YEMANJA - BRAZILIAN CARNAVAL DANCER/GODDESS

YEMANJA - BRAZILIAN CARNAVAL DANCER/GODDESS

Last night,during a talk I gave at the Toronto Camera Club I was asked this question: of all the photos that I've made what is my personal favourite? The answer is the photo above. Why? because for me it emanates the soul, the beauty, and the power of Brazil.....in short, the power of the revered Brazilian Orisha Yemanja. 

Maracatu dancer during Carnaval in Olinda, Pernambuco, Brazil

Maracatu dancer during Carnaval in Olinda, Pernambuco, Brazil

During Carnaval I was asked to photograph a Maracatu musical group in Olinda, which is near Recife in the Northeast of Brazil. Maracatu's rhythmic sound is driven by a powerful percussion section and this is one of their dancers photographed at dusk. I used a 50mm lens wide open with tri x film and floated beside her to make this image.
She had an aura of sensuous majesty that I will never forget. Like the beloved Yemanja.