Anyone currently living in Rio?

<p>I am going there for a photo/documentary workshop and would very much appreciate speaking with someone who is living there to get some advice. <br>

Ideally I would like to select a topic, a thing to do, before I get there. It is always best if I can manage to get in touch with a group of active young people and take photos of them over several days, but of course this is not the only idea... <br>

if you live there and are willing to answer a couple of questions please email me or write a note on this thread... <br>

Thanks a lot.. </p>

<p>Just warning advices:<br /> I've moved from there many years ago, not really Rio but São Paulo. I talk with my family and friends there and read Brazilian papers. Avoid to be there on March 15, is schedule a national political act on streets and nobody knows what will happen.<br /> Make sure you have all your equipment well insured where you live against everything and be smart on the streets. Sadly Rio is now a high crime and violent place. Take care.</p>

<p>Magnum workshop? My only suggestion would be to look for an alternative to the usual three themes: Christ the Redeemer overview; hedonistic lifestyle; poverty porn.</p>

<p>There must be more to Rio than those three tropes. But it's not readily apparent online.</p>

<p>If it's the Magnum workshop, coming in a couple of weeks after the mid-March protests might offer some interesting opportunities. Maybe a photo essay on some political activists and organizers, who might offer some perspectives a couple of weeks after the main hubbub. Or maybe a post mortem of the effects of the demonstrations on ordinary folks who live and work in the areas where the demonstrations occur. Maybe chat with some emergency medical personnel too, although there may not be much to show visually a couple of weeks after the fact.</p>

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<p>Or maybe a post mortem of the effects of the demonstrations on ordinary folks who live and work in the areas where the demonstrations occur.</p>

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<p>Great subject. Many activists who mean well can easily make life harder for people they're trying to help after "parachuting" into an area that already has tentative relations with local law enforcement, gangs, etc. and stirring up the pot.</p>

<p>Thanks for the ideas. Indeed it is a magnum workshop. I was not aware of the organized protest in mid march, I was aware that things have been pretty rough, security wise, demonstrations, and so on. <br>

Lex, indeed, I am not interested in those three themes that you suggest streering away from. Your suggestion regarding local politics, demonstration, the after impact is interesting. <br>

I feel that having someone there on the ground would be very much of help since clearly they would know better what is safe or not and where to go and talk to folks. Not sure how to do that. <br>

Also I wonder whether renting a car would be of any help.</p>

<p>Thanks </p>