feature: salvador, brazil-based photographer helder conceição consciously captures black beauty in ‘cores e pele’ series

Helder Conceição is one of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil’s editorial photographer leading the charge in the local movement for black visibility and acceptance, in general spaces and as a significant change in cultural ideology. “We live in a period of developing an awareness reafirmativa policy of both our identity and as a photographer and resident of the black, peripheral zone of the city where many black people are killed every day, I could not forgo strengthening this aspect of struggle.” he tells AFROPUNK. It was with this in mind that Conceição decided to shoot this series with black models sporting natural hair within the walls of the beautiful and complex town that is part of who they are but also a place where they are marginalized. “All photographs are held in my neighborhood streets walls and the series is mainly to document textures of the city of Salvador in the contrast of the skin of our bodies.”

Models: Amanda Mota and Mar

Facebook
Instagram

*Erin White is an Atlanta-based writer and AFROPUNK’s editorial and social media assistant. You can follow her on Tumblr or friend her on Facebook. Have a pitch or an inquiry? Shoot her an email at erin@afropunk.com.