WHO NEEDS A CAMERA?

A Brazilian artist reflects on a transformative trip to the Amazon rainforest, where grief, music, and nature blended into unforgettable memories. Through encounters with dolphins, jungle silence, and river life, she discovers that the most powerful camera is the human heart and mind.

By Kátia Moraes

The Amazon journey became a turning point after a period of grief and personal loss

I’m originally from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and I have always loved poetry, singing, dancing, and the arts.

My mother knew this very well. In Christmas of 1983, while she was very sick, she gave me an acoustic guitar. A few months later, in February 1984, she passed away due to a neuropathy similar to Multiple Sclerosis — the same illness that had also taken the lives of her mother and brothers.

I was devastated, but at the same time relieved after eight long years of suffering.

A New Beginning Through Music

Around that time, I received a call inviting me to join a musical band.

The caller had previously contacted my home, and my aunt suggested he call again in a month. Looking back, she did the right thing. At that moment in my life, I felt I had no reason to keep living.

When the man called again, I accepted the invitation.

That same week, my godfather’s wife said something that stayed with me forever:

“Your life will blossom beautifully from now on. Believe me.”

And I did.

The Rock Theater Band

I joined a theatrical rock group called “O Espírito da Coisa” — which means “The Spirit of the Thing.”

My nickname in the group was Katita, a term of affection.

Around 1986, the band traveled to Manaus, the capital of the Amazon state. I was so excited about the trip that I bought a camera, determined to capture every moment.

First Impressions of the Amazon

As soon as I stepped off the plane, I felt the extreme humidity filling the pores of my skin. I had never sweated so much in my life.

At the airport entrance there was a man-made lake with turtles and alligators.

Snap! Snap!

The humidity was around 86%, similar to Florida for those who have been there. I quickly realized why the hotel air conditioning was always running.

Where the Rivers Meet

Our show was part of a political campaign event and was scheduled to start in the afternoon at the place where the Solimões and Negro rivers meet, forming the Amazon River.

It was an incredible sight.

Snap! Snap! Snap!

I was amazed to see so many people and motorboats gathered there.

The day before the show, we toured the area and saw the clear line dividing the sandy waters of the Solimões River from the dark waters of the Rio Negro.

Encounters with Amazon Wildlife

It was there that I saw a pink river dolphin for the first time.

Snap!

Known as the “Boto”, they are the largest river dolphins in the world.

From the dark waters, I saw that shining pink skin jump out of the river and play.

Snap! Snap!

I also saw piranhas, discovering that they are not as terrifying as their reputation suggests, even though their sharp teeth may say otherwise.

Snap!

A Tropical Concert

When showtime arrived, we performed wearing bikinis and trunks, perfectly adapted to the tropical weather.

Around 5 p.m., heavy rain began to fall.

“Show is over,” we thought.

But the sound engineers quickly covered the equipment with plastic. Tropical rains between December and May often pass quickly, and in less than ten minutes we were playing and singing again.

A Journey Connected to My Mother’s History

This trip meant much more to me than a beautiful destination.

It was also a journey into part of my mother’s history.

My mother was born in Portugal. Her father and brothers worked as fishermen, often traveling near the Brazilian coast. After my grandmother passed away, my grandfather moved the family to Manaus seeking a better life.

Yes, immigrant blood runs through my veins.

My mother later studied at a Catholic boarding school until she was 18 and even considered becoming a nun. Eventually, she moved south to Rio de Janeiro, where she met my father in the late 1950s.

Encounters with the Amazon rainforest, rivers, and wildlife created unforgettable memories

Exploring the Amazon’s Hidden Rivers

The day after our show, we traveled through the “igarapés.”

An igarapé is a narrow waterway navigable only by canoe.

We traveled in two canoes with local guides.

At first, the motor noise echoed across the wide river. But when we entered the narrow passages, the guides turned off the engine, and that’s when the true magic began.

Suddenly there was silence.

We heard:

• Birds singing
• Frogs croaking
• Water gently moving
• Distant animal calls

The canoe drifted slowly among trees rooted in the water.

For a moment, time seemed to stand still.

Life in the Jungle

After some time, our guide brought us to a small tree house where a family lived deep in the forest.

There we met a preguiça — a sloth — slowly climbing a tree.

Snap! Snap!

Its movements were so slow I could barely see them.

Then a little girl showed me the house pet, a tiny monkey chained to a wooden pole.

I was shocked.

Why chain a monkey in the middle of such a vast jungle?

The small creature looked straight into my eyes.

And suddenly, I saw myself.

Snap.

His deep gaze has stayed with me all these years.

The Real Camera

When I returned to Rio de Janeiro and opened my suitcase, I realized my camera was gone.

At first, I was upset.

But later I understood something important: