Macao is a city of contrasts, serving as the vibrant backdrop for Gonçalo Lobo Pinheiro’s latest photobook, Urban Poetry. This new trilingual collection showcases the essence of street photography, offering a curated selection of images captured over the past five years.
The book presents 100 photographs, collectively reflecting the vibrant tapestry of Macao’s urban life through Lobo Pinheiro’s lens. Everyday moments – commuters rushing to work, street vendors enjoying lively exchanges, or quiet, solitary walks – become poignant glimpses into the rhythms of daily existence.
A poet as well as a photographer, Lobo Pinheiro views life through a unique poetic lens. “I aim to convey my sensibility while deeply immersed in what I like to call the intricate web of old Macao,” he says.
Though he embraces symbolism and nuance, his style remains rooted in photojournalism.
Balancing life as a working father of three, he seizes every Macao’s hidden back alleys. “I seek to lose myself in these explorations,” he says.
Lobo Pinheiro hosted a book launch yesterday at the Portuguese Bookshop, accompanied by a photo exhibition featuring 20 works from the collection in the shop’s gallery space. To give you a sneak peek, here are eight striking photographs from the Urban Poetry collection.
Eduardo Martins shot the above portrait of Lobo Pinheiro
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Amid the backstreets of old Macao, Lobo Pinheiro captures a moody scene: a man smoking against a backdrop adorned with red spring couplets – All photos by Gonçalo Lobo Pinheiro
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During the pandemic, “the city felt nearly empty,” Lobo Pinheiro recalls. This image, taken from a balcony on the IAM building, captures that stillness with a solitary man wandering through the cobblestone-paved Leal Senado Square.
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Patience is central to Lobo Pinheiro’s photographic approach. For this image, he waited for the perfect juxtaposition: a moment when playful cat graffiti contrasts with a woman’s pensive expression.
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“A centred moment, with the desired composition and stunning natural light,” he says of this photograph. It features a cleaner in a uniform that mirrors the green hues of the newly reopened Hotel Central’s façade.
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In the bustling Three Lamps area, a street vendor selects eggs for a customer with great care. “I captured several photographs of this moment and chose this one because of the vendor’s gentle attention,” Lobo Pinheiro explains.
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This photograph of a woman walking along Calçada do Tronco Velho, her umbrella casting a mysterious silhouette, exemplifies Lobo Pinheiro’s signature use of light and shadow. “The interplay of light and shadow adds depth to the composition,” he explains.
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Welcome to Macao. At the bustling Qingmao border checkpoint, a police officer directs commuters into Macao. The image’s serene tones offer a calm contrast to this busy gateway.
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