New subject: Text from the winner of the Portuguese competition

27 Oct 2011

Dear all,
We have received an inspiring message from the winner of the Portuguese
competition that we would like to share with you. Ha has authorized us to
publish and share it. I took the liberty of translating it to English for
your enjoyment. I think it would give a very nice blog post for the european
site.

João Martinho uploaded 500 pictures of 181 different monuments in Portugal,
and won the prize for Best Picture. He has a second picture that will also
compete for the European prize.

His message is below.

Best,
Gonçalo

*Dear members of Wikimedia Portugal,*
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*
*

*it was with great satisfaction that I received the news of my victory in
the photo competition “Wiki Loves Portugal – Portugal” with the photo
“Alameda de Pedra” captures at the Carmo Convent in Lisbon in September
2008.*
* *

*
*

*I no longer recall when the interest in photography of monuments and
landscapes awoken in me; when I think about it I believe it was always in
me, starting with my curiosity in registering pictures of places and moments
in my memory that had in some way moved me, I was a child still without a
camera of my own, but I own the most important equipment a photographer
could have: the visual sensitivity about what surrounds him.*
* *

*
*

*With the years I started gaining enthusiasm and acquiring photographic
equipment that allowed me to reproduce and crystalize in time that which I
had observed in the journeys I have been doing through this world of ours. A
trip for me is a photographic adventure. I do not travel without
photographing!*
* *

*
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*As an amateur photographer, I am passionate about photography. In the last
few years I have taken advantage of the merits of the internet to subscribe
and participate in international forums and groups for amateur
photographers. Within these I would highlight “BetterPhoto” and “Photoblur”
of which I have been a member and where some of my pictures have been
awarded (I take the liberty to add my “BetterPhoto” gallery for your
appraisment: http://www.betterphoto.com/searchResults.asp?limit2=&szTerm=joao
martinho&schMod=Photos&page=1&rows=16<http://www.betterphoto…)Photos&page=1&rows=16>).
However until today no other national or international award has given
me
as much satisfaction as the one I have just received. The reason is my
passion for the natural and monumental heritage of Portugal: My first and
best motive for photographic inspiration. I have now crowned that fondness
with this honourable distinction.*
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*
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*Our country is one of the most fortunate in terms of places and monuments
with photographic interest. Proving it is the quantity and participation
level achieved during the competition. Regrettably throughout our country I
have encountered too many examples of the poor condition much of our
historic and architectural heritage. That situation is extremely
heart-breaking for me however I have not up to this date found the right
“weapons” to fight the degradation of the places and buildings once living
and noble and those who time and human neglect are slowly turning into
regrettable ruins. Two years ago, I made an appeal to IGESPAR to undertake a
photographic survey throughout the country of monuments that require
restoration and preservation but my appeal fell on deaf ears. Now this
purpose is rekindled and I would like to take the opportunity of this award
to consolidate my mission of contributing the best way I can (through
photographic images) to alert the competent authorities to this true SOS
from some of the national heritage. I am aware that much has been done and
that we have some good examples of happy interventions, namely through the
Pousadas de Portugal, but I have that much is still to be done and from
today I will launch in my Facebook page a new appeal “SOS – Património
Nacional” placing photos of buildings and monuments needing intervention and
restauration.*
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*
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*It is this way that I intend to be constructive and enterprising with the
award I receive from you. Not as arrival point but as a starting point to go
even beyond.*
* *

*I take the opportunity to send you my congratulations for the success of
this initiative and applaud all the more than 250 contestants that with more
than 16000 pictures took the opportunity to showcase the Portuguese
monuments on the web through their respective photographs.*
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*
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*With my best regards*
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*
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*João Martinho*