COVER UP Magazine 129 /// PANTANAL

Behind the scenes of UP Magazine cover 129

The concept

Pantanal, the wonderful nature spread over this area of more than 200,000 square kilometers (more or less like Portugal, Belgium, Switzerland and the Netherlands combined), a world heritage protected by UNESCO, which is essential in the states of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul, in the heart of Brazil. From the exuberant flora and fauna, come many colorful bird species: the magnificent scarlet ibis, the white egrets, the neotropic cormorants, the kingfishers, thousands of parakeets, the imposing toucan, the noisy and showy red macaws, the very typical for the area macaws ... But the bird-symbol of Pantanal is the tuiuiu (Jabiru) and so it was chosen to be on the cover of this issue.

The bird

Elegant, with 1.60 meters in height, about eight kilos and the disconcerting beauty of the three meters wide open wings. Jabiru mycteria, its scientific name, has a white feathered body, very long black legs, and a red neck because of the absence of melanin. It lives on the banks of the great rivers and lakes, feeds on fish and reptiles, and although present in more states of Brazil and other South American countries, this is where 50% of the world's population lives.
A classic image of the Pantanal is that of a pair of tuiuiús in their immense nest made of twigs and clay on the top of a tree. The model Anastasia, the sophisticated styling of Paulo Gomes, added to the talent of Helena Vaz Pereira in the reproduction of the beak of the bird, Antónia Rosa in the make-up, and the beautiful light of the photographer João Carlos recreate the brilliant proposal of our director of art, Raquel Porto.

by Paula Ribeiro