Kalandula

I took this photo at the Kalandula falls, not too far from the city of Malange, in the center of Angola. What you see is part of, and probably to some extent the result of, a liquid picknick. I'd been told that groups of people go there to enjoy the beauty of Africa's third (or second, depends who you ask) largest waterfalls, while having a picknick. At the scene, there's not as much as a soda on sale, so you have to bring everything. In the case of this group (there were about 10 of them), everything was a quite large cooler box with nothing but beer and spin. They were rather enjoying themselves, but luckily I got a lift out of there with a very sober couple of young people.

Friends

I found these two while I was roaming the streets of Huambo, in the middle of Angola. This area suffered greatly during the war, and the episodes people have been telling me are too horrible for words. The war ended in 2002, with the death of Unita leader Jonas Savimbi. These two guys probably never had to deal with any of the horrors, and they are normal children, just like any others in any part of the world. Playing, going to school and wanting their picture taken. The city is also showing ever less signs of war. The building in the back is still scarred by bullet holes, but the one on the right looks brand new. It's like this all over town. Little by little, bad memories and signs of them disappear. Time (and in this case a lot of money) heals all wounds.

Jorge Tristão

I'm back in Luanda, organizing for a journey across the country. Yesterday night, I was downtown at a the Zanzibar, for an expat's farewell party, and I say this guy. He was wearing a bow tie and jacket and all, but finished it all off tropically with a pair of bermuda shorts and flip flops (although very stylish ones at that). When I saw him leave, I went after him and asked him if I could take his picture right there and then. We looked for an illuminated shop window and this is the result. His name is Jorge Tristão, and he's in advertising. Thanks Jorge.

Room with a view

Looking out or looking in? A look outside, or is it a peak inside? Sharing a moment with an imaginative or a real person? I took this picture at a friend's place while I was in Brussels, and kind of forgot about it, until I was selecting pictures for the Plaisirs Partagés collective exhibition. As we fence ourselves inside our city homes, less and less of our lives is known to the ones on the other side of the street, or the other side of the wall, but curiosity remains. Most of us have the urge to peak into the lives of others if we get the chance. Would you have looked in if you happened to live in the house on the other side of the street? I know I would have. Would we have shared an awkward moment, being caught, or a pleasure, sharing the unspoken truth about our curiosity?

Ken

This week I made a selection of photographs made in Belgium for a collective exhibition in March, based on the theme "shared pleasures" and I came across this old favorite of mine. I shot this a couple of years ago at my youngest sister's wedding. My then still future brother in law was enjoying a cigarette outside, before going to city hall for the civil cerimony itself, and since I'd recently quit smoking I couldn't share with him the pleasure of a smoke. Instead, we shared this intimate moment, of which I'm also a part, as you can clearly see my hand on the camera in the upper right, reflected in the window of their home. I think the look on his face is great, and the slightly blurred effect shooting through the window only emphasizes this.

Ferry

 This is the ferry boat across the Tagus river. It takes thousands of people into Lisbon every morning and back out again in the evening to Almada, or as we jokingly say amongst friends: Morocco. The weekend edition, as seen here, is less cramped, and there's a couple of very nice restaurants on the other side of the river, where they serve small fried squid.

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.