Bragança, Portugal - Feb. 1984

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Shot with Leica M2 and M3 cameras

Kodak Tri-x and Ilford HP-5 film

Kodak D-76 developer, 1+1

Scanner Epson 4990 Photo

Location: Bragança

Date: Feb. 1984

 

 

 

 

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Eye Contact

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Barbara, 1989

 

 

Carol, 1989

 

 

 

João, 1987

 

 

Jorge, 1989

 

 

Jorge, 1986

 

 

Luís, 1987

 

 

Mariana + Rui, 1988

 

 

Mário, 1997

 

 

Sara, 2000

 

 

Stephen, 1989

 

 

Uschi, 1989

 

Photographed with Hasselblad cameras + Sonnar 150mm

 

 

 

Technical Data:

Cameras - Hasselblad 500 C/M + 500 EL/M

Lens - Carl Zeiss Sonnar f/4 - 150mm

Films - Agfa Pan 400, Agfa APX 400, Ilford HP5, Kodak TMax 100, Kodak TMax-400

Developers - Agfa Rodinal, Kodak D-76, Kodak Microdol-X, Kodak TMax

Location - Aveiro, Carnaxide, Heidelberg, Lisboa

Scanner - Epson 4990

 

 

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Memphis Slim - Heidelberg, Stadthalle, November 1976 (Minolta SR-T 101)

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I was lucky enough to have the chance of watching a concert by Memphis Slim, back in the days I lived in Heidelberg, Germany.

Together with fellow singer/pianist Champion Jack Dupree − whom I had the chance to see in Münster a couple of years before, unfortunately without having a camera with me −, he was one of those blues singers/piano players which records I used to listen to, over and over again.

Like all the other great blues performers from that era – John Lee Hooker, Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, Jimmy Reed, Sunnyland Slim, Bukka White, Otis Spann, B.B. King −, Memphis Slim had such a distinctive voice, such a unique style!, you were bound to instantly recognize who was coming out of those loudspeakers!

So many styles, so many voices…

Nothing but the blues, the whole blues, blues for breakfast, blues for dinner, blues in the morning, blues at night!

 

 

 

 

 

Frenchman Michel Denis accompanied on drums.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is one of the first rolls of film that I have ever developed! Back in 1976!

It was all new and magic, I was overwhelmed with enchantment!

Because of the poor light conditions, I had to rate my meter at iso 1600, a true nightmare in those days. Film – which rated speed was 400 − would need extended development, shadows would become underexposed losing detail, highlights would get too dense losing tone separation, grain would become coarse, contrast would sometimes raise out of control…

Ah, but what a fun it was to feel all those expectations!

No need and no chance to stare constantly at those LCD monitors! One had to be attentive to detail and have  a certain dose of luck and hope…

 

 

 

Photographs taken with Minolta SR-T 101

 

 

I wish to dedicate this post to my friend Fred, he and his wife celebrate birthday today.

We used very often to stay awaken the whole night through, we would jive and listen to a bunch of records, we would have a couple of drinks and wait for sunrise.

Our hearts were full of hope for a better world for everyone!

Happy birthday, and long live the blues!

 

 

 

Technical Data:

Camera - Minolta SR-T 101

Lenses - Minolta Rokkor

Film - Ilford HP5 (before the Plus version!)

Developer - Ilford Microphen

Date - November 11, 1976

Location - Heidelberg (Stadthalle), Germany

Scanner - Epson 4990

 

 

 

 

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Alfama, Lisbon - July 1987

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Hasselblad 500 EL/M + Carl Zeiss lenses

Ilford HP-5 + Kodak T-Max 400

developed in Kodak D-76 1+1

Alfama, Lisbon - July 1987

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Gente Humilde

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Lisboa, Alfama, 1987
(Hasselblad 500 EL/M+Carl Zeiss Distagon)

"Gente Humilde" - Garoto / Vinicius de Moraes / Chico Buarque


Tem certos dias em que eu penso em minha gente
E sinto assim todo o meu peito se apertar
Porque parece que acontece de repente
Como um desejo de eu viver sem me notar

Igual a como quando eu passo no subúrbio
Eu muito bem, vindo de trem, de algum lugar
E aí me dá uma inveja dessa gente
Que vai em frente, sem nem ter com que contar

São casas simples, com cadeiras na calçada
E na fachada escrito em cima que é um lar
Pela varanda, flores tristes e baldias
Como a alegria que não tem onde encostar

E aí me dá uma tristeza no meu peito
Feito um despeito de eu não ter como lutar
E eu que não creio, peço a Deus por minha gente
É gente humilde, que vontade de chorar


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Industrielandschaften - Mannheim, Deutschland, November 1985

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Three years later, also on November, but on a very dissimilar mood from my previuos post, I felt an urge to shoot urban landscapes.

The Rhein (Rhine) and Neckar rivers are the home of one of the most important European inland ports, spreading around the German towns of Mannheim and Ludwigshafen.

I decided on medium format equipment for the task, bringing along the Hasselblad 500 EL/M and the Rolleiflex T.

Wish I had done these photographs in large format, but that was still zukunftsmusik...

So, will you please excuse me for some inaccurate perspective?

Shot with Hasselblad 500 EL/M + Rolleiflex T

Technical Data:
Cameras - Hasselblad 500 EL/M + Rolleiflex T
Lenses - Carl Zeiss Tessar, Planar or Sonnar (Distagon?)
Film - Kodak Tri-X + Ilford HP5
Developer - Kodak D-76 1+1
Location - Mannheim, Germany (last one on the border to Ludwigshafen)
Date - November 1985
Scanner - Epson Perfection 4990 Photo

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