage and inspire other people to travel, to get out there and see the world, to see nature, to see cultures, to see something different than where they live."

Richard I’Anson - "As a travel photographer, the festivals around the world are just sensational destinations. I love that excitement, the chase for the image. Running around capturing as many images, of as many subjects, in many places as possible, cause I’m totally chasing that depth and breadth in order to give what I consider a realistic view of the place."  

Peter Eastway - "What I love about photography is the opportunity to express myself. To take a photograph of an object or a location and express it in a way that’s my own, in a way that other people perhaps might not have thought about it. I think it’s the thrill and the excitement of creating an image that not only inspires me but hopefully inspires other people."

Em cada viagem realizada, Nabil Sami buscou registrar as características de diferentes povos e mostrar que tais diferenças podem ser a razão para uma unidade mais embelezada das nações, tal como é um jardim com a diversidade das matizes das flores e plantas.

No período de 2011 a 2016, visitou alguns países do Ocidente e do Oriente tendo a oportunidade de conhecer traços da cultura e certas realidades de cada país, buscando registrá-las em fotografias. O olhar fotográfico de Nabil mostra que o mundo, mesmo com toda sua diversidade, pode viver sem ódio, preconceito e inveja. Sua afirmação é de que “todos podemos trabalhar para a construção de um mundo melhor”.  E por mais diferente que sejamos um do outro, a unidade é essencial para esta transformação – a exposição procura transmitir isto. 

Ao perceber a beleza da diversidade registrada, decidiu montar a exposição “A Fisionomia do Mundo” a fim de mostrar que o retrato do mundo pode ser o conjunto das diferenças. Sua criação pretende apresentar qual é a cara do mundo – a soma de diferenças como uma colcha de retalhos composta por europeus, africanos, orientais, indígenas, insulanos e brasileiros, todos formando a fisionomia do mundo.

À medida que o mundo foi encolhendo com o avanço da tecnologia, dos transportes e da comunicação, tornando-os cada vez mais abrangente e veloz, chegando ao ponto da instantaneidade, a globalização tornou-se uma realidade facilitando a compreensão de que o planeta é o lar da humanidade e que esta, em essência, é uma única família, independentemente de sua raça, classe, nacionalidade ou crença.

As fotos da “A Fisionomia do Mundo” buscam transmitir e retratar a fantástica imagem que as seguintes palavras de Bahá’u’lláh (1817 – 1892)* inspiram:

“A terra é um só país e os seres humanos seus cidadãos.”

“Vós sois os frutos de uma só árvore e as folhas de um mesmo ramo.”

Tais palavras falam sobre a unicidade da humanidade, um próximo estágio que a humanidade precisa alcançar para viver em paz e encontrar soluções para todos os seus desafios. Tal meta não é uma utopia, representa a vontade divina. Meios estão sendo criados para torná-la possível, mesmo com toda a diversidade existente - em cultura, cor, idioma, faixa etária, origem, nacionalidade, classe social e fisionomia - pois, compartilhamos um só mundo, um mesmo lar.

Despreocupado de onde você esconde o seu preconceito, deixe-os de lado e aprecie as fotos e seus detalhes e procure enxergar a realidade interior de cada ser humano, aquela essência que é divina, sua alma que é incolor e outras propriedades que nossos olhos materiais e ilimitados têm dificuldades de contemplar.

*Fundador da Fé Bahá'i  

2016 – Arquibancada do Estádio Nacional durante Brasil x África do Sul - Brasília 

2016 – Contraste em praia de Dubai

2013 – Homem em vestimenta ortodoxa em Jerusalém, Israel

2012 – Menina nas ruas de Bangkok, Tailândia

2016 - Mulher em veste feminina, burca, símbolo do Islã - Dubai

2013 – Estação Victoria em Londres

2016 – Criança de São Sebastião, Brasília

2013 – Menina nas ruas de Istanbul, Turkey

2015 – Jovem de São Sebastião, Brasília

2011 - A esquerda jovem da Mongólia e a direita da Quênia - Tirada em Israel

2011 - A esquerda grupo de amigos do Nepal e a esquerda das Ilhas Fiji - Tirada em Israel

2015 – Artista nas ruas de Brasília

2014 – Jovem da Ruanda - Tirada em Israel

2016 – Poran Potiguara da aldeia Alto do Tombar – PB – Tirada em Israel

2012 – Criança nas ruas de Pataya, Tailândia

2013 – Vendedora do mercado de rua em Akká, Israel

2013 – Senhora em Istambul, Turquia

2012 – Homem nas ruas de Bangkok vestindo o bhikkhu, roupa masculina - Bangkok, Tailândia

2012 – Motorista de Tuk-Tuk (taxi) em Bangkok, Tailândia

2013 – Jovem da Austrália de origem Chinesa, Iraniana - Tirada em Israel.

In each trip, Nabil sought to capture the varied physiognomy of numerous nations and peoples to show that such differences are in fact the reason for a beautiful unity among nations, as in a garden with its diversity of flowers and plants.

Between 2011 and 2016, the photographer visited different countries around the world, affording him the opportunity to document features of the culture and some of the realities of each country. Nabil’s photographic eye aims to show that the world, with all its diversity, can live without hatred, prejudice or envy. Nabil affirms that: “We can all work towards building a better world.” Even though we are very different from one another, unity is essential for such transformation – this is what he tries to transmit through this exhibition.

The photographs captured over the past five years represent the world’s physiognomy, like a patchwork quilt made up of Europeans, Africans, Asians, Pacific Islanders, Latin Americans and Middle Easterners. Bringing these portraits together exposes the beauty and diversity of the human race.

The world is becoming smaller with the advancement of technology, transportation, and communication, which is becoming increasingly faster and more widespread, is reaching the point of instantaneity. Globalization has become a reality, making it easier to comprehend that the planet, today, is the home of humanity, which in essence is one family, regardless of race, social status, nationality or beliefs.

The photographs seek to transmit and to depict the fantastic image elicited by the following words of Bahá’u’lláh (1817 – 1892)*:

“The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens.”

“Ye are the fruits of one tree, and the leaves of one branch.”

The above quotations speak to the oneness of humanity, the next stage humanity must reach in order to live in peace and find ways to solve all its challenges. Such a goal is not a utopian dream, but rather represents the Divine will.

No matter what prejudices you may have latent within you, strive to put them aside and appreciate the photos and their details, try to see the inner reality of each human being, their divine essence; the soul, which has no color or gender, something our material and limited eyes have difficulty understanding.

*Founder of the Baha'i Faith

2016 - Bleacher seats at the National Stadium during Brazil x South Africa game in Brasília

2016 – Contrast on the beach in Dubai

2013 – Men wearing Orthodox Jewish clothing in Jerusalem, Israel

2012 – Girl in the streets of Bangkok, Thailand 

2016 - Woman Wearing burqa, symbol of Islam - Dubai

2013 – Victoria train station in London

2016 – Child from São Sebastião, Brasília

2013 – Girl in the streets of Istanbul, Turkey

2015 – Youth from São Sebastião, Brasília

2011 - Youth from Mongolia on the left and youth from Kenya on the right – Taken in Israel

2011 - A group of friends, on the left from Nepal and on the right from Fiji Islands

2015 – Street artist in Brasília

2014 – Youth from Rwanda – Taken in Israel

2016 – Poran Potiguara from the Indigenous Village Alto do Tombar – PB – Taken in Brasília

2012 – Child in the streets of Pataya, Thailand

2013 – Seller at the street market in Akká, Israel

2013 – Elderly lady in Istanbul, Turkey

2012 – Man wearing the garb of a bhikkhu, an ordained male monastic (monk) in Buddhism - Bangkok, Thailand

2012 – Tuk-tuk driver, Thailand

2013 – Youth originally from Australia with Chinese and Persian background – Taken in Israel