My Photojournalism: 2007

sexta-feira, dezembro 14, 2007

Front Page

Yesterday was the day of the Signature of the New European Treaty in Lisbon “The Lisbon Treaty”
During all the Portuguese Presidency of European Union I was one of the four official photographers covering all of the meetings of this six months, and me in particular did all of them!!!
It was a lot of hard work, travelling, fun, experiences, stress, etc
During these six months of Presidency I photograph most of the important politicians from the world like Nicolas Sarkozy, Jose Barroso, Condolisa Rice, Gordon Brown, Muammar al-Gaddafi, Kofi Annan, Robert Mogabe, Lula da Silva, Javier Solana, among many others.
Of course one of the most important politicians during this presidency was the President-in-Office of the Council of the European Union also Prime Minister of Portugal, Jose Socrates. I photograph him in most of all the meetings he attended during these months and to close my work with a gold key my photograph of him yesterday wile he was waiting for the arrival of the European Ministers to “The Lisbon Treaty” ceremony and among thousands of photos from this event my photograpf was the Front Page on Jornal de Noticias, one of the biggest News Papers in Portugal.
A great end for me of these six months of hard work.
Now Vacations!!!!!

©Miguel A. Lopes

segunda-feira, novembro 19, 2007

Tirana and Sarajevo

Last week I went again with the Portuguese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Luis Amado, covering his meetings in Tirana - Albania and in Sarajevo - Bosnia.
I will not show you here photos from the meetings because those are boring photos.
Most of this photos made thru the window of the cars I was driven, always speeding in this two towns following the police rushing to the meetings, yes rushing, the minister had seven meetings in one and half day.
Even going in a speed car I used a slow shutter speed, I know that they are out of focus but that was part of the intention, I like unfinished photos , that can transmit something, that makes you think. In this ones you can see people, moving, running from the rain, rushing to the jobs, well maybe you can think also what were they doing, were where they going....
Enjoy.

©Miguel A. Lopes

Pictorial

Just one pictorial photo, in the balls is me, was taken in a science exhibition in Lisbon

©Miguel A. Lopes

quarta-feira, novembro 07, 2007

Portuguese Parliament

Today I had to cover the Debate of the Portuguese State Budget for 2008 held in the Parliament. It was a lot of work but very fun and it is nice to ear the discussions and the speeches of the politicians and their irony.
The highest moment was when the leader of a politic party PSD, Mr Santana Lopes, spoke. He was really hungry and very expressive, I caught some of those moments and for me the picture of the day was when he open his arms and "bang" I got it on camera!!! Let's see the papers tomorrow and see if they are published.

©Miguel A. Lopes

terça-feira, novembro 06, 2007

Israel Press Conference

This two days, yesterday and today I've been covering the 9th Euro-Mediterranean Meeting of Foreign Affairs held in Lisbon.
This photos are from the Vice Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Israel, Miss Tzipi Livni.

©Miguel A. Lopes

domingo, novembro 04, 2007

Istambul - Turkey

I begin by saying that last week I was suppose to be on vacations, but lot of important things are happening in the world and duty calls me. Actually was by Editor that called me Wednesday asking me if I wanted to go with our Portuguese Foreign Minister, Luis Amado, to photograph the Expanded Neighboring Countries of Iraq Foreign Ministers Meeting in Istanbul Turkey.
My answer was of course Yes!!!
The meeting was designed to contribute concretely to the government and the people of Iraq's efforts to restore permanent peace, stability and prosperity in their country through invigoration of the existing national reconciliation dialog, in combating terrorism, strengthening the rule of law and widening participation in the political process
So Friday me and tree more journalists, the Minister and his delegation, flu in a Private state Jet to Istanbul. It was a four hour flight, very comfortable, with excellent food and with no check in jam!!!
We arrive to Istanbul at about 12pm, very late to go anywhere in the city and in the next day we had to wake up very early so just time to drink a mojito in the hotel terrace that has an amazing view over the city of Istanbul.
Saturday we went to the Ciragan Palace where was held the Meeting. I think I saw more than 500 cops in the 5 minute ride from our hotel to the palace.
Our credentials were very limited in terms of mobility and we had some problems with the security to do our job and non of this securities speak English, just one of them speak a very bad English, well but we are Portuguese and our capacity of negotiation and adaptation always work.
Another thing was the high amount of journalists, I count at least 20 camera mans and maybe the double of photographers, I didn't had access to Pool's, only to normal areas where all of us had to pass before in a tight security check. It was crazy, everyone pushing and running in the palace halls to get perfect spots.
After the photos there was another problem, identify all the ministers, there wasn't any paper with "who is who", making it very hard to send the photos fast to the agency, the only thing I get was a paper with names, so I had to google the names and find out if the faces showing up match the ones on my photos.
After all this I didn't had time to lunch, but no worries, a Lebanon Reporter gave me some cookies that saved me.
We got out of the Palace at 5pm and before returning to the plane, we went with the Minister and his delegation to a fast visit to the famous Blue mosque and the surrounding area of Hagia Sophia, and I pose with the Minister for a photo.(hihihihi)
Then was time to go catch the plane, in the airport we went to a lounge before take of and was time to relax and drink a tea, in this lounge was also the Foreign Minister of France, Bernard Kouchner and we also pose together for the photo.