My photographic practice arises from a desire to listen with my eyes. I seek to capture the silent gestures that reveal our shared humanity, connecting us beyond geographic, social, or spiritual distances.

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In this series, What Unites Us, I photographed a popular celebration dedicated to Our Lady in a rural community in Brazil. More than just a religious event, I encountered genuine expressions of affection, faith, memory, and belonging. For me, the sacred is not only found in religious images but also in the bodies walking together, in the hands offering flowers, and in the emotional faces carrying hope.

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I choose to photograph from within, with emotional involvement. I am not merely behind the lens as an observer — I am present as someone who shares in what I see. I like to portray what pulses between the individual and the collective, the spiritual and the everyday.

I believe photography has the power to broaden our listening to the world. Furthermore, listening to others — particularly those frequently excluded from art and history — is an act that is both profoundly political and poetic.

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With this series, I hope to provide images that encourage pause and empathy. Images that remind us it is still possible to recognise ourselves in the face of another. For in the end, that is what we are: humanity in motion, in prayer, in celebration — together.

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About

Maria Helena Ramalho is a Brazilian photographer and visual researcher. She studied Photography at the University of Vale do Itajaí (SC) in 2020 and, since 2022, has participated in immersive experiences in Brazil and abroad with renowned Brazilian photographers. Her work focuses on documenting cultural expressions, popular spirituality, and the emotional aspects of everyday life in traditional communities. Through a sensitive documentary approach, she creates visual essays that intertwine memory, territory, and humanity, emphasising belonging and listening. Her images have been featured in group exhibitions and independent publications in Brazil, highlighting peripheral narratives and resilient ways of life.

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www.mariademinas.com.br