Imaging Brazil 035: Waste Separation in Belo Horizonte, MG (2005)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

035. Waste separation 

AUGUST 2005: Waste separation

Talking about colors… The Natural History Museum of the UFMG in Belo Horizonte hosted these six waste bins. Colorful waste bins for plastic, metal, glass, paper, organic waste, and rest waste, consequently. Usually, all household waste is collected unseparated in little plastic bags, which are obtained at the supermarkets and hypermarkets. At dawn, long before the municipal waste collectors will pick them up, private waste collectors stroll along the roads for useful and recyclable materials which may provide them some money. In this way paper waste, tin cans and PET bottles are separated very efficiently.

 

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2005, 2014

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Imaging Brazil 034: Primary Colors in Belo Horizonte, MG (2005)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

034. Primary colors

AUGUST 2005: Primary colors

This picture has become one of my favorites in 2005. A composition which I might not easily meet again. A blue VW Beetle, a yellow Skol chair, and a red Brahma beer cooler. This local bar has its terrace on the pavement. For me, it was interesting to notice the brand ‘Skol’, which ceased to exist in The Netherlands decades ago. The name ‘Skol’ refers to the Scandinavian word for ‘cheers’. It is said that Vikings used skulls of their enemies to drink their beer; hence, the strong resemblance of the word with the English word ‘skull’. By the way: the beer cooler has the Brazilian nickname ‘camisinha’, which may be translated as a …. beer condom.

 

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2005, 2014

Imaging Brazil 033: Resting Cormorants in Belo Horizonte, MG (2005)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

033. Rest 

JULY 2005: Rest

Talking about fishing…. Black cormorants are quite common in Pampulha. Their preys are the fish that are found in the artificial lake. Even when the lake is heavily polluted, with even more waste material than algae, these birds continued to fish around. They manage to express their patience; they are much more patient than fishermen. After having caught their prey, they take a long rest, in order to digest their meal. Meanwhile, polish and clean their large wings, and appear to enjoy the warmth of the winter sun when they spread their wings.

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2005, 2014

Imaging Brazil 032: Waterworks in Belo Horizonte, MG (2005)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

032. Waterworks 

JULY 2005: Waterworks

At present, slave labor should not exist anymore, but there is still a lot of unwanted work. Fortunately, this kind of work is being paid, even when these public employees – as shown in the picture – don’t receive a lot of money. They are working on Lagoa (Lake) da Pampulha), where they are trying to remove water plants. These plants were covering a large surface of the lake, and made it impossible for creatures to survive the lack of oxygen and nutrients. The city had to start large-scale cleaning operations. Wreckers and bulldozers were implemented to have the plants removed. At less accessible locations, workers had to use flat-bottom boats. The men had to drag the heavy plants out of the water…

 

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2005, 2014

Imaging Brazil 031: Slave Trail in Serra do Cipó, MG (2005)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

031. Slave trail 

JULY 2005: Slave trail

Talking about work… At about one hundred kilometers north of Belo Horizonte, one may visit state park Serra do Cipó. This park is popular among the people from Belo Horizonte, who love to walk and take some rest there. The park exhibits various ‘trilhas’, unpaved trails. Only some trails are paved, like the slave trail. This trail, covered with sharp cobble stones, was used by slaves, more than a hundred years ago, when they had to deliver messages from and to their masters. These slaves weren’t wearing comfortable sneakers, but even had to walk barefoot. That must have been a real torture for their feet…

 

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2005, 2014

Imaging Brazil 030: Breathtaking Serra do Cipó, MG (2005)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

030. Breathtaking 

JULY 2005: Breathtaking

For many Belohorizontinos – as residents of the city of Belo Horizonte are called – the Serra do Cipó Park is a very popular location to spend their weekends. The small villages on the outskirts of the park are slowly crammed with cozy pousadas (inns). With the advent of more day-trippers, more bars and restaurants are being opened. In the summer, the tourists prefer to visit the waterfalls; the icy water provides the much needed relief for the heated bodies. In the dry and chilly winter, they prefer to make long walks on the nature trails that take you through various viewpoints, from where you can enjoy breathtaking views.

 

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2005, 2014

Imaging Brazil 029: Man and Horse in Belo Horizonte, MG (2005)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

029. Man and horse 

JULY 2005: Man and horse

We now stay in the country side. Grass was green at the margins of Lagoa (Lake) Pampulha, while grass is withered only a few meters away from the margins. In July, the drought period – starting in May and finishing in October – takes its toll. Horses love fresh, green grass, and their owners are aware of that. But the horses have to work for that. They need to carry heavy loads, pull the cart, in which the owner carries various kinds of freight. Besides, Belo Horizonte is far from flat. The horses have to climb steep hills, anywhere in the city. Their reward: spending some time grazing green grass, in the warm sun, late in the afternoon.

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2005, 2014

Imaging Brazil 028: Sky-Blue in Belo Horizonte, MG (2005)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

028. Sky-blue 

JULY 2005: Sky-blue

Talking about churches… The little church at Lagoa da Pampulha, at the other side of Casa do Baile, also has the same meandering shapes that are characteristic for Oscar Niemeyer’s works. However, due to some disputes within the diocese, this church was not immediately consecrated. The big question was if this building was suitable enough to serve as a religious building. It took many years until its consecration. Many couples chose this church for their wedding ceremony and for their wedding pictures and films. In 2005, the church underwent thorough renovation. The sky blue church served as a touristic highlight. Is the church suitable for marriages? No. The Belo Horizonte diocese, actual owner of the church, decided not to have marriages there. However, very few masses are held in this church.

 

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2005, 2014

Imaging Brazil 027: Quatorze Juillet in Belo Horizonte, MG (2005)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

027. Quatorze Juillet

JULY 2005: Quatorze Juillet

Talking about dancing and dancers…. Not only in France, but also in Belo Horizonte, the French Revolution is commemorated by the French community, on 14 July. A large square was the location for a small festival with a dozen of stands selling food and drinks. A stage was built for the performance of French amusement. Among which the famous cancan dance. Many Brazilian men looked with much interest at the seductive dancers.

 

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2005, 2014

Imaging Brazil 026: Santa Mala in Belo Horizonte, MG (2005)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

026. Santa Mala

JULY 2005: Santa Mala

On a sunny Sunday, I was witnessing the landing of a small airplane at Pampulha Airport, near the center of Belo Horizonte. A landing, like many small airplanes do, as it appeared to me. However… this airplane was headline news the following day. The plane had transported pastors of a Brazilian religious movement. They carried some suitcases. Quite innocent, to have personal luggage in your suitcases…. However, when they were forced to open them, these cases contained a large sum of money. Not from their bank accounts, but money collected from their poor parishioners. These poor people pay about ten percent of their low income to the church. This money was destined for the construction of huge and luxurious religious buildings, and destined to the pockets of the ‘pastors’…

 

 

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2005, 2014

Imaging Brazil 025: Casa do Baile in Belo Horizonte, MG (2005)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

025. Casa do Baile

JULY 2005: Casa do Baile

Casa do Baile, House of the Dance. The Casa is located at Lagoa da Pampulha, which is an irregular-shaped artificial lake. It is one of the projects designed by architect Oscar Niemeyer when he was creating the architectonic conjunction of Lagoa da Pampulha during the forties of the past century. The construction contains meandering lines that are characteristic for Niemeyer’s creations. In July, the columns were decorated with red veils, as if the columns were the bailarinas (dancers) of that month.

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2005, 2014