Dinho Rocha: Amazonian Life in Focus

A multifaceted visual artist from Brazil’s far north, Dinho Rocha is an Amapá native at heart who masters various fronts of audiovisual production, from cinematography to design. His photography, however, is where his most personal vision expresses itself, nurtured by a childhood surrounded by analog cameras and years of study in drawing and illustration.

The image “Brazil Nut Gatherer“, a finalist in the Single Image category of the FotoDoc Photo Contest 2025, is a powerful example of this mission. Captured in the heart of the Rio Cajari Extractive Reserve in Amapá, the photograph goes beyond documentary recording to reveal the essence of arduous, ancestral labor. In the face and posture of the man collecting Brazil nut pods, Dinho freezes a moment of pure physical effort, translating with sensitivity the dignity and imminent risks behind a product commonly found in markets. The image is a tribute to the life of northern Brazilian people and an invitation to see the Amazon beyond its unique landscapes.

Follow the trajectory of this artist who lets photography guide his path while documenting the richness and reality of forest life in the interview below.

How old are you? Where do you currently live and work?

I am 36 years old. I’m from Pará but have lived in Amapá for over 25 years. I always say I’m Amapá-native at heart. Currently, I work in various areas of audiovisual production (photography, cinematography, editing, design, illustration, visual arts…).

Tell us about your journey in photography. When did you start photographing and why? What role does photography play in your life?

Photography was part of my childhood, playing with analog cameras from some relatives. The “photographic eye” was always present through my study of drawing and illustration. But professional photography came to me as an opportunity to further explore this art and apply it to my work in cinematography, as well as a supplementary income. For me, photography is a form of expression. It’s the desire to show others how I see the world.

Tell us about your finalist work for the FotoDoc Photo Contest 2025. When and where was it created? What is its concept? How does it fit into your photographic practice?

This photograph was taken within the Rio Cajari extractive reserve, in the community of Açaizal, municipality of Laranjal do Jari (AP). I was the photographer on an expedition producing an institutional video about the touristic potential of sport fishing in the state of Amapá. We met this gentleman and followed him deep into the forest so he could show us the process of collecting Brazil nut pods. At a certain moment, I took the photograph trying to capture his expression and demonstrate to viewers the difficulty, physical effort, and imminent risk these people face to collect a product that is normally easily found in markets and fairs, but whose labor-intensive process is not always understood. Expressing the life of Amazonian northern Brazilian people – beyond the unique landscapes – is my main passion in authorial photography.

What projects are you currently working on? What are your near-future plans for photographic production?

Currently, I work in various areas of audiovisual production, but one work I highlight is accompanying the production of the program “Reis do Rio” (Record TV/YouTube) as cinematographer, photographer, and editor. In this project, we visit various places throughout Amapá state, as well as the North region and Brazil, which is of great value to my visual repertoire and consequently addresses my main objective with authorial photography: to show the world through my eyes, especially Amazonian life. As for my plans, I let photography show me the path and lead me to it.