Portraits of Light - Photo © 2009 Matthew Sa

The organization of the "Festival Internacional de Paraty in Focus Photography 2009" is at full boil, with very solid prospects, indicating that this edition will be the richest, and plural of the four past; one of the main features of the 2009 version of the festival is concerned with decentralization of the Brazilian photography, vastly rich but unknown by most.
Some states (Rio Grande do Sul, Rio, Sao Paulo and Bahia), which has focused the attention of exhibitors and publishers, the company now has a high quality photography that reaches, causing trouble in other states. Galleries and specialized media begin to realize the importance of photography done in places such as Para, Ceara, Parana and Minas Gerais, among others.
But the movement has been the most substantial of Pernambuco. Effervescence of talent, young or already established, the photographer does Pernambuco Union its greatest strength, and collectively determine ways compelling and important for the Brazilian photography. Where more than 23 photographers would unite to do something like the group Vixemarias , Pernambuco first project consist solely of women to discuss the art of photography?
This in 2004!
Therefore, the Paraty in Focus this year will have a "Special Night Photography Pernambuco", with the presence of Queiroga Eduardo , Alexandre Belém , Pius Figueroa and Rodrigo Braga ; throughout the week, the presence of Plural Art Gallery as a guest, exposing photographers Pernambuco, Alexandre Belém, the "Look, see" interviewing alongside Eder Chiodetto photographers Alexandre Sequeira (PA) and Rodrigo Braga (PE), who will talk about "shooting and self-representation"; Cia de Foto (which has the Pernambuco Pius Figueroa as one of its members) participating as much as respondents, as animating the night ballads of Paraty.
Pernambuco to all over the place!

© 2009 Gustavo Bettini

I personally have an increasingly strong link with Recife, is always kind hosted by Fernando Neves and Luciana, the Art Plural , to participate in workshops, discussions and conversations cameras, either through regional Fototech , I have known and I delighted with the material produced by local photographers. Some have become my friends, like Gustavo Bettini , Alexandre Belém and Fernando Neves , others I began to wonder, as Roberta Guimaraes (AESO photography teacher and founder of the agency Imago), and Georgia Farms (PhD in Anthropology from the University of Salamanca and author of the excellent book "Man Ray and the Image of Women" ).

"Man Ray" Georgia Farm

At the grave risk of neglecting important names, out of pure ignorance on my part, I agree the recent work I have seen and I are very impressed:

• Stubborn Brasilia, the Barbara Wagner
• Fish, Claudia Jacobovitz
• Overlays, Eduardo Queiroga
• Inframargem, Gustavo Bettini
• Portraits of Light, Matthew Sa
• In the hands of Priscilla Buhr

Of course with the distance, it is easier to follow what happens there through photographic blogs Pernambuco, which are many and excellent; highlight here the now famous "Look, see," in Bethlehem , the "AF AF" of Afonso Jr , the "Fotograficaminhamente" from Luciana Cavalcanti , the "image of the inside and outside," Farms of Georgia , and of course the Cia de Foto , which although not totally Pernambuco, is a must.

And speaking of blogs, divulge firsthand the good news; during Paraty in Focus, will be the 1st Meeting of the Blogosphere Photo, innovative project that, "It will be diverse and collaborative, a place to enjoy beautiful pictures and revel in thoughts in many different heads. A photo blog in the blogosphere refractory that the country has today. "The blog definitely will air this week.
Like it?
So do not miss the Flickr Paraty , with some photos of participants and guests, as is already out and about!

UPDATE: For those who are questioning the choice of images, it seems obvious: the birth of a new contemporary photography.
UPDATE: For those who want to read a full review of Juan Esteves on the book of Georgia, just click here!

Photo: Cia de Foto

In closing, Alexandre Belém sends me this little text-statement, which I reproduce below:
"Undoubtedly, Alcir Lacerda (His Alcir) is our most important photographer still active. Great photographer, is Alcir His reference. He photojournalism, photos of society, marriage, and advertising. It has beautiful scenery and its black and white are beautiful. Directly or indirectly, Your Alcir had an effective participation in the formation of a generation in which I include myself. Since 1957, the laboratory maintains ACE Movies. I attended almost daily, the ACE when he did not have my lab. Daily, carried the film, seeking contact and returned to copy.
The Photography Pernambuco, in the last forty years, was closely linked to photojournalism and editorial offices. Analyzing a story line, most photographers Pernambuco has passed or has some connection with the compositions.
In the early '90s, came the Imago Photography. It started the concept of photo agency in the state. Imago was formed by Breno Laprovítera, Fred Jordan, Daniel Berinson Jarbas Junior and Roberto Guimaraes. All passed through the Jornal do Commercio. In 1995, there Lumiar Photography which was formed by photographers Leo Caldas, Geyson Great, Eduardo and I Queiroga. Lumiar was a milestone in photography Pernambuco to get the communication vehicles of the Southeast "trust" in the professional from the northeast. Lumiar then goes on to meet the demands of editorial guidelines (from outside) in the state and the northeast.
Today, twenty years later, many of the photographers still go and form in newsrooms. A wonderful generation.
I'll name names, knowing that many forget, forgive me: Bob Figueroa, Matthew Sá, Gustavo Bettini, Alcione Ferreira, Mark Michael, Rodrigo Lobo, Chico Port, Barbara Wagner, Helder Tavares, Arnaldo Carvalho, Alexander Severus, etc., etc.. Some, already settled in other states, as Pius Figueroa, Gilvan Barreto, Heudes Regis (RN of birth) and Ricardo Labastier.
In parallel, we have authors who work with photography masterfully, as Rodrigo Braga and Bruno Vilela. And a generation that I think will shine in the coming years (in fact, are already standing out). This is the case of Priscilla Buhr, Fernanda Mafra, Dantas Bernard and Claudia Jacobovitz. "