P02_044

Way of light
Essential and reduced to a minimum, the hull of a canoeThe canoe is a small boat, narrow and light, and daringly close to the waterline. With both sharp ends, it is operated by a wooden oar, but in the absence of an oar, the riverine can uses any piece of wood or even a branch. It is considered the most used means of transport by riverside and indigenous people in the rivers of the Amazon. More requires a skill acquired since childhood, playing and naturally learning how to maintain balance and paddle in that serene, calm, and efficient way. Where there are children and a canoe on the shore, there stay the children, every day, all day, jumping, pushing, flipping, sinking, and exhausting themselves. It is at this moment that the river dweller gains mastery of their “ride,” making it an extension of their body, giving them the freedom to move in that endless world of water, to overcome clumps of grass, to literally navigate between the trees of the flooded forest, called igapóIgapó comes from the Tupi language ia’pó. Strip of forest with its own vegetation, through which the waters normally penetrate during the flood season. Many varieties of fish depend on the igapós to spawn, protect and feed their young. In general, the aquatic life of the Amazon basin is very dependent on the igapós because of the fruits, insects and small animals they contain. Therefore, in order to maintain the ecological balance, it is fundamental that the vegetation of the flooded areas is preserved. More. The canoe offers enhanced agility crossing from one river to another, navigating through “furos” (channels that connect rivers and/or lakes). During flood season, the waters enter the forest, and the fish also take refuge there, feeding abundantly on wild fruits. The riverine knows the season of these fruits, knows when they fall, and knows the avid appreciators who feed on them.
The river dweller paddles with precise, efficient, and constant rhythm. Without getting tired, he can paddle for hours, like when he “go to the street” to sell his products and buy their essential supplies. The canoe glides lightly and silently over the water. Because it is undeniable that the river dweller is silent in their fishing, he quiet his presence, and the fish cannot perceive that he is there, lurking. The paddle never hits the edge of the canoe, nor is it thrown; it is only delicately supported. The movements are smooth and calculated. he stands naturally in a highly unstable vessel whose edge is only a few centimeters from the water. He observes the slightest movements on the surface of the water. Thus, he knows who is there, where they are going, and how many there are. He places and retrieves the fishing netA nylon net that can be made by riverside dwellers and is used for fishing. The net is crossed over a pool of water or a river and the fish that hit it becomes entangled. More at the most appropriate point and still make sure that the alligator, piranha, or river dolphin get there before him. The riverine harpoons fish that are sometimes the entire size of the boat: with the fish harpooned, the brave one lets himself be dragged, surfing, until he tires his prey and manages to board it naturally without the difficulties that a beginner would face. On Saturdays, they take the whole family to soccer games in other villages.

P02_044 – Leonide Principe
Camera Nikon F5 with Nikkor lens 70-200mm f2.8 – Diapositive Film Fujichrome Velvia 50 – Scanner: Nikon SUPER COOLSCAN 5000 ED
Digitised from a positive on film
Original file size: 5390px x 3627px
Location Taken: Ilha de Silves (Itacoatiara – Amazonas Brazil)
Aproximate Date Taken: 1993
Collection: Riverines – Persons shown: dont shows the face
Keywords:
NFT, canoasThe canoe is a small boat, narrow and light, and daringly close to the waterline. With both sharp ends, it is operated by a wooden oar, but in the absence of an oar, the riverine can uses any piece of wood or even a branch. It is considered the most used means of transport by riverside and indigenous people in the rivers of the Amazon. More, canoes, ribeirinhos, riverines, riverside dwellers, caboclosThere is the caboclo of terra firme (highlands), more dedicated to hunting and agriculture, he knows and moves with agility in the dense forest of the highlands. There is the riverine that inhabits the riverbanks, more dedicated to fishing and short-term crops following the flow of the waters. Brown skin, the result of centuries of miscegenation between native Indians and many other peoples – mainly Brazilians from the Northeast, Portuguese, Bolivians, Peruvians, Colombians, Syrians, Lebanese and Jews – pioneers from the time before the rubber boom, or who took part in the boom. Over time, caboclos absorbed the ancient wisdom derived from many indigenous ethnicities. More, cabocloThere is the caboclo of terra firme (highlands), more dedicated to hunting and agriculture, he knows and moves with agility in the dense forest of the highlands. There is the riverine that inhabits the riverbanks, more dedicated to fishing and short-term crops following the flow of the waters. Brown skin, the result of centuries of miscegenation between native Indians and many other peoples – mainly Brazilians from the Northeast, Portuguese, Bolivians, Peruvians, Colombians, Syrians, Lebanese and Jews – pioneers from the time before the rubber boom, or who took part in the boom. Over time, caboclos absorbed the ancient wisdom derived from many indigenous ethnicities. More, GENTE, PEOPLE, Silves, Amazonas, Amazônia, Amazon, Amazonian, Brazil, Brasil, Brazilian, América do Sul, South America, lago de Silves, Silves lake, lagos, lakes, águas, waterscapes
EN01 Riverine in the light P02_044
PT01 Riverine in the light P02_044
© – Leonide Principe, all right reserved
https://leonideprincipe.photos

P04_084

Drying canoe riverine
And he landed exactly where I was. The riverside man reached the shore with his oar, tied the canoe and dried the water from the «mount». All this always happened on the silver road that was drawn on the surface of the Silves lake. Coming in at the end of the afternoon, when the water is getting more and more golden, the same caboclo from the cover photo goes to his transport and leaves him ready for the next day’s new adventures.

P04_084 – Leonide Principe
Camera Nikon F5 with Nikkor lens 70-200mm f2.8 – Diapositive Film Fujichrome Velvia 50 – Scanner: Nikon SUPER COOLSCAN 5000 ED
Digitised from a positive on film
Original file size: 5369px x 3331px
Location Taken: Lago de Silves (Itacoatiara – Amazonas Brazil)
Aproximate Date Taken: 1997
Collection: Riverines – Persons shown: none
Keywords:
NFT, canoas, canoes, ribeirinhos, riverines, riverside dwellers, caboclos, caboclo, GENTE, PEOPLE, Silves, Amazonas, Amazônia, Amazon, Amazonian, Brazil, Brasil, Brazilian, América do Sul, South America, lago de Silves, Silves lake, lagos, lakes, águas, waterscapes
EN02 Drying canoe P04_084
PT02 Drying canoe P04_084
© – Leonide Principe, all right reserved
https://leonideprincipe.photos