BATISMO

In 2019, I spent six weeks traveling through Brazil as part of BATISMO — a long-form photography project created with photographer Gleeson Paulino.

The project emerged from immersion: moving through cities, landscapes, and eventually deep into the Amazon, where indigenous communities continue to live in close relationship with nature. My role was art direction and narrative curation, shaping how the images speak together as a body of work.

Art Direction • Visual Curation • Narrative Development

Immersion as Method

BATISMO was not approached as a documentary in the traditional sense, but as a sensory experience. Time, presence, and observation shaped the work. The journey itself became the framework for the narrative.

Being in Brazil for the first time, I was deeply affected by the intensity of the land, the people, and the energy, elements that became central to the visual language of the project.

A solitary tree growing out of the water with lush green foliage and a person sitting on one of the branches, overlooking the water under cloudy skies.
Man with dark hair, wearing yellow sunglasses and a shell necklace, swimming in the ocean with blue water and ripples.
View of a dark, narrow rocky stream or creek with water flowing through it, surrounded by large dark rocks, with part of a person's hand visible at the bottom of the image.
Two fluffy pom-pom hats, one beige and one orange, worn by a person with their back facing the camera, dressed in a tiger-print garment, with a blurred brick background.
A blue basin placed on a small platform in a swampy area surrounded by dark water, trees, and dense vegetation.
A woman with wet black hair resting in dark water with only her head and shoulders visible.
Two young boys are lying back in clear water of a stream or river, with rocks and dark water surrounding them. They appear relaxed and are enjoying the water.
Back view of a person with short hair wearing a blue rosary necklace with a cross, standing in front of rusty, large machinery.
A person leaning on a fallen tree trunk in a clear, greenish-blue body of water, with branches and dark rocks in the background.
Person holding a transparent umbrella, with balloons in shades of pink, green, and white in the background.
A soursop fruit resting on a colorful floral pillow on the grass with shadowed background.
Three women with black hair, wearing traditional woven skirts, embracing each other in front of a wooden background.
A person with a shaved head and dark skin covering one eye with both hands, photographed in black and white with dramatic lighting.
A person with dark, curly hair sitting outdoors, with shadows of a palm leaf cast across their back and shoulder, and a blurred background of beige sand or ground.
Person wearing a green shirt with an image and text on it, and holding their hands together in front of their midsection.
A turtle shell and part of a turtle's head hanging from strings, suspended above a stone and sandy ground.
Dark green, glossy leaves with water droplets, growing in a natural environment.
A colorful umbrella with pink and purple flowers is open on a concrete surface near a dark blue wall.
A young boy wearing a blue and gray cap with a cross embroidery, leaning his head on his hands, inside a vehicle. Part of the steering wheel and dashboard are visible in the foreground.
A yellow leaf resting on a dark, layered background that resembles ice or polished surface, with a contrasting blue hue.
Close-up of tangled, weathered tree roots with warm lighting highlighting the rough texture of the wood.
Close-up of a white horse's face, focusing on its eye, part of its nose, and some strands of white hair.
Close-up of a swirling pattern of black and white liquid, creating a marbled effect.
A person lying in a boat on a calm river, with water reflecting the surrounding trees and foliage.
A man with curly hair and a beard holding a religious picture of Jesus Christ, wearing a green sports jersey with blue accents.
A person climbing sand dunes beside a body of water, with a partly cloudy sky overhead.
Silhouette of a man walking on a beach at sunset with a fishing rod in the distance and a colorful sky in the background.
Close-up of a car rearview mirror with a black cross-shaped charm hanging from a chain, and a blurred background of vehicle lights.
A clear quartz crystal with a pointed tip, resting on a dark yellow surface inside a confined space with brown walls.
Close-up of muddy water with small green plants and patches of foam on the surface.
Close-up of a person's head with long, straight black hair and a hand touching the hair, against a brown textured background.
A green glass bottle with a cork stopper, containing a plant with green leaves, placed on a wooden surface against a background with a light-colored wall and a shadow cast on it.
Close-up of dried, brown, and gray aloe vera leaves with serrated edges, overlapping each other.
A small yellow flower with a dark center among brownish leaves and foliage.
A close-up of a person with short dark hair, viewed from the back, with a snake draped over their shoulder. The person is glistening with water and is standing outdoors with a wooden background.
A brown leaf with multiple circular holes lies on a sandy, dirt ground scattered with small rocks and twigs.
A person with dark skin and braided hair resting their head on crossed arms, with a large green leaf in the foreground. The background appears to be a textured wooden surface.
A small leafy green plant emerging from a calm body of water with a reflective surface, creating a mirror image of the plant.
A blue rosary with a cross pendant resting on a person's chest.
Shadow of a person's head and leafy plants cast on a beige floor.
Close-up of someone holding a bowl of eggs, sitting on a colorful patterned fabric, with red and orange striped fabric in the background.
A group of indigenous people in traditional attire, with feathered headpieces and body decorations, gather in a dense jungle setting. They are positioned on fallen logs and among thick vegetation.

WATER, RITUAL And life

Visual Narrative & Art Direction

As art director and visual curator, my role was to shape the overall narrative and emotional rhythm of the project. I focused on how individual images relate to one another, guiding tone, pacing, and cohesion.

Textures, light, gestures, and atmosphere were key. Rather than aiming for explanation, the imagery invites feeling, allowing space for ambiguity, intimacy, and reflection.

At the heart of BATISMO lies a celebration of water as a source of life, ritual, and connection. Through the lens of the Amazon and its communities, the project reflects on belonging, spirituality, and humanity’s relationship with nature, without intrusion or spectacle.

Respect and humility guided every creative decision.

Two individuals are submerged in water, relaxing with their eyes closed, near rocks with moss and water bubbles visible.
A person wearing a lace shawl and a gray head covering stands near a body of water with green foliage in the background.
A large sea creature, likely a whale, partially submerged in dark blue ocean water with visible ripples and waves.
Person holding a fan with an image of Jesus Christ on it, against a green shirt or fabric background.
A person with dark skin and short, curly hair taking a shower. Water is cascading down their face and shoulders with their eyes closed.
A human hand extended with fingers pointed downward, reaching towards a surface reflecting numerous bright star-like points and rainbow-colored light reflections.
A man with dark hair wearing sunglasses and a necklace of white shells, swimming in a body of water with gentle waves.
A group of indigenous men in traditional dress, including feathered headdresses, in a dense jungle or rainforest, with some ascending a fallen tree and others standing or sitting among the vegetation.
A person's hand holding a bowl with eggs above their lap, seen from above, with an orange chair or couch in the background.
A person wearing a blue beaded rosary necklace with a cross pendant on their chest.
A person wearing a blue patterned dress with gold accents standing on dirt ground, with one foot visible wearing brown sandals and white painted toenails, surrounded by a string of pearl necklaces, small red and white decorative shoes, and some green
A blue plastic bucket resting on a tree stump in a dark jungle with dense trees and roots, above water.
A man with dark wet hair, wearing red shorts, holding a large fish on his back, standing in muddy water, with only his upper back and head visible.
A person with short dark hair and tan skin has their back turned to the camera, with a snake slithering on their shoulder, against a blurred wooden background.
Close-up of a person's hand squeezing the skin of another person's body, revealing the texture and hair.
Close-up view of an abstract fabric with a smooth, shiny, and flowing texture featuring warm beige and blue tones.
A person sitting on a large tree that is growing in the water, with a cloudy sky and ocean in the background.
Person with tattoos lying on a fallen tree trunk by a clear, turquoise stream in a natural setting.
A woman with wet black hair submerged in dark water, leaning forward with her head near the water's surface.
Back view of an elderly woman with gray hair tied in a bun, showing her shoulder, neck, and partial head against a dark brown background.
A person is reaching into a small, rocky canyon with flowing water, surrounded by large dark rocks and boulders.
A small flame burning on a piece of wood, with some smoke rising from it.

Outcome & Recognition

BATISMO went on to win awards at Cortona on the Move, Kranj Photo Festival, and the LensCulture Critics' Choice prize, and received two gold medals at Le Salon des Beaux Arts in Paris.

The work was covered by It's Nice That and Atmos. It remains the project that most clearly shows what I mean by visual storytelling: images built from presence, not production.