Even though sometimes these images might give the wrong impression of there existing an abundance of space in this city, of huge skies and clouds that stretch from east to west, whilst on the ground, all the buildings seem to be resigned to their fate, not unlike passengers in a packed metro during rush-hour... this false perception of "natural

space" is nothing more than that, a false perception.

Down there in the asphalt, the windless, car-choked and polluted streets make no sense as motorbikes zoom by in between lanes, kicking any rear view mirror that might happen to be left in their way. Down there, on the sizzling asphalt, there is definitely no sense of an abundance of space.

Go inwards, Breathe. Carry on.

or go mad.

São Paulo is a dense City. It almost has no horizon, you have to fight your way upwards to see the infinite line that our mind so craves us to ponder.

In these series, I worked photographs taken atop high rise buildings, trying to capture the Horizon as an almost, mythical "entity" .

Stop. Breathe, Look up. Look up. see?

Be. Be still.

Be.

  

Afternoon Thoughts

Sometimes, the magic capacity to "freeze time", that photography has given us still, at times, falls short in truly capturing the "essence" of a person, their innate vibrant energy and dazzling beauty that radiates from within...that, to me, is "true" beauty. 

When you spend time with someone, you can read their eyes, you understand their movements and react to their breathing.

This intimacy is what a profound connection is based upon.

The fearless exchange of energies, the abandon of masks and walls, the revelation of one's authentic self, in its totality and without the fear of judgment...and... as the shields drop and two people create a space of safety and security, of revealing one to another who we are, who we truly are.. in a moment of complete acceptance and non-judgment.

These moments are rare, yet exceedingly beautiful...

It was in a space co-create by us, that I was able to later capture the "authenticity that lies beneath the hundreds of masks, fears and misplaced ideas of self".

This is my favourite portrait.

I will forever have immense gratitude, love and a deep appreciation and intimate understanding of what it feels like when two people , fearlessly , reveal their souls to each other.

It matters not what the question is; LOVE will always be the answer.

Forever grateful for your existence, Nay, <3

If you've ever visited SP in the last 6 years, I'm sure you've hear of the bohemian neighbouhood called: Vila Madalena.

It was my home pretty much from 2012 to 2022.

I saw it grow from a "drugged up bunch of hippies" to the 13th "coolest spot in Time Out Magazine.

This manipulated photograph taken by myself (as all my imagers are) was shot when " Armazem da Cidade" was in full flow. 

There, every weekend, you had fake grass on the asphalt, a live jazz band and unlimited booze flowing, whilst people (and their pets) sat on beach chairs and enjoyed the vibe.

It was a wonderful time.

This, colourful, vibrant image , to me, describes the neighbourhood perfectly.

If you've been there before, you know what I mean...

If you haven't, please go, but be warned, as most things in Brazil, so called "capitalism" has taken root, and the artists who once lived and made the place so flamboyant and unique have been driven out by real estate developers and rising rent. 

Still, it is one of my favorite places for a stroll and a chat with random people.

Highly recommend.

Vila Madalena

In a metropolis of over 20 million people, with its immense labyrinth made of concrete, asphalt, human debris, rampant misery and the largest "open air, tolerated, urban area of drug use in the world", known as "Cracolândia" , São Paulo can seem at times a bleak habitat. 

When I first moved here from the UK, it only dawned on me that I had not SEEN the Horizon for almost 4 months, after I was invited to a high-rise apartment to meet some friends. 

Looking out of the window, I was in awe, at not only the artificial beauty of the view, but in complete hypnosis whilst looking out into the darkening sky.

That's when I took this picture.

Evenin'

My characteristic take on a Winter stroll through NYC.

This is one of a number of images that I had the joy of capturing whilst in NY for my first exhibition in the city, circa 2016.

The Photographs I made during this time, still to this day, serve me with much creative potential, and thus, I am continuously working on the Series.

Although the image can be printed on Fine Art Paper, personally, I prefer these types of my work to be printed on cotton canvas, stretched over and around a wooden chassis.

The inherent textures found on cotton canvas gives the final work a more "classic" finish , even though the image itself has been carefully and intentionally, digitally corrupted.

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Tomaz Favilla