Photography Day: between rivers and communities, photographers record changes in the Amazon

The 2009 flood was one of the first major experiences. Then came the floods of 2012 and 2021, which also left a mark on his professional career. "The one in 2009 was very intense in the newspaper, but, like, remarkable, I think 2021 and 2012 were stronger. I did more on my own. I could create with more freedom and so on, so I think these are quite remarkable", he recalled. Between rivers and communities, photographers record the changes in the Amazon. Raphael Alves For Raphael, however, the outlook does not change between flood and drought. What changes is the scenario and the way each situation passes through the photographer. “Everything I do, the stories I do for the newspaper, for the magazine, for the agency, my personal work, they have one thing in common: I am representing what is outside of me, but my gaze is always inward, introspective, how it affects me, how it crosses me,” he said. In 2023, during a trip to Tumbira Island, in the Amazon, a landscape of a very dry river caused a sensation that remained in my memory. "There were times when it seemed like the river was running in reverse, you know? These changes are very sensitive," he said. ‘The rivers are our roads’ Photography also entered Michael Dantas’ life early. Son of a journalist, cameraman and television director, he began taking photographs between 2003 and 2004, after receiving his first camera. Since then, he began recording trails, rivers, beaches, waterfalls and water cycles. The drought of 2010 and the flood of 2012 are among the strongest memories. Between rivers and communities, photographers record the changes in the Amazon. Michael Dantas "I'm impressed when a huge river or a large lake turns into a trickle of water. I keep thinking: what if this water doesn't return? But nature is incredible and perfect, with God's grace, everything returns to normal", he said. For him, the drought completely changes the landscape and also makes it more difficult to reach communities. Between rivers and communities, photographers record the changes in the Amazon. Michael Dantas "As everyone knows, in the Amazon the rivers are our roads, and with the rivers without water it is almost impossible to navigate. During the drought, the larger boats cannot arrive, the way is to charter two or three tails, share the weight and face it as best we can and we always manage, but it is always very difficult", he reported, During the droughts of 2023 and 2024, Michael recorded the formation of a large sandbank in front of the Gutierrez community, in Careiro da Várzea. He also saw cars and motorcycles occupy paths where boats normally travel. "During the drought I see cars and motorcycles instead of boats and canoes. It's strange to see this, but it's already a reality," said Dantas. In other coverage, he recorded dead fish and alligators, residents in search of drinking water and riverside dwellers walking on the hot sand carrying bottles. Photography as a witness For Michael, contact with those who live in the forest is one of the most important parts of the work. “I have a lot of respect and admiration for the people who live in the forest. No matter how bad the situation is, they always treat us very well, offer us what they have and try to help us in the best way possible to make our work easier, and that really touches me. We are always racing against time during these coverages, we are specialists in brief encounters", he stated. Between rivers and communities, photographers record the changes in the Amazon. Michael Dantas Raphael also puts people at the center of his records and states that photographing requires respect and closeness. “I, more than the landscape, I photograph first, I think the people. This interests me much more than the landscape. Being careful to tell, is to give dignity to what we are telling me, because all these people deserve to be heard, seen", he explained. Photographer Raphael Alves, in the Amazon. Raphael Alves After more than 20 years documenting the Amazon, Michael says that photography began to play a different role for him. “I stopped recording just the beauty of natural cycles to become a visual witness to the climate emergency. Photographing the opposite of this, with rivers transformed into deserts of hot sand, thousands of fish dead due to lack of oxygen and isolated communities, showed me that photography today is an urgent tool for reporting", he said. For him, the images can also help show in the future how the region has changed. “Climate change is happening and no one knows what the scenario will be like in 30 or 50 years, which is why this documentation is important”, he concluded. Between floods, droughts, rivers that change their path and communities that need to adapt, the two photographers continue to record a changing Amazon, one image at a time. Between rivers and communities, photographers record the changes in the Amazon Michael Dantas Entre rios and co.