Chão que não se pisa não dá fruto

Ao longo de quatro meses, percorri um território que me é familiar — o Pinhal Interior — fora da época e das câmaras. Longe do foco noticioso que só chega quando arde, este projecto nasceu da necessidade de mostrar o que existe no intervalo: o abandono, o silêncio, e uma relação entre pessoas, lugares e natureza em contínua desertificação.

O título vem da terra, de quem lá fica e de quem partiu. O Pinhal Interior é um território marcado pelo ciclo de exploração da matéria-prima — levantada no Inverno, devastada no Verão. Quis registar esse período esquecido do ano, e as pessoas e lugares que nele persistem.

Este projecto foi desenvolvido no âmbito da Masterclass Narrativa 2025/2026, orientada pelo fotógrafo Mário Cruz, onde, juntamente com Catarina Cesário Jesus , Catia Valente, Denis Graeff, Fernando Pimenta e Raquel Antunes, desenvolvemos cada um o seu projecto fotográfico.

A lone cross stands amidst a foggy, wooded landscape, creating an eerie and mysterious atmosphere.A moody, overcast scene depicts a concrete terrace with a white plastic chair, a broom, a hanging cloth, and a flag, set against a backdrop of mountains and leafless trees.An elderly person wearing a hat sits on a couch draped with a blue cover, in a dimly lit room.A small television displaying static is mounted above lace curtains in a dimly lit room.A large pile of sand or sawdust is situated in front of an industrial building.

Time to close this chapter...

The last few months, since October, have been intense. I’ve taken very few photos outside my work at Masterclass Narrativa⁠, as most of my energy went there, leaving little for anything else.

It started with outlining and shaping the key ideas of the project; then came the weeks in the field—trying, failing, and trying again. After that, the final edit gave it its form. And finally, the pleasure of sharing it.

Now that chapter is behind me: the exhibition has ended, the photos are packed away, and this iteration of the project is closed. That doesn’t mean it’s over—quite the opposite. It’s meant to continue, and there’s still more I want to show.

But there is a sense of closure. A moment to look back on the path, what I’ve learned, and the people I’ve met along the way.

It really was a great trip.

White tape pieces arranged in an abstract geometric shape with the name João Pedro Almeida below.A minimalist, empty room with wooden flooring and a ceiling featuring linear recessed lighting.Several blank and wrapped canvases are stacked against a white wall on a tiled floor.

Hoje é o último dia para ver a exposição da Masterclass Narrativa 25/26, das 14 até às 17. Eu vou estar por lá, apareçam!

Ping pong

Two white picnic tables are placed amidst trees and grass, partially obscured by branches.

Ontem foi dia de todos partilharmos um pouco mais dos nossos projectos, e o seu processo, muito obrigado a todos os que nos vieram ouvir. A agora começa já a sentir a final de festa, esta semana é a última da exposição da Masterclass Narrativa, desta quarta até sábado, o último dia. Vemo-nos lá.

Ainda a propósito da Masterclass, eu e os meus companheiros falámos para o Podcast Narrativa sobre os nossos projectos. Neste episódio podem ouvir a Raquel Antunes, o Fernando Pimenta e a mim. Em breve a parte 2, e dia 11 haverá uma conversa com os seis na Narrativa.

Two very unrelated photos from today: one taken right after I left home, the other just before I returned.

A person sitting on a chair outdoors is feeding a baby, surrounded by people carrying shopping bags.A cityscape at dusk features neon signs, including a cartoon character slurping noodles, with modern buildings in the background.

Just a random red window

A dimly lit building exterior is illuminated by red light from inside, with a window displaying a bright digital screen showing text.

The good thing of returning early from your Morocco trip is that you have the rest of the day to do your chores…

…like starting to importing your photos.

A laptop displaying a photo editing or organization application is positioned in front of a TV showing a racing event.

A bit of randomness from the past few weeks, where the only thing in common is that none of these photos is related with the project that grabbed my attention for months, not even taken in the same region. The fact all that shifted into the process of editing and setting up the exhibit that’s now live (see what I did here?) kind of let my eye look elsewhere.

Meanwhile, the Masterclass exhibit with mine and my colleagues projects will remain at Narrativa in Lisbon until April 18.

A cluttered pile of clothes and fabric partially obscures an old-fashioned corded telephone in dim lighting.A person is walking through a shadowy passageway with sunlight streaming through openings, illuminating parts of the scene.A storefront window displays multiple torso mannequins standing and stacked on shelves.A tall building stands illuminated against a twilight sky, surrounded by trees and a dimly lit parking area.A window set in a stone wall displays red neon text partially reading THE MISSING POEM IS.Two people are observing a religious procession where participants in purple robes carry ornate banners.A woman taking a selfie is visible through the window of a yellow tram, while a man in sunglasses stands outside.A coiled cable rests on metal beams by the water, with a bright orange barrier and a ship visible in the background.A person is sitting in the back of a car, visible through a rain-covered window.A dimly lit loading dock at a large, dark warehouse is illuminated by a single overhead light.