Photography and music intertwine in the life of Paulo Rapoport, a São Paulo native, trained sociologist, and double bassist. His professional path has centered on music photography—capturing concerts, designing album artwork—while simultaneously developing documentary projects from his travels across Brazil and the world.
This duality gave birth to his Photo Essay “Journey Along the Rio Negro”, a finalist in the FotoDoc Photo Contest 2025. Using a drone to capture aerial perspectives, Rapoport highlights the vastness of the Amazon and the true scale of human presence in this still-preserved environment.
The poetry of the landscape merges with intimate portraits, creating a visually powerful body of work. These themes unfold in the photographer’s interview below.
How old are you? Where do you currently live and work?
My name is Paulo Rapoport. I’m Brazilian, born in São Paulo in 1960. A sociologist (USP graduate), musician (double bassist), and photographer.
Tell us about your journey in photography. When did you start, and why? What role does photography play in your life?
My long career as a musician naturally shaped my photographic work. I’ve documented concerts and performances in diverse venues, photographed and designed artwork for numerous albums, and even built a studio focused on music imagery. My website (www.themusicstages.com) archives over 7,000 photos organized by venue.
My second focus is documentary work from travels to Cuba, India, Iceland, Nepal, Mexico, Bhutan, Iran, Ethiopia, and beyond. During the pandemic, I bought a drone and launched #dronegrafiahumana, a project challenging myself to photograph people from above (featured on my site). Photography became the synthesis of my interests and need for expression, now my primary pursuit. Explore my work at www.paulorapoport.com.
Tell us about your work selected as a finalist for the FotoDoc Photo Contest 2025. When and where was it created? What was your vision? How does it fit into your broader body of work?
In July 2024, I traveled along the Rio Negro, visiting riverside communities and Indigenous tribes. The high waters had swallowed the landscape. I hadn’t planned a formal series, but upon returning, I noticed how my ground-level and aerial shots conversed. The drone’s perspective complemented close-ups, revealing the Amazon’s staggering scale.
What projects are you currently working on? What are your near-future plans for your photographic practice?
Next, I’ll photograph China during an upcoming trip this month.
Translated by Deepseek AI
