Geoffrey Hiller’s impressive presentation of photos with commentary about Salvador, Bahia, Minas Gerais, Rio and São Paulo.
Mr. Hiller’s intro:
Returning to Brazil after 25 years I was captivated once again by the charm and beauty of the country. No doubt the Brazilians are photogenic subjects, but it goes deeper than the image. Compared to the paranoia of people I’ve wanted to photograph on American streets, Brazil is absolutely refreshing.
Another way of being exists in Latin America, and Brazil’s own national psyche is distinctive. It’s a country of street poets, where taxi drivers and housewives wax philosophical about the meaning of life. It can be a brutal place, but beautiful too.
The image so often found in these photographs, of faces so wide open, is that of tolerance. Despite the incredible diversity in Brazil, acceptance is part of the language, both the one spoken and that of the body. When you greet someone you ask in Portuguese, “Tudu bem?“, “are you okay?” and it is really an invitation to interact, rather than a cue to go on your solitary way. There is no better place for a photographer. It’s okay to look.
But it’s not always a pretty picture. According to a World Bank study, Brazil has the most unequal distribution of wealth of any country. The fifth biggest nation in the world, Brazil has a population of 180 million people. Approximately 24 million Brazilians live in extreme poverty and earn less than $1 a day while the minimum salary of $65 per month hasn’t changed from when I lived there 25 years ago.
Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has plenty of challenges ahead. Relations with the United States are at an all time low. Unless we here in the north begin to recognize our southern neighbor, the price of further isolation will be too great. For all of us.
Canto do Brasil – click here
NOTE: The above mentioned numbers are out of date. The minimum wage is now R$415 or (US$ 228.00 @ 1.82). Brazil is presently experiencing an economic boom, which is changing the living standard and quality of life of its citizens; however, there is still much to be done.
Flash required – Broadband necessary – about 30 minutes in duration
Argentina is also becoming more expensive due to inflation; not a strong Peso. Plus the the government is beginning to play around with the economy like they did in the old Peron days….Populist measures that over the long-term drag the country down.
It gets cold in Argentina, which as a Dane you may actually enjoy.
I prefer to be semi-poor and warm here in Brazil.
ExpatBrazil
PS: Stopped off twice in Copenhagen flying out of Saudi Arabia on SAS: once to the US; the other to US/Alaska on SAS.
…Wow that $R just keep rising to the sky… I remember back in the good old days 2003 – 2004 I spent reals like candy in Salvador…now I’m back in Copenhagen..one of the most expensive cities in Europe..If im right only Oslo and London are more expensive..yieks…where do we go now.. Argentina ?
I really would like to know where you got those statistics from. They are very wrong. Brazil’s economy is booming and the the gap between poor and rich is diminishing. Write down this: Brazil is the country of opportunity for the years to come.
Hi Rosa,
You are right. His numbers are old. I have put a note on that entry with more information.
Thanks for pointing out the error.
ExpatBrazil