IMAGES OF BRAZIL: SELEXION 2006 – 015

A selection of photographs taken in Brazil in 2006.

Part 15:
Belo Horizonte (MG) – Monkey
Belo Horizonte (MG) – Monkey tail
Belo Horizonte (MG) – Monkey
Caeté (MG) – Dish at night

Belo Horizonte (MG) – Monkey

Belo Horizonte (MG) – Monkey tail

Belo Horizonte (MG) – Monkey


Caeté (MG) – Dish at night 

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2006, 2016

Advertisement

Imaging Brazil 161: The Cross at Full Moon in Caeté, MG (2008)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

161. The Cross at Full Moon

FEBRUARY 2008: The Cross at Full Moon

In February 2008, a lunar eclipse was visible in Brazil. I was invited by a friend to join him on his visit to the top of the Serra da Piedade in Caeté, a small historic city at about 50 km from Belo Horizonte. A observatory, property of the local federal university, was located on the top – at a height of about 1750 m -, and open for public. Not far from this observatory was the Nossa Senhora da Piedade (Our Lady of Piety, i.e. Virgin Mary) chapel. In front of the chapel is the so-called cast-iron Calvário, sculpted by Vlad Eugen Poenaru: a huge cross with the image of Jesus Christ, flanked by Virgin Mary on His left, and Saint John on His right. A few hours before the eclipse, it was as if Jesus Christ was facing the full moon. Although it was autumn with tropical temperatures, it was very cold on the mountain top. However, the spectacular view of the lunar eclipse was worth the freezing cold.

 

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2008, 2016

Imaging Brazil 083: Above the Clouds in Caeté, MG (2006)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

083. Above the clouds 

OCTOBER 2006: Above the clouds

On a Saturday night, I was invited for a lecture about black holes. This lecture was held at the local observatory in Belo Horizonte. Local in this respect means fifty kilometers away, in Caeté. The local observatory is located at a height of more than 1700 meters, on top of the peak of Serra da Piedade, the highest in this region. One of the telescopes has been imported from Germany, and it was literally paid with a large volume of Brazilian coffee. Some meters below the peak, a hermit had lived in a cave. The now empty cave has become a local tourist attraction. The observatory can be reached by car. The road follows the hillsides through a number of hairpin curves. Near the peak, low clouds floated past us. A few turns later, we found ourselves above the clouds and we could – in the cold evening – enjoy stunning views, including the brightly lit city of Belo Horizonte in the background.

 

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2006, 2014