[ Moonlight ]

The Moon has kept me company since the early days, but it was only about 10 years ago I fell in love with her. Believed to be a goddess by the ancient, ruler of the tides, master of most living creatures reproductive cycles, our closest celestial body, and she lives off the sun to remind us that in the mist of darkness, light persists...

From twilight to dawn, my eye follows her beauty in the skies, looking for comfort and guidance in long nights spent driving, working, partying. After todays storm, I would have never imagined to be able to capture this. I was closing the blinds for the evening, and all of a sudden, I saw the reflexion come in through the window. I jumped outside and saw her, between racing clouds carried by the strong winds we're still having here... Then finally, there she is.

An old legend says that the Moon was once part of a glacier that was let go from a mountain on Earth after falling in love with the Sun... The Sun and Moon were happy dancing around in the skies, happy for having found their mates, until the day that the Moon got homesick from the mountain that had embraced her for so long. "You can't return, my love, your are now a part of the sky", the Sun said, and the Moon replied with tears "I shall try to return... Do not think I love the mountains any more than I love you, but this is something I must do...". "I understand, and I will not let you leave my heart", said the Sun, "every day you try to return to the mountains, I will follow. When you decide that you no longer wish to search for the mountains I will be behind you, waiting with my heart open for you. Whenever you feel you cannot continue, turn around and return to me."

From that day, the Moon has searched for the mountains of her youth, and the Sun followed... The Sun has never stopped following the Moon, and he never will, in a never ending proof of his love.

[ Where is my love? ]

Maria Bethânia is a 63 year old brazilian singer, youngest sister of the mythical composer Caetano Veloso, and one of the most charismatic singers I've ever had the chance see perform... Her figure, her barefoot catlike pose, the heart that she puts in to her songs and poems sweep you away during any of her shows.

These ones were taken in a magical night in Lisbon, on March 5th 2009, and once again, straight off the camera...

Can't help to share the translated lyrics of one of my favorite songs from this magnificent artist. Only one who knows what true, deep and passionate love is, can write and sing something like this...

Since this night will end And the sun will shine again I am thinking about you... Where is my love? Is he awake like I am? Is he calling out like I am? Is he asking about me? Where is my love? If the night voice answers Where am I, where are you We are here inside us Alone... Where is my love? If the night voice silences A sun ray will take me A sun ray will bring him Where is my love?

[ Guardian angel ]

Hey big guy.

You know I've sent you on a mission, there's someone you need to take care of night and day, and it's my wish that you keep it that way... You need to wrap her in your fluffy white wings when she's sleeping, keep bad dreams away from her, hold her hand when she's crossing the street, keep her warm even if it's snowing, fan her with the tip of your wings when it's hot...

You shouldn't have left her side, you never know when she's going to need you, and I really should be upset with you, but... thank you for taking the time to be on my side today.

Now go back to her before I really get pissed, ok?

[ Soul mates ]

This weekend was an emotional one. It's so hard to live your live the way your heart tells you to, to stand up for what you believe in, to realize that your "head is bloody, but unbowed"... It's hard never to walk away from a fight, never turning your back, but it's just the way I am.

On my way back from Viana do Castelo, I stopped near the Castelo do Queijo, for a walk, to see the ocean clashing on to the rocks, to get a glimpse of the Moon peaking between the clouds, and then I saw this... These are the ruins of the old CLIP (Luso-Internacional College of Porto), half buried in the sand, beat down with graffiti's, but still standing, still proud, the light still shining upon it... The words sounded in my head "I thank whatever gods may be for my unconquerable soul", and more than that, I know my soul is not alone...

I had already described before what I feel about soul mates, but this one looks like it was tailor made for me and for "Light Persists":

"From every human being rises a light that reaches straight to heaven. And when two souls are destined to be together find each other, their streams of light flow together and a single brighter light goes forth from their united being..." Unknown

[ Invictus ]

 

"Out of the night that covers me, Black as the Pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul. In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud. Under the bludgeonings of chance My head is bloody, but unbowed. Beyond this place of wrath and tears Looms but the Horror of the shade, And yet the menace of the years Finds, and shall find, me unafraid. It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll. I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul."

William Ernest Henley

[ Supernova ]

Some opportunities just can't be missed. This was taken in my car today, driving on the freeway... Don't worry, I stopped to take it, and I'm glad I did! Collecting sunsets and sunrises is something that I have been doing for a long time, and following my inspiration, these winter skies have been capturing my eye... 

Supernova is the first thing that comes to my mind looking at this photo, a huge explosion of energy that you wish you could wield and do with it what you pleased... Some people believe that the power of the mind is unlimited. I just believe that if you put your mind to it, there is nothing you can't do... And today was one of those days!

[ Countryside ]

I remember this evening perfectly.

Mid August, sitting in Cutelo, Viana do Castelo, barbeque, nice red wine, nice talk, and a clear warm summer evening. I got up to stretch my legs, and this was right in front of me, on the backyard where we were all having fun...

I love the flowers in the foreground, the light posts, the horizon lit with city lights... but above all, I love to remember the laughs that were going on the background! No matter what road you chose to follow, it's always easier when you have friends to light your way...

[ Happiness ]

Paris, Place Vendôme, January 01st 2007, at 8pm.

The first day of that year was a rainy one. We didn't care... The New Year party got cancelled, and the police had to come to keep the mob from pulling the organizers' head off. We didn't care... The first minutes of this year were spent in traffic in the middle of the Trocadero Square, standing outside our car. We didn't care... Ended up eating a steak at 3am in an Hippopotamus restaurant somewhere. We didn't care... But then again, we don't have a single daylight photo from those vacations... We still don't care.

[ Godspeed ]

Some might say that fashion is a superficial thing, that people shouldn't be judged by the way they look, but by their character. I truly believe that a persons character is the most important thing, much more than the looks, but fashion is for me a form of visually expressing your taste, it's the way you light up a room when you enter, the way that you show people what you love and who you are.

The world is darker today, with the passing of Lee McQueen.

I wont dare to post one of my photos, all of them pale compared to the brightness of this designer so, I leave you the post I wrote for the SG Representations blog, some photos of this artist and his work.

"No words can describe what we felt when we received the news of Lee McQueen's, founder and designer of Alexander McQueen brand. We respect the family's wishes, mentioning only that, with only 40 years of age, Lee McQueen is unanimously considered a genius, a visionary in the fashion world, and personally, one of our favorite designers of all times... Where ever you are, our thoughts and profound sadness are with you, and we know that the world is less colorful now that you have chosen to leave us. Your work remains, and it will be spoken of long after all of us are just a memory. Wherever your trip is taking you, we just say: Godspeed Alexander McQueen."

[ Back to writing ]

Took some time to get all my ideas sorted out, and it's really been too long, but finally, I got back to writing on my journal. Just ending volume #2, and can't wait to move on to the next one...

This journal is written much in the same way that we all live our lives. I never cross over a word that I write, even if I wrote it by mistake. And some times that mistake can take one or two pages to explain and correct. Life, like this journal, would be easier if we could cross over some parts, and highlight others, but then again, it wouldn't have the same taste... and even if it takes a whole volume, one thing is certain: in the mist of darkness, light persists...

[ Storm ]

When I said on the previous post that this would be a day to remember, I guess I should have been more specific...

These photos were taken this morning, capturing a storm coming in and hitting the mouth of river Douro, with waves clashing against the mole and rising in an explosion of water. It's also amazing how quickly a storm can move from the ocean, through a city, and into your heart, turning a day that started with excitement, in one that ended in grief.

"You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed. You are responsible for your rose.", said Antoine Saint-Exupéry in The Little Prince, and it's funny that only yesterday I had remembered these very same words. These are words I live by, in friendship and in love. No one knows the future, but I do know that my future is what I make of it,  and I may not know where I'm going, but I do know what I want.

[ Flying to the sun ]

I got up today, looked out the window and realized this was going to be a day to remember... Got out and took so many photos, I don't even know where to start... Well, I do. This one feels just perfect to me.

In these days, that I'm wishing that teleportation had already been invented, having wings wouldn't be a bad thing either...

[ Tiger ]

Meet Tiger. Even though [ Golden Heart ] makes much more sense today, this should probably be my profile picture...

Why Tiger? Well, I just learned that there is a chinese legend that says that when someone is born, a red string is tied by the gods on his foot, and the other end is tied on the foot of their soulmate. Along their lives, the string can tangle, or can stretch, but it will never break, and all you have to do is follow that string...

I describe it in a different way... I truly believe that the world is made of soul mates, perfect couples that were scattered across an imperfect world by a God that to me is a bit of a spoiled brat. And when one of these couples meets, when a Tiger meets a Princess, a miracle takes place, and all that's left is the wonderfull light that blinds us, guides us, and makes us one again...

Well this Tiger loves to linger in the sun, loves to write his thoughts on little black notebooks, loves to travel the world, loves design, loves fashion, loves gourmet meals, and above all, loves a Princess, and Princess, I just can't take my eyes off you...

[ Holding hands ]

The road trip day to Lisbon last week, was filled with gorgeous heart filling sunlight. Even though I captured some nice photos from details and landmarks, my eye got caught by the people enjoying the cool sunny day.

Having a nice coup of coffee in the sun is a perfect way to start the day... or you could maybe take a break and read the newspaper on a garden bench... or taking some photos on a visit to a foreign city with your friends... but for me, it was the old couple holding hands that really brought a smile to my face, especially when he took the time waiting to cross the street to give her a cuddle. Love knows no boundaries, no ages, and holding hands always makes a difference...

[ Sunday sky ]

Last sunday I was sitting at home, having some fun on the web, and absolutely by accident got to look out the window: I just love the drama of the Winter skies here in Porto, watching storm fronts go by, ready to break, while the gorgeous sun tries to break through... Watching the seagulls flying into dry land looking for some shelter... And watching it all fade away has, in the mist of darkness, light persists.

I already had the chance to explain my personal view about photography and digital enhancement that you can do on the images you capture. Call me lucky, or call me foolish, but these photos are right off the camera, exactly the way I saw it...  

[ Friendship ]

Meet Paulo, the author of the famous words "love and a hut is enough... if the hut is Chanel...".

Mahatma Gandhi once said “Whatever you do is insignificant, but it is very important that you do it!”. No one can walk the path you are about start, and even though it's really insignificant, this is my way of telling you that no matter what, I'm going to be here for you.

Godspeed my friend.