Mural

I spotted this mural last month while I was in Água de Madeiros. In the middle of the rubble of a construction site (probably adding yet another extension to an existing building). It's a sign of questionable taste you see very often around the countryside. Not that it's something exclusive to Portugal. I guess that every country has its own form of tacky decoration in and around buildings. We usually find our own kind tacky and that of other countries amusing. For me, this is tacky, but very amusing at the same time.

Rotselaar

I was recently in Belgium on short notice for a job, and took a week to visit my family and some friends. One of the people I surprised was my mother, who lives in Rotselaar, where I spent a big part of my youth. On my way from the train station to her place, I walked past this typical example of autumn/winter. A trampoline is still standing on the lawn, left over from summer, when children were probably jumping up and down until dark. Now it's just standing there, next to this indescript style of house from the middle of the XXth century, waiting for spring and summer, if it survives winter.

José Clemente

They sat me next to José Clemente on the bus last weekend, on a day out with Sunday school. At first he kept pretty quiet, but after a while he started telling me his life's story, working in restaurants and hotels as manager of the wine section and as general manager. Great how almost everyone you get to talk to has something interesting to say, or maybe I just get lucky with the people who decide to talk to me. Anyway, here's a picture of him at the Baptist camp site in Água de Madeiros. 

Karina

I met Karina Silva in Luanda in June, where I interviewed her for a piece I did on Angolan women. A couple of days ago, I got a call from an agency asking me if I was available to shoot some photos of a model at the Moda Lisboa fashion event here in Lisbon. It was a big surprise to see the model was Karina. This photo is an impromptu shot of her in the VIP bar when the show after the one she was in was on its way, leaving the bar empty.

Sisi

Yesterday I was in Porto for my daughter Helena's birthday pick-nick. It's always a good occasion to see old friends again, and I was very happy to meet Sisi there. She's one of the first people I met when I moved from Belgium to Portugal. She's the one who introduced me to my ex-wife, and you could say it's because of her I have this lovely daughter of 13 of who I'm proud to be the father. Here's a photo of Sisi taken in the park where we held the pick-nick.

July 21st

For the Belgians amongst us, the 21st of July is independence day. Not that it's being celebrated that much in Belgium, but for us, Belgians abroad, it's always a sign of a reception at the embassador's residence. This year was no exception. Most people leave early, but this horn player, part of an invited ensemble, was still in one of the white plastic chairs on the lawn after most people had left.

Holidays

Back in Portugal, I visited my youngest sister who is on vacation in the Alentejo region for a couple of weeks. They rented a house in the countryside for them and their kids. This is her and my brother in law relaxing in the pool while the kids are playing some games.

Coqueiros

This is the Luanda Tennis Club next to the Coqueiros stadium. Early in the morning, after work, or in the weekend, people come here to have classes or play a game or two of tennis. Here, a couple of women practice their game against the teacher and another student.

Célia Araújo

Still in Luanda, where I'm working on a small story on Angolan women. This is Célia Araújo, working mother of four, and student. She spent part of her youth in Portugal and moved back to Angola in 2005. This picture was taken at her parent's place, and as you can see from the table, just before dinner.

Odete Tavares

This is Odete Tavares, the goalkeeper of the national Angolan handball team, who became African champions in Egypt in February. I photographed her just before a game of her team, the 1º de Maio against another local team, Ferrovia at the Ferrovia stadium.

Cidadela

This is the sight I see when I leave my friend's appartment in the morning. She lives in a building similar to the one in front, on the 12th floor. Since there's no elevator, our physical condition is excellent. On the right, you can see the Cidadela Stadium, getting very old. They choose not to use this stadium for the African Cup of Nations, but to build a new one south of Luanda (and three more in other provinces). It's still being used, though, as is the pavillion next door where there are basketball games and very loud Brazilian church gatherings on Sundays.

Luanda

A quick evening sight of Luanda from the Clube Naval on the "ilha". In front is a new stretch of sand where there's going to be some more construction. To the left you can see the lights of the port, and on the right, the lights of the towers they've been building over the last couple of years.

Santo Antoninho

This is a sweet little square, a couple of steps from where I live. For 11 months of the year, it's either deserted, or populated by hash smoking youngsters from the nearby arts college, but in June, when the "popular saints" festivities are held, and specially on the night of the 12th of June, it's so crowded I need more than an hour to get from this viewpoint to my front door. The day before yesterday, the stage arrived. On it, locally world famous bands like "Duo Psicose", "Aikesom" or the "Latinos de Ouro" will do their best to keep people dancing all night. Great days are ahead for my neighborhood.

Fado night

You might not notice it from this picture, as the action is taking place behind us, but this is a shot of Fado night at the Vai-Tu association in Lisbon, where every sunday, during the year friends and singers gather to sing and listen to Lisbon's popular Fado Vadio. A couple of children look in through the window before coming in, as during the songs, the door remains closed.

Sare

This is a portrait of Sare, my oldest sisters' youngest and my goddaughter, sitting on a bench with one of her rabbits. It's late afternoon, and the sun sheds some shy rays.

After winter

I'm still in Belgium, where sights like these abound. Families' summer stuff still left to be attended to, waiting for warmer days, in gardens, backyards and patios. In a while, children will be having a blast here, but for now, things look like this.

Before the last show

My sister and my brother in law, inside the sound/light booth at the Leuvense Stadsschouwburg, minutes before the last show of co.Dans on Sunday night, contemplating the end of an era, and the end of a tradition for me as well, as house photographer.

La Villette

This morning I woke up in Paris, at the apartment of a Senegalese family, close to La Villette. It's May, but the weather in Northern Europe isn't really showing for it. Here's the view from the room I slept in.

Mother

Today, I visited my mother at her home in the woods, close to where I spent a big chunk of my youth. She was recently declared cured after 5 years of cancer, treatment, ct scans and anxious waiting. A home cooked meal was waiting for me when I arrived with two of my nieces. Here she is in front of her house.

Rehearsal

As tradition dictates, when I'm in Belgium in May, I photograph the ballet shows my sister choreographs. This will be her last with this dance company, so there's some nostalgy involved. Here's a picture from one of the rehearsals.

Sofie

My girlfriend from when I was 16, my first great love and passion visited me some days ago. We had some wonderful, magical moments, and it is strange how you actually still "know" someone, even after a 20+ years hiatus. I took this picture of her during one of our late night chats in Lisbon.

Aida

Recently we spent a couple of days in the Alentejo with a couple of friends to escape from the city. Finnish sauna, nature, naturist beach and walks in the country side were what I needed to recharge my batteries and get rid of negative energy that had been accumulating. One of the friends that was there with us is Aida, who recently took a sabbatical to write a book. She took the time to review her editor's comments on her text while we were over there. This is a picture of her.

Helena

My first upload had to be this creature I love above anyone else. I remember vividly the day she was born and came to claim her place in my universe. My daughter Helena is now 12, going on 13, and somewhere in between childhood and adulthood, sometimes shifting between the two various times a day, depending on the company and the mood. This is a portrait of her in the bedroom of the small Lisbon apartment I live in.