2. Professional

Brazil-Ouro Preto

I traveled to Brazil in September 2009 at the invitation of the Fourth International Translation Forum: "Along The Paths of Translation: Where Are We Heading?" I was kept busy: presenting a paper on description and literacy, speaking at a roundtable on description in the United States and conducting a three-hour audio description workshop for translation students in nearby Mariana. The conference was held in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ouro Preto in Minas Gerais; I followed up on my visit to Ouro Preto (my first trip to Brazil) with three days in Sao Paulo and five days in Rio de Janiero. (A word to the wise who plan a trip to Brazil--U. S. citizens require a visa issued by the Brazilian consulate! My departure was delayed as the visa requirement had never occurred to me. Luckily, the good folks at the consulate issued me a visa within two hours and I managed to shift travel plans in plenty of time to proceed south of the border.)

This gallery is focused on my stay in Ouro Preto; separate galleries are dedicated to photos from my visits to Sao Paulo and Rio.
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  • My home in Ouro Preto, about a quarter-mile of cobble-stone streets away from the conference site.

    My home in Ouro Preto, about a quarter-mile of cobble-stone streets away from the conference site.

  • The conference poster.

    The conference poster.

  • The roundtable on audio description--l-r: Bernd Bencke (Bayerisher Rundfunk, University of Saarbrucken-Germany); our interpreter; me (Audio Description Associates, American Council of the Blind, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona); Vera Araujo (moderator-State University of Ceará-UECE); Iracema Vilaronga (Universidade do Estado da Bahia-UNEB); and Eliana Franco (Universidade Federal da Bahia).

    The roundtable on audio description--l-r: Bernd Bencke (Bayerisher Rundfunk, University of Saarbrucken-Germany); our interpreter; me (Audio Description Associates, American Council of the Blind, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona); Vera Araujo (moderator-State University of Ceará-UECE); Iracema Vilaronga (Universidade do Estado da Bahia-UNEB); and Eliana Franco (Universidade Federal da Bahia).

  • Bernd, our interpreter, and me--most sessions were in Portugese or English.

    Bernd, our interpreter, and me--most sessions were in Portugese or English.

  • I discuss audio description in the United States.

    I discuss audio description in the United States.

  • I attempt to put the unidirectional and the steno-mask microphones in my mouth! (A steno-mask microphone is used by describers at times when description is done "live" and must be done among folks who who are not using the description.

    I attempt to put the unidirectional and the steno-mask microphones in my mouth! (A steno-mask microphone is used by describers at times when description is done "live" and must be done among folks who who are not using the description.

  • Eliana Franco discussing advanced study in description in Brazil.

    Eliana Franco discussing advanced study in description in Brazil.

  • Four current academic projects underway.

    Four current academic projects underway.

  • I deliver a paper entitled "Audio Descrition: An Aid To Literacy."

    I deliver a paper entitled "Audio Descrition: An Aid To Literacy."

  • Throughout one session, these two translation students (Ligia and Juliana) were my personal Portugese-English translators.

    Throughout one session, these two translation students (Ligia and Juliana) were my personal Portugese-English translators.

  • Concluding the formal conference, a night out in Our Preto--l-r: friend of Eduard's; Lina Alvarenga, free-lance interpreter; Eduard Bartoll, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (Spain); Bernd, Eliana, me.

    Concluding the formal conference, a night out in Our Preto--l-r: friend of Eduard's; Lina Alvarenga, free-lance interpreter; Eduard Bartoll, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (Spain); Bernd, Eliana, me.

  • Still time left to tour a bit of this old mining town (Ouro Preto="black gold") and its colonial era architecture ... and steep/narrow streets ala San Francisco, only more steep, more narrow and done in cobble-stone!

    Still time left to tour a bit of this old mining town (Ouro Preto="black gold") and its colonial era architecture ... and steep/narrow streets ala San Francisco, only more steep, more narrow and done in cobble-stone!

  • Igreja de Sao Francisco de Assis--one of South America's most representative Rococo buildings. Statues in the building were carved by Aleijadinho (1738-1815) meaning "Little Cripple." The famed sculptor had leprosy and mid-way through his career he could no longer walk and had completely lost the use of his hands--students carried him up hills and strapped hammers and chisels to his arms.

    Igreja de Sao Francisco de Assis--one of South America's most representative Rococo buildings. Statues in the building were carved by Aleijadinho (1738-1815) meaning "Little Cripple." The famed sculptor had leprosy and mid-way through his career he could no longer walk and had completely lost the use of his hands--students carried him up hills and strapped hammers and chisels to his arms.

  • Museu da Inconfidencia, in the town's main square.

    Museu da Inconfidencia, in the town's main square.

  • Detail from the facade of the Museu.

    Detail from the facade of the Museu.

  • View toward the town center and the statue of Tiradentes, leader of rebels against Portuguese colonists, the only rebel to be executed (c. 1822).

    View toward the town center and the statue of Tiradentes, leader of rebels against Portuguese colonists, the only rebel to be executed (c. 1822).

  • A view from far below toward Matriz de Nossa Senhora do Pilar, an opulent Brazilian Baroque church.

    A view from far below toward Matriz de Nossa Senhora do Pilar, an opulent Brazilian Baroque church.

  • Ouro Preto train station nestled within verdant hillsides.

    Ouro Preto train station nestled within verdant hillsides.

  • On my next-to-last day in the area, I traveled to nearby Mariana, the oldest colonial town in the state of Minas Gerais. This is one site of the multi-campus UFOP--Universidade Federale de Ouro Preto. My friend Bernd conducted a workshop on description and media in the morning; I led a workshop in description and performing arts in the afternoon. This photo depicts a civic building, the Casa de Camara e Cadeia.

    On my next-to-last day in the area, I traveled to nearby Mariana, the oldest colonial town in the state of Minas Gerais. This is one site of the multi-campus UFOP--Universidade Federale de Ouro Preto. My friend Bernd conducted a workshop on description and media in the morning; I led a workshop in description and performing arts in the afternoon. This photo depicts a civic building, the Casa de Camara e Cadeia.

  • Across from and to the side of the civic building are twin churches--Sao Francisco de Assis and Nossa Senhora do Carmo (pictured here), both dating from the late 18th century.

    Across from and to the side of the civic building are twin churches--Sao Francisco de Assis and Nossa Senhora do Carmo (pictured here), both dating from the late 18th century.

  • The church of Sao Francisco de Assis.

    The church of Sao Francisco de Assis.

  • Interior views of the church.

    Interior views of the church.

  • Ceiling painting by Manuelda Costa Athayde.

    Ceiling painting by Manuelda Costa Athayde.

  • Interior views of the church--scenes of St. Francis.

    Interior views of the church--scenes of St. Francis.

  • Interior views of the church--scenes of St. Francis.

    Interior views of the church--scenes of St. Francis.

  • Interior views of the church--scenes of St. Francis.

    Interior views of the church--scenes of St. Francis.

  • ... and his dog?

    ... and his dog?

  • ... on his horse?

    ... on his horse?

  • The town's garden square--Praca Gomes Freire.

    The town's garden square--Praca Gomes Freire.

  • The windows and doors of Mariana.

    The windows and doors of Mariana.

  • The windows and doors of Mariana.

    The windows and doors of Mariana.

  • The windows and doors of Mariana.

    The windows and doors of Mariana.

  • The windows and doors of Mariana.

    The windows and doors of Mariana.

  • The windows and doors of Mariana.

    The windows and doors of Mariana.

  • The windows and doors of Mariana.

    The windows and doors of Mariana.

  • The windows and doors of Mariana.

    The windows and doors of Mariana.

  • A vine-covered walkway on the campus.

    A vine-covered walkway on the campus.

  • An area that abuts the campus--monkey regularly traverse the branches!

    An area that abuts the campus--monkey regularly traverse the branches!

  • Students at a computer during Bernd's workshop.

    Students at a computer during Bernd's workshop.

  • Bernd and a group of his students.

    Bernd and a group of his students.

  • Now it's my turn--"We don't see things as they are, we see things as we are." Anais Nin

    Now it's my turn--"We don't see things as they are, we see things as we are." Anais Nin

  • A demonstration of my FM transmitter, microphone and receiver with Vera and Iracema (blind PhD candidate in description).

    A demonstration of my FM transmitter, microphone and receiver with Vera and Iracema (blind PhD candidate in description).

  • A group photo!

    A group photo!

  • Me and my "twin" (or so we were told)--my host, Professor Jose Luiz Vila Real Goncalves (Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto; President, Associacao Brasileira de Pesquisadores em Traducao)

    Me and my "twin" (or so we were told)--my host, Professor Jose Luiz Vila Real Goncalves (Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto; President, Associacao Brasileira de Pesquisadores em Traducao)

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    Igreja de Sao Francisco de Assis--one of South America's most representative Rococo buildings. Statues in the building were carved by Aleijadinho (1738-1815) meaning "Little Cripple." The famed sculptor had leprosy and mid-way through his career he could no longer walk and had completely lost the use of his hands--students carried him up hills and strapped hammers and chisels to his arms.
    Museu da Inconfidencia, in the town's main square.
    Detail from the facade of the Museu.