Psyche of Saudade by Alex Righetti

The people relationship always caught my interest, especially as a photographer of street portraits.I could tell you about the experiences I had with strangers for hours, being able to shutter the barrier and understand how perfectly
Psyche of Saudade | Alex Righetti

The people relationship always caught my interest, especially as a photographer of street portraits.

I could tell you about the experiences I had with strangers for hours, being able to shutter the barrier and understand how perfectly, two unknown people can get in touch and share feelings together.

Sometimes a conversation flows into a larger and broader discussion that involves not only feelings but also familiars, friends, dear ones. It is something unexpected when a stranger open himself so much that I feel almost embarrassed but then, it is the moment to capture their emotion, nothing more real and true than e deep feeling coming up, independently for both happy or sad feelings. You are able to see through their eyes what they feel and most of the time I went away with a deep touching feeling too. Empathy?! Maybe yes, Freud, in one of its studies as well as technique, tried to make his patients relive a psycho trauma to let them overpass the illness. It seems hard to believe but such effect it can be seen in a portrait too. Often accidentally, the conversation turns into a serious one with great involvement of my subject, and mine as well, this help me incredibly though, since the portraits that come out during these “sessions” are the most intimate ones.

I spent lots of time walking through the towns of Portugal looking for the right subjects, the perfect moments to get “THE PICTURE”, then, I realized to have collected a pretty singular upstream pictures of lonely people who right away gave me the idea to represent a unique feature which characterize Portugal. Yeah! It was there! That melancholic longing feeling on what Lisbon is famous for, “Saudade”.

A small collection of frame depict the melancholy typical of the old times, which, even if hidden among the people is strongly perceived after a while walking through the alleys of Lisbon. It is not a coincidence the use of B/W in high contrast, being able to create a deep view to the reader, emphasizing the atmosphere, the drama and favour the empathy feelings that bring you in their shoes.

Psyche of Saudade | Alex Righetti

This “project” was not planned. The group of shots displayed caught my attention and I noticed they had something unique in common, this leading me to think about the possibility to show a remarkable feature of Portugal the theme of “Saudade”. Lonely people are a recurrent subject, so common that never has taken into consideration so… something pushed me even more and I said to myself, why not to challenge this rule and use these shots to tell the tales of this country, starting right from that melancholic feeling!

The Saudade it is a recurrent word on many of the poetries, song and aspects of the Portuguese Life, especially in the Past during 13th century when it had already used by poets. The origins seems then dated back to the Time of Great Portuguese Discoveries. It has linked with the feeling felt by people who saw the departure of their love ones to the sea, and then probably meet them no more cause dead in battle or never returned. Great discoveries left then a great lack inside and a constant feeling of absence, sadness, a persistent melancholic state that describe the Portuguese psyche and soon became a sort of way of Life that characterized the Portuguese folk.

No words can be found to describe into another language its significance, we could use the term “Missingness”, which is the closest English word to indicate this mood. Definition of Saudade is not easy, at all, it is a subconscious longing for something that can never be, a heartfelt melancholy for something long past, a hunting, subtle sadness. The lack of something very important which research will be always pursued but never reached.
Thanks to the capability of photography, I intend to show such feeling that I perceived and which I hope close the comprehensive explanation of such State according with my point of view.

Photography is not only a way to show people part of the reality where they are absorbed but rather, it is a powerful tool to make our mind reason about what surrounds us. Often the environment where we live passes unobserved but I want to show what it means for me this feeling of Saudade, seeing my shots I hope you get a hint of it, which might act as an embrace into this wonderful, mysterious way of Life of Portuguese history.

Psyche of Saudade | Alex Righetti

About Alex Righetti

I am freelance photographer based in Lisbon. I moved from my hometown into a different countries living in different reality too, and this changings pushed me towards the photography life. I started almost for fun but it became a serious idea soon. I have never thought that photography could have had such powerful influence on me.

Start reading about photographers and their style I slowly refined my technique selecting the style that makes me have more vibes and satisfaction, in general I focus my attention in Street-portraits but I have much interest to acquire new knowledges in reportage/documentary and Landscape style as well. My shots do not intend to proof my skills, rather it is just a way to show my interpretation and point of view highlighting particulars that may not be considered otherwise. In this tale I bring my vision of a Portuguese “Life-style” less perceived in nowadays but still present in somehow, I will show you how… [Official Website]

Psyche of Saudade | Alex Righetti

Psyche of Saudade | Alex Righetti

Psyche of Saudade | Alex Righetti

Psyche of Saudade | Alex Righetti

Psyche of Saudade | Alex Righetti

Psyche of Saudade | Alex Righetti

One comment

  • serge janssens

    Feb 18, 2018 at 23:01

    J’aime beaucoup les tirages durs et trouve d’Alex les à très bien réussi …

Comments are closed.

More Stories

Matej Hubcej ; Amateur photographer

Matej Hubcej ; Amateur photographer

My name is Matej Hubcej and I am 33 years old. I am an amateur photographer and it means that I don´t make my living by photography.
AU79 by Valerie Decleer

AU79 by Valerie Decleer

In this series I am interested in gold as an element that is dense with symbolism. Gold as a symbol of gold.  Gold, the most precious metal.  Gold of more light than that with which it simmers. 
The focus of Levent Karaoglu

The focus of Levent Karaoglu

Photography is neither a passion, nor a desire for me. I do not only believe in keeping such expressions off from our minds, but also rejecting all kinds of fanatical approach towards art.
https://www.dodho.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/bannerpr.jpg

We invite you to participate in the first edition of the Portrait Photography Awards. Our call is open to any artistic interpretation of portrait photography.

https://www.dodho.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/BAnImage.jpg

ImageRights provides intelligent image search and copyright enforcement services to photo agencies and professional photographers worldwide.

https://www.dodho.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/mono2022.jpg

The best 100 images along with the winning images published in the yearly book “Monochromatic – Best Photographers of 2022”

Call For Entries #24 | After 23 editions and more than 100 published photographers, our print edition has proven to be a simply effective promotional channel.

White Nile by Ana María Robles

White Nile by Ana María Robles

In a hollowed trunk as a way of the canoe, we cross one of the White Nile branches.  Rushing river leaves, among its branches, fertile islands occupied by a community living in subsidiaries sharing everything, utensils, blankets, instruments and collaborating in the ancient daily chores. It is the "Mundari" territory, nomadic shepherds of the Nile.
Los tatuadores de Cuba by Allison Dinner

Los tatuadores de Cuba by Allison Dinner

Amongst all the changes happening in Cuba right now one thing is staying the same, owning a tattoo shop and giving tattoos are prohibited. They are the only art form in Cuba that is still highly illegal.
Own Place by Wiktoria Wojciechowska

Own Place by Wiktoria Wojciechowska

This photographic series of works is a symbolic attempt of connecting a human being with his place of living. In times when distance is no longer a barrier and when settling down and identifying with space is getting harder.
Patterns, lines, textures; Urban Moods by Alex Axon

Patterns, lines, textures; Urban Moods by Alex Axon

Urban Moods is a photo project that tells the story of the city dynamism through bicycles and umbrellas captured in constant movement and surrounded by patterns, lines, textures.
Boxing club; Est 1884 by Krishna Mooroogen

Boxing club; Est 1884 by Krishna Mooroogen

Repton est 1884, is the oldest boxing club in London, a pillar of the Eastside community, supporting young athletes from deprived backgrounds for decades.
Five minutes with Dasha Matrosova

Five minutes with Dasha Matrosova

I was born and presently live in the city of arts in Vitebsk, Belarus. All my interests were in performance arts. So I graduated art academy and started focusing on photography.
The distance by Yiota Tsokou

The distance by Yiota Tsokou

My story is one encountered quite often. I was not born special in any way. I didn’t excel in anything as much as I would have liked to. In fact, I do not believe I will ever feel accomplished.
A flare in the sky by Michal Konrad

A flare in the sky by Michal Konrad

The space is filled with living and dead matter. Both matter penetrate each other. Coal, tree and smoke.Houses, chimneys and streets.
Self-portraits; Limits of Existence by Ani Zur

Self-portraits; Limits of Existence by Ani Zur

The project ‘Limits of existence’ are self-portraits compiled by the author with MRI scans. It is a case-record, in which the body appears as a subject to internal researches and the only way of communication with the outside world.
Off-Season Santas by Mary Beth Koeth

Off-Season Santas by Mary Beth Koeth

An ongoing portrait series of off-season Santas. Santa Roy is a retired police officer who, in 1984, was named one of the Top Ten Law Enforcement Officers in the State of Florida.
Natural light; Fashion Photography by Bibiana Ruzickova

Natural light; Fashion Photography by Bibiana Ruzickova

But I love to do fine art and fashion photography as well. Whenever I need to really relax, get out of the stressful hectic world , I try to make a conceptual shooting . Something like levitation photography, which has been one of my top favorite style ( kind) of pictures.
The Girl Who Escaped and Other Stories by Joan Haseltine

The Girl Who Escaped and Other Stories by Joan Haseltine

Some years after losing my husband I decided to reinvent my life, so I purchased a small ranch in Montana and a camera, neither of which I knew how to operate. I began visiting small towns at night. A woman standing alone on the streets after dark with a camera naturally aroused suspicion and distrust in these old Montana towns.
Time To Rush Home by David Nam Lip

Time To Rush Home by David Nam Lip

This portfolio is specifically captured an environment with expression of muslim people after they completed the congregation of the Bishwa Ijtema at Tongi, Bangladesh.
Gajon – The folk ritual of Bengal by Ritesh Ghosh

Gajon – The folk ritual of Bengal by Ritesh Ghosh

Bengal is a culturally diverse State which is known to celebrate various rituals throughout the year. ‘Gajon’ being one such ritual is absolutely worth documenting for its many unique practises, some of which can easily be deemed as primitive in modern times.
African Dream by Yvon Buchmann

African Dream by Yvon Buchmann

I had dreamed of it all my life. I had seen so many reports on Africa during my childhood in the cinema of my village that I was convinced to go home on this first trip to Senegal.
Visual storyteller; A Very Present Silence by Mark Singles

Visual storyteller; A Very Present Silence by Mark Singles

Mark Singles is a visual storyteller. He has spent the past 40 years working in the film and television industry. He has a bachelor’s degree in Film and Television Production from Montana State University located in Bozeman, MT.

Featured Stories

Errance Urbaine by Xavier Rey

Errance Urbaine by Xavier Rey

The work of Xavier Rey is in the early years focused on landscape photography, mainly in long exposure and tends more and more to be part of a research and study on blur.
China; The great wall by Chiara Felmini

China; The great wall by Chiara Felmini

China is almost a continent and as such can offer extremes and opposites at the same time; the ancient and very distant culture can still be observed in remote villages, increasingly surrounded by the advancing and swallowing civilization.
Ramnami Community by Sanghamitra Sarkar

Ramnami Community by Sanghamitra Sarkar

Low-caste Hindus in the eastern state of Chhattisgarh first began tattooing their bodies and faces more than 100 years ago as an act of devotion and defiance after being denied entry to temples and forced to use separate wells.
Acid Survivors by Jan Møller Hansen

Acid Survivors by Jan Møller Hansen

Acid attacks in Bangladesh are usually the result of land disputes, rejected marriage proposals, refusal or inability to pay dowry, resistance of being trafficked as sex worker or simply the desire for revenge.
Why Drag? by Magnus Hastings

Why Drag? by Magnus Hastings

Magnus Hastings is a portrait photographer whose current series of large-scale photographs, and accompanying book, Why Drag?, focuses on the phenomenal artistry and counter-cultural spirit of the international drag scene.
Oshichi by Michiko Chiyoda

Oshichi by Michiko Chiyoda

‘Oshichi’ is a name of the doll and ‘she’ played as a 16-year-old girl who was put to death by burning at the stake for committing arson.
Little stars by Tatiana Ilina

Little stars by Tatiana Ilina

The story about lilliputians artists "The shining of little stars" who travel around Russia. The first performance was in Ivanovo. The posters were placed all over the town and many inhabitants were surprised and sincerely confessed that they have never seen anything like this. 
Under the sign of the rat; Roger the Rat by Roger Ballen

Under the sign of the rat; Roger the Rat by Roger Ballen

Surreal, refined, disturbing: Roger Ballen has made a name for himself with his special eye for what is usually considered minor or outside, yet is nevertheless profound and touching.
The scars of war; Friendship Village by Kip Harris

The scars of war; Friendship Village by Kip Harris

The scars of war are deep and long lasting. That is particularly true of the Vietnam War. An entire generation along with their families, children, friends, and society
Jorge Fernandez ; Travel Photography

Jorge Fernandez ; Travel Photography

Jorge Fernandez was born and raised in the small Spanish town of Monzon. After finishing high school he moved to Madrid to get a technical engineering degree. In the late 90's he started to study film photography during a few years and after that he decided to do the jump to digital
Ryan Cooper ; Essence of personality

Ryan Cooper ; Essence of personality

It is pretty common for the photographer’s to get tirelessly hung up on a search for the perfect photo.
Faubourg Treme by Alexis Pazoumian

Faubourg Treme by Alexis Pazoumian

There are many similarities between Louisiana and my country of origine, Armenia.That they are a victim of a natural disaster or a crime against humanity, a doggedness of the history
Mobile Photography by Star Rush

Mobile Photography by Star Rush

Star Rush is a Vietnamese American documentary and street photographer and writer, and an an advocate of mobile photography.
Trump-Kim craze by Biel Calderon

Trump-Kim craze by Biel Calderon

The second summit between the U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korea chairman Kim Jong-un brought to the city of Hanoi heavy traffic, security cordons, and bustle. However, the residents of the capital of Vietnam welcomed the distinguished guests with great diplomacy and, in many cases, with joy and very peculiar demonstrations of admiration.
The Land Where the Roots Grow Deep by Rebecca Moseman

The Land Where the Roots Grow Deep by Rebecca Moseman

This series of photographs is part of an ongoing project about the African American people living in the deep south.
Self-portraiture; Made in the shade by Chloe Meynier

Self-portraiture; Made in the shade by Chloe Meynier

Made in the shade project was selected and published in our print edition 18. Through a mise-en-scene self-portraiture series, Made in the Shade depicts characters in Mid Century Modern settings, mirroring an era that was aspiring for change.

Trending Stories

Film camera; Cuba by Igor Askarov

Film camera; Cuba by Igor Askarov

The sharpest impression of Cuba I've got, was an impression of running after two black guys, who tried to hide in Havana's alleys with my camera. It was on the second day of my stay on the island.
Coney Island Beyond the boardwalk by Steve Hoffman

Coney Island Beyond the boardwalk by Steve Hoffman

Coney Island Beyond the boardwalk is the title of this project. I am a documentary photographer who has spent the last dozen years working with and photographing the people that live in the housing projects in Coney Island.
The everyday life of ordinary people; Workers by Krizsai Andrea

The everyday life of ordinary people; Workers by Krizsai Andrea

I’m also working on a photo reportage about evictions which are going on now in Hungary because of the bank loans. I’m especially interested in social topics. With this series of photographs ‘’Working class’’ I want to show people in their working environment.
Raising Goosebumps by Cate Wnek

Raising Goosebumps by Cate Wnek

Often a hyperawareness within me detects something elusive that could happen to my children, or me —however protected I imagine us to be. 
Inside Myanmar Monasteries by Irene Barlian

Inside Myanmar Monasteries by Irene Barlian

Traditions still hold out in the Myanmar’s countryside which has so far been relatively untouched. Myanmar was often seen as among the world’s most isolated nations. Although they had eased it’s 15 years restrictions on tourism, the country remains to be ancient and pure.
Emre Kuheylan – Founder & director of international kontinent photography awards

Emre Kuheylan – Founder & director of international kontinent photography awards

Kontinent Awards is an annual international photography competition. It became one of the most important events in the world of photography.
Anatomy of a photography by Alicia Moneva

Anatomy of a photography by Alicia Moneva

In photography, I always work on an idea, usually related to the human being. I read a lot on the topic to keep myself informed. I want the final image to be a visual poem, beautiful but disturbing at the same time.
Himalayan Landslides – Nature’s Fury or Man-made Calamity by Sirsendu Gayen

Himalayan Landslides – Nature’s Fury or Man-made Calamity by Sirsendu Gayen

The Himalayas are a mountain range in Asia, separating the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan plateau. This is also, by definition, the name of the vast mountain chain, which comprises the Himalayas, the Karakoram, the Hindu Kush, and a number of small ranges ranging from the Pamir Knot.
Chiarascuro by Graeme Youngson

Chiarascuro by Graeme Youngson

In photographic terms it’s usually taken to mean photographs taken in strong low sunlight where the highlights retain detail but the shadows are left well alone.
Pensive Moments in New York By Florence Gallez

Pensive Moments in New York By Florence Gallez

Most first-time tourists to New York head out to busy Times Square and other parts of touristy Manhattan, seeking to feel the continuous flow of 24h life that ‘the city that never sleeps’ is known for.
Land of Gods by Jayanta roy

Land of Gods by Jayanta roy

Gangotri National Park is a national park located in Uttarkashi District Uttarakhand, India. The size of this national park is about 2,390 square km.
Plastic bags: Where Does It Go? by Probal Rashid

Plastic bags: Where Does It Go? by Probal Rashid

Bangladesh became the first country to regulate disposable bag use when the government banned single-use plastic bags in 2002. At that time environmental groups estimated that about 9.3 million plastic bags were dumped in the Dhaka city alone every day

Other Stories

stay in touch
Join our mailing list and we'll keep you up to date with all the latest stories, opportunities, calls and more.
We use Sendinblue as our marketing platform. By Clicking below to submit this form, you acknowledge that the information you provided will be transferred to Sendinblue for processing in accordance with their terms of use
We’d love to
Thank you for subscribing!
Submission
Dodho Magazine accepts submissions from emerging and professional photographers from around the world.
Their projects can be published among the best photographers and be viewed by the best professionals in the industry and thousands of photography enthusiasts. Dodho magazine reserves the right to accept or reject any submitted project. Due to the large number of presentations received daily and the need to treat them with the greatest respect and the time necessary for a correct interpretation our average response time is around 5/10 business days in the case of being accepted.
- Between 10/30 images of your best images, in case your project contains a greater number of images which are part of the same indivisible body of work will also be accepted. You must send the images in jpg format to 1200px and 72dpi and quality 9. (No borders or watermarks)
- A short biography along with your photograph. (It must be written in the third person)
- Title and full text of the project with a minimum length of 300 words. (Texts with lesser number of words will not be accepted)
This is the information you need to start preparing your project for its presentation
To send it, you must compress the folder in .ZIP format and use our Wetransfer channel specially dedicated to the reception of works. Links or projects in PDF format will not be accepted. All presentations are carefully reviewed based on their content and final quality of the project or portfolio. If your work is selected for publication in the online version, it will be communicated to you via email and subsequently it will be published.
Contact
How can we help? Got an idea or something you'd like share? Please use the adjacent form, or contact contact@dodho.com
Thank You. We will contact you as soon as possible.
Submission
Dodho Magazine accepts submissions from emerging and professional photographers from around the world.
Their projects can be published among the best photographers and be viewed by the best professionals in the industry and thousands of photography enthusiasts. Dodho magazine reserves the right to accept or reject any submitted project. Due to the large number of presentations received daily and the need to treat them with the greatest respect and the time necessary for a correct interpretation our average response time is around 5/10 business days in the case of being accepted. This is the information you need to start preparing your project for its presentation.
To send it, you must compress the folder in .ZIP format and use our Wetransfer channel specially dedicated to the reception of works. Links or projects in PDF format will not be accepted. All presentations are carefully reviewed based on their content and final quality of the project or portfolio. If your work is selected for publication in the online version, it will be communicated to you via email and subsequently it will be published.
Get in Touch
How can we help? Got an idea or something you'd like share? Please use the adjacent form, or contact contact@dodho.com
Thank You. We will contact you as soon as possible.