The mesh of life in Jurujuba

The Mesh of Life in Jurujuba

Brazil | Monday, November 7, 2011 | 5 photos

I’m someone who hasn’t yet made the pieces of my life come together and actualize what I’m meant to do in this world. My two greatest passions of photography and travel remain hobbies, while I know in my heart that they should be so much more. I just haven’t figured out how to make it happen yet.


I’m taking the stepping stones, currently working as a marketer in travel industry. I look at photos of travel everyday in my job, but yearn to be the one taking them. Travel grounds me and photographing my experiences infuses me with inspiration.


When taking photos abroad, I try to get to know the heart of where I visit. I am drawn to the people that give a place its life and the intricacies of the environments in which they live. This means stepping out of my comfort zone to be a participant in that life instead of an observer. Nothing pushes me more than capturing a genuine moment with someone and knowing the person was not just looking at my camera, but connecting with me personally. My dream is to pursue that full-time and share my experiences with the world. I just need an opportunity to get my foot in the door.


This is a story of Jurujuba, a small fishing village in the state of Rio de Janeiro. In this tiny corner of the world, life moves at a slower pace and with a beautiful simplicity. Without much in the way of possessions, the people of Jurujuba have created a wealth through community. Wandering through its lane-ways, I encountered remarkable people and attempted to capture the personality of this historic neighbourhood. Jurujuba left me with a heightened belief of the important things that make life worth living – community, relationships and passion.