‘Carioca’ means a native or resident of Rio de Janeiro.

 

My parents first met in Rio de Janeiro and so it has always been a place very close to my heart with fond memories of our happy holidays there as a family.

 

In early 2024 I revisited the city for the first time in over three years. As a native of Brazil, it was important to take the opportunity to spend some time on the beach and catch some sun in preparation for returning to cold and wintry London.

 

The beach culture in Rio de Janeiro is like no other and on Copacabana you can happily spend all day people watching. It was this people watching that inspired me to capture the vibe and energy of the Cariocas selling food, drinks and gifts in their unique, easy-going way.

 

There were parts of Rio de Janeiro that had changed since my childhood visits, some for the better and some for the worse and I did not always recognise the place that I thought I remembered.

 

But I recognised the Cariocas.