...and to fake acquiring their first own corporate jet.
» Sunday, November 16, 2008
Building a better Beyond Budgeting movement. London, July/2008 - Niels Pflaeging and Gebhard Borck, upon breaking apart from the Beyond Budgeting Round Table and founding the Beyond Budgeting Transformation Network, www.bbtn.org. The decision to change is never easy, but in March 2008 and after several months of drafting the foundations for it, the BBTN was finally founded. A visit at Handelsbanken´s West End branch in England allowed the co-founders of the new movement to take a couple of photos from inside London Eye...
...and to fake acquiring their first own corporate jet.
...and to fake acquiring their first own corporate jet.
» Sunday, September 02, 2007
BBRT Director´s workshop, London, Aug/2007 - London is the original home of the Beyond Budgeting Round Table. It was here that the movement was founded as a CAM-I study group, in 1998. So it was fitting that we met in London at the end of August 1997, a couple of months before the BBRT´s 10th birthday, to discuss new approaches to developing the community, new ways of collaboration and concepts for transformational change projects with implementing organizations.
Six of the current eight BBRT directors were present - founding directors Jeremy Hope, Peter Bunce and Robin Fraser, as well as North American director Steve Player, DACH director Franz Röösli and myself. During the two days of working, we agreed on a set of new approaches that should become public in due course to members and non-members.
P.S.: The first DVD from the BBRT, entitled "Reinventing the DNA of Management", with 90 minutes of presentation from Robin Fraser and Handelsbanken´s Magnus Uggla, is now also available through the MetaManagement Group website.
The BBRT´s Robin Fraser and Franz Röösli.
From left to right: Peter Bunce, Jeremy Hope, Steve Player, Robin Fraser and Franz Röösli.
And finally a photo taken by Peter Bunce, featuring South America´s director Niels Pflaeging as well.
Six of the current eight BBRT directors were present - founding directors Jeremy Hope, Peter Bunce and Robin Fraser, as well as North American director Steve Player, DACH director Franz Röösli and myself. During the two days of working, we agreed on a set of new approaches that should become public in due course to members and non-members.
P.S.: The first DVD from the BBRT, entitled "Reinventing the DNA of Management", with 90 minutes of presentation from Robin Fraser and Handelsbanken´s Magnus Uggla, is now also available through the MetaManagement Group website.
The BBRT´s Robin Fraser and Franz Röösli.
From left to right: Peter Bunce, Jeremy Hope, Steve Player, Robin Fraser and Franz Röösli.
And finally a photo taken by Peter Bunce, featuring South America´s director Niels Pflaeging as well.
» Saturday, September 01, 2007
AIESEC Alumni Rheinfahrt, Aug/2007 - On what was probably one of the most sunny summer weekends this year in Germany, a 140-people strong group of AIESEC alumni went on a Rhine boat trip from Konstanz to Bacharach. The group then stayed at Bacharach´s castle cum youth hostel for the night, with the usual party attached.
A wonderful event indeed.
See below a couple of photos.
A wonderful event indeed.
See below a couple of photos.
» Saturday, June 30, 2007
Photos from an Italian Beyond Budgeting introductory workshop, making use of the new 3-D models. Germany, Jun/2007 - Our brand-new 3-D-models are aleady being put to use internationally - so far, in Germany, Italy and Brazil. The models help you creating emotional and conceptual impact in audiences and serve as a reference to emphasize the organization and process principles on which the 21st century organization has to be built.
In the photos below, Juergen Korff, general manager at Paradigma Italy, explains to his staff how the traditional and the “emerging” management models are structured and how a devolved organization can actually work, to create competetive advantage. Juergen uses the 3-D models which were jointly developed by Gebhard Borck and Alexander Gerlach and are produced by RNO.
Different versions of the models - large-sized workshop models (píctured) with full tool boxes as well as smaller table-top models - are already available through MetaManagement Group.
Introducing the tayloristic “dependency” model - based upon power relationships. This way most organizations have been structured since Taylors scientific management theory.
Adding further, "factual" and less formal dimensions to the tayloristic model and putting it into market context.
The way an organization really works like: Complete with project relationships, informal networks and "market pull". This model is neither adaptive nor flexible and ultimately fails if too much market pull is applied.
The “alternative”, networked model – looking pretty lame at first sight!
Adding “market pull“ to the post-tayloristic model and letting it grow.
Letting the model grow and adding further ”market pull”.
The two models compared. Which one feels right? Which one do you “trust”?
In the photos below, Juergen Korff, general manager at Paradigma Italy, explains to his staff how the traditional and the “emerging” management models are structured and how a devolved organization can actually work, to create competetive advantage. Juergen uses the 3-D models which were jointly developed by Gebhard Borck and Alexander Gerlach and are produced by RNO.
Different versions of the models - large-sized workshop models (píctured) with full tool boxes as well as smaller table-top models - are already available through MetaManagement Group.
Introducing the tayloristic “dependency” model - based upon power relationships. This way most organizations have been structured since Taylors scientific management theory.
Adding further, "factual" and less formal dimensions to the tayloristic model and putting it into market context.
The way an organization really works like: Complete with project relationships, informal networks and "market pull". This model is neither adaptive nor flexible and ultimately fails if too much market pull is applied.
The “alternative”, networked model – looking pretty lame at first sight!
Adding “market pull“ to the post-tayloristic model and letting it grow.
Letting the model grow and adding further ”market pull”.
The two models compared. Which one feels right? Which one do you “trust”?
» Wednesday, April 25, 2007
New 3-D sculptures for visualization of the alternative models (tayloristic versus devolved). Germany, Apr/2007 - Interested in visualization for explaining the Beyond Budgeting model and its implications for an organization, as opposed to the bureaucratic and hierarchical model organizations usually apply? Brand-new 3-D-models help you creating emotional and conceptual impact in audiences and serve as a reference to explain the new organization and process principles.
With these sculptures, anyone in an organization can relate to how and why the Beyond Budgeting model is different and how it leads to superior competitive performance.
With these sculptures, anyone in an organization can relate to how and why the Beyond Budgeting model is different and how it leads to superior competitive performance.
» Monday, April 23, 2007
Beyond Budgeting implementation workshop. Germany, Apr/2007 - A couple of companies worldwide are now approaching implementation initiatives aiming at transforming their organizations following Beyond Budgeting principles. A series of new techniques and implementation concepts facilitate these highly complex transformation processes, such as
- innovative group interaction techniques ("Rapid Business Conferences")
- visualization techniques and concepts,
- use of 3-D models,
- and storytelling.
As an example: Both in South America and in Europe, we make heavy use of John Kotters new "Our iceberg is melting" fable, which was published as a book in late 2006. Get in touch with Niels Pflaeging, to learn more about advanced Beyond Budgeting implementation concepts.
- innovative group interaction techniques ("Rapid Business Conferences")
- visualization techniques and concepts,
- use of 3-D models,
- and storytelling.
As an example: Both in South America and in Europe, we make heavy use of John Kotters new "Our iceberg is melting" fable, which was published as a book in late 2006. Get in touch with Niels Pflaeging, to learn more about advanced Beyond Budgeting implementation concepts.
BBRT Brazil foundation meeting, São Paulo, Apr/2007 - The day after the 2nd Brazilian Beyond Budgeting conference, we held a BBRT-Brazil foundation meeting at Logoplaste´s headquarters in Sao Paulo. The meeting was hosted by BBRT´s Robin Fraser and Niels Pflaeging and Logoplaste, the Brazilian branch of Portuguese packaging services multinational. Among the attendees were directors and plant managers from Logoplaste, as well as Datasul´s CEO Jorge Steffens and a couple of Brazilian managers and entrepreneurs. Mikael Shamim of Toyota Motors Europe also joined the meeting as special guest.
The BBRT sincerely hopes that this will be the starting point for a lively community of Beyond Budgeting implementers. See below photos from the meeting and the tour through Logoplaste´s office.
The BBRT sincerely hopes that this will be the starting point for a lively community of Beyond Budgeting implementers. See below photos from the meeting and the tour through Logoplaste´s office.
» Saturday, April 21, 2007
2nd Beyond Budgeting conference in Brazil. São Paulo, Apr/2007 - Under the title "Reinventing the DNA of Management", the BBRT presented its 2nd Brazilian conference on BBRT in Sao Paulo. The BBRTs international director, Robin Fraser, opened the conference. And the case studies of mature Beyond Budgeting pioneers such as Svenska Handelsbanken, Egon Zehnder International, Toyota and Google were presented and discussed.
Conference speakers Niels Pflaeging (BBRT), Robin Fraser (BBRT) and Mikael Shamim (Toyota Motors Europe).
Mikael Shamim in talks with managers from Fiat Brazil
Group excercise on the 2nd conference day.
Conference speakers Niels Pflaeging (BBRT), Robin Fraser (BBRT) and Mikael Shamim (Toyota Motors Europe).
Mikael Shamim in talks with managers from Fiat Brazil
Group excercise on the 2nd conference day.
» Friday, April 20, 2007
Niels meets Brazilian singer/songwriter Zeca Baleiro. Rio de Janeiro, Apr/2007 - I have long been anxious to take a photo with Zeca Baleiro, one of the musicians in Brazil whom I most admire. I finally got my chance at Rio de Jeniro´s Santos Dumont Airport, by coincidence. I loved it! You can listen to Zeca´s wonderful music on www.zecabaleiro.com.br.
» Saturday, March 10, 2007
Discussion on "Leading with Flexible Targets" with Germany´s strategy gurus Walter Schmidt and Herwig Friedag. Berlin, Jan/2007 - In response to the lively debate about the new book "Führen mit flexiblen Zielen" (Campus) within Germany´s 6000-member Controller association, Niels met Friedag and Schmidt, two highly acknowledged specialists on the BSC and strategy, and activists within the association in Berlin. The three had a frank debate on key contents of the book and the principles of the "beyond budgeting" model. The discussion showed that the impact of beyond budgeting model on the controller role is going to be significant. A white paper documenting the Berlin discussion will be published in due course.
From left to right: Niels Pflaeging, Herwig Friedag and Walter Schmidt.
From left to right: Niels Pflaeging, Herwig Friedag and Walter Schmidt.
» Friday, October 13, 2006
"Leading with Flexible Targets" wins Financial Times Germany Best Business Book Award 2006, Oct/2006 - Niels´ second book on Beyond Budgeting, "Führen mit flexiblen Zielen " (German title) wins the FT Germany and GetAbstract Business Book award at the Frankfurt book fair. Two books from Germany and two from the US are awarded in 2006. Niels wins the prize in the "Leadership" category. The book was published at Campus Verlag, Frankfurt/New York.
Financial Times Germany celebrates the winners in a special feature article.
In good company: Niels between Campus president Thomas Schwoerer and his editor Dr. Rainer Linnemann at the award ceremony on 4 October 2006 in Frankfurt.
Niels receives his award from Rolf Dobelli (GetAbstract) and FTD editor Michael Prellberg.
Thomas Schwoerer of Campus Verlag sees "Leading with flexible Targets" in the publisher´s tradition of promoting contemporary leadership thought.
With the second German prize winner Prof. Gunter Dueck and joining other winners and editor´s representatives for a final ceremony group photo.
Niels at the Campus booth on the Frankfurt Book Fair... and showing off his award.
Financial Times Germany celebrates the winners in a special feature article.
In good company: Niels between Campus president Thomas Schwoerer and his editor Dr. Rainer Linnemann at the award ceremony on 4 October 2006 in Frankfurt.
Niels receives his award from Rolf Dobelli (GetAbstract) and FTD editor Michael Prellberg.
Thomas Schwoerer of Campus Verlag sees "Leading with flexible Targets" in the publisher´s tradition of promoting contemporary leadership thought.
With the second German prize winner Prof. Gunter Dueck and joining other winners and editor´s representatives for a final ceremony group photo.
Niels at the Campus booth on the Frankfurt Book Fair... and showing off his award.
» Thursday, October 12, 2006
Snapshots from to India and Dubai, Sep/2006 - Travelling to Dubai for a keynote and workshop at a management conference proved to be an irresistible opportunity for making a 6-day-trip to India´s "Golden Triangle" as well, which includes the cities Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. Here are some pictures from the journeys to both India and Dubai.
Niels at the Taj Mahal, near Agra, in India.
With BBRT Middle East Director Shayesteh Mahdi in Dubai.
In the Dubai desert and meeting Arab folcore and traditions...
Niels at the Taj Mahal, near Agra, in India.
With BBRT Middle East Director Shayesteh Mahdi in Dubai.
In the Dubai desert and meeting Arab folcore and traditions...
» Saturday, August 19, 2006
My personal business book library - now open to the public! Whenever I go to someone´s office or house or apartment for the first time, I try to catch a glimpse of his or her book collection - if existent.
I simply love looking for interesting topics, for books I like or books I dislike or that leave me curious or indifferent - maybe trying to learn something about that person which I might otherwise not discover so easily. Overall, I think in the age of the internet everyone should start to post his bookshelf content on the internet in some form, and I would like to lead by example here, giving you the highly important opportunity to peep into my office and see what kind of stuff I guard there.
This is just one of three book stands I have in my office, but the one that holds most of my business books. If you want to watch it more closely, please access the following pdf file, which also contains notes on the "highlights" in my collection!
Open the pdf file!
Have a good read!
I simply love looking for interesting topics, for books I like or books I dislike or that leave me curious or indifferent - maybe trying to learn something about that person which I might otherwise not discover so easily. Overall, I think in the age of the internet everyone should start to post his bookshelf content on the internet in some form, and I would like to lead by example here, giving you the highly important opportunity to peep into my office and see what kind of stuff I guard there.
This is just one of three book stands I have in my office, but the one that holds most of my business books. If you want to watch it more closely, please access the following pdf file, which also contains notes on the "highlights" in my collection!
Open the pdf file!
Have a good read!
» Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Our new office is "offline"! - Our new office in São Paulo has finally been adequately furnished, filled and decorated to welcome you whenever you come to Brazil´s largest city.
We invite you to drop by for a coffee, for a chat on business books, on change management and - of course - Beyond Budgeting, if you like.
Some photos from our new office are posted below.
Some more recent posts from this blog, on keynote speaking and workshops, have been moved to a seperate "speaking" blog on this website, which can be accessed through the "Speaking and Workshop" section on the website menu on the left.
We invite you to drop by for a coffee, for a chat on business books, on change management and - of course - Beyond Budgeting, if you like.
Some photos from our new office are posted below.
Some more recent posts from this blog, on keynote speaking and workshops, have been moved to a seperate "speaking" blog on this website, which can be accessed through the "Speaking and Workshop" section on the website menu on the left.
» Tuesday, August 03, 2004
Additional stuff from the BBRT conference, Jun/2004 - Here is one more posting showing some encounters at this year´s BBRT conference in Toronto (thanks for the photos, Odair!).
Gary Cokins is one of the foremost promoters of Activity-Based Management and an acknowledged performance management guru on the international speaker´s circuit. Not only his books on the subject are great - he is also a very inspiring speaker. (Check out his books, on Amazon.com).
In talks with Murray Lindsay from Ontario´s Ivey School of Business. Murray is currently doing an extensive empirical study on planning and budgeting in North America. The website on this project is www.budgeting-reconsidered.com
In the late 90s, as CFO of the UK-based NGO Sight Savers International, Adrian Poffley implemented a Beyond Budgeting management model. He also wrote a book about the experiences and practices applied at Sight Savers, entitled "The financial stewardship of charities". He is now leading efforts at the World Bank in Washington, which aim at implementing a more flexible and decentralized management model - without budgets, naturally!
Gary Cokins is one of the foremost promoters of Activity-Based Management and an acknowledged performance management guru on the international speaker´s circuit. Not only his books on the subject are great - he is also a very inspiring speaker. (Check out his books, on Amazon.com).
In talks with Murray Lindsay from Ontario´s Ivey School of Business. Murray is currently doing an extensive empirical study on planning and budgeting in North America. The website on this project is www.budgeting-reconsidered.com
In the late 90s, as CFO of the UK-based NGO Sight Savers International, Adrian Poffley implemented a Beyond Budgeting management model. He also wrote a book about the experiences and practices applied at Sight Savers, entitled "The financial stewardship of charities". He is now leading efforts at the World Bank in Washington, which aim at implementing a more flexible and decentralized management model - without budgets, naturally!
» Saturday, July 10, 2004
Toronto, Jun/2004 - During this first visit of mine in Toronto, I found the city surprisingly modern, at times even apparently trying to erase all evidence of history in its architecture. Large areas of the city´s center are completely new, others are still being worked on, as this photo shows.
Toronto´s museum of modern art actually lacks character, one might say, but its collection of fabulous Henry Moore sculptures, donated by the artist himself to the city, makes it well worth a visit. Outside the museum, this beautiful piece of art by Moore is displayed. A couple of blocks away from the museum are Toronto´s lively Chinatown and some of the most interesting alternative shopping areas.
Instead of staying the faceless conference center hotel, I chose this tiny and tremendously well-run downtown hotel for lodging. It´s called Banting House Inn and is highly recommended!
Toronto´s Greek district is located around Danforth Avenue. It´s a great neighborhood with excellent restaurants and interesting nightlife
Our big fat Greek dinner on Danforth Avenue - splendid!
Brazilian colleague Odair had actually never eaten Greek food, but eyewitnesses can conform that he was impressed by the immensely huge portion...
Toronto´s museum of modern art actually lacks character, one might say, but its collection of fabulous Henry Moore sculptures, donated by the artist himself to the city, makes it well worth a visit. Outside the museum, this beautiful piece of art by Moore is displayed. A couple of blocks away from the museum are Toronto´s lively Chinatown and some of the most interesting alternative shopping areas.
Instead of staying the faceless conference center hotel, I chose this tiny and tremendously well-run downtown hotel for lodging. It´s called Banting House Inn and is highly recommended!
Toronto´s Greek district is located around Danforth Avenue. It´s a great neighborhood with excellent restaurants and interesting nightlife
Our big fat Greek dinner on Danforth Avenue - splendid!
Brazilian colleague Odair had actually never eaten Greek food, but eyewitnesses can conform that he was impressed by the immensely huge portion...
» Friday, June 25, 2004
New York, Jun/2004 -
The future of financial services retailing? In midtown Manhattan, this ING securities branch looks and feels just like another online café. But financial services can be found along lattes and bagles on the menu and ING staff consults on the available services... seems like a very smart solution to me.
The future of financial services retailing? In midtown Manhattan, this ING securities branch looks and feels just like another online café. But financial services can be found along lattes and bagles on the menu and ING staff consults on the available services... seems like a very smart solution to me.
Visit at the Bell Canada Delta Center, Jun/2004 - After the 2004 BBRT Toronto Conference we had an opportunity to visit Bell´s "Delta Center", a carefully designed collaborative workspace in downtown Toronto used to support many varied activities including new product prototyping, strategy and operational improvement.
As we were able to learn, the space in itself and the highly formalized work agendas enriched with a couple of tough rules applied here (no cell phones in the Center, total dedication to the group work, almost no technology) allow the company to get work done in a manner that greatly reduces time to results while simultaneously imcreasing engagement, ownership, and accountability.
A graphic artist developed this visualization live, during our session at the center, documenting what was said.
As we were able to learn, the space in itself and the highly formalized work agendas enriched with a couple of tough rules applied here (no cell phones in the Center, total dedication to the group work, almost no technology) allow the company to get work done in a manner that greatly reduces time to results while simultaneously imcreasing engagement, ownership, and accountability.
A graphic artist developed this visualization live, during our session at the center, documenting what was said.
» Wednesday, March 31, 2004
Patagonia/Chile, Dec/2002 - A journey I wanted to do for a couple of years already: get to know Chile and - above all - do a trail at Torres del Paine national park in southern Patagonia. After visiting Santiago with surroundings and Puerto Montt in the lake district over christmas, we did the complete circuit trail in Torres del Paine. The 7-day trek feature lakes, medium-altitude mountains (but in a tough, alpine climate), glaciers and an ever-changing landscape...
A view from above: the Paine towers (centre right) seen from the plane
A view of Torres del Paine from the park entrance and exit at Guardaria Laguna Amarga.
Arriving at the first, small glacier, on the 2nd day of the trail. Facing the tough wind so typical for Patagonia.
On the third day of the trail, the first with perfect weather and the one with the toughest daily walk, approaching the Gardner pass and taking a rest between snowfields.
Upon arrival at the John Gardnder pass (at only 1.300m altitude), views to the impressive peaks of Torres del Paine and the Grey glacier (photo below in the background).
A couple of hours later, after a tough walk along and high above the ice massive of the Grey glacier, now already above the glacier lake, we get a frontal glance of the glacier tongue. This day´s walk took us approx. 17 hours (!), quite a bit longer than the 10 hours indicated in the map and guide...
Day 5: Scenic views at the camping site at Lake Pehoe, and later on the trail, to the "Horns" of Torres del Paine". Another a day accompanied by excellent weather...
Day 5 continued: up a small valley for around an hour and a half, and the view opens for a splendid 360 degree-scenery of rocks, mountains, and lakes...
Near dawn and upon arrival at the mountain hut for the night, the beautiful scenery of the Paine lakes dominates.
Day 6 - new year´s eve: Refugio Chileno, a place to stay for the night in the middle of nowhere in Torres del Paine (see photo below, centre right, with very small blue roof)...
Climbing up a steep morrain, one reaches one of the most famous places of the park: a tiny valley with a grey lake that offers the probably most appalling view of the Paine "towers".
A view from above: the Paine towers (centre right) seen from the plane
A view of Torres del Paine from the park entrance and exit at Guardaria Laguna Amarga.
Arriving at the first, small glacier, on the 2nd day of the trail. Facing the tough wind so typical for Patagonia.
On the third day of the trail, the first with perfect weather and the one with the toughest daily walk, approaching the Gardner pass and taking a rest between snowfields.
Upon arrival at the John Gardnder pass (at only 1.300m altitude), views to the impressive peaks of Torres del Paine and the Grey glacier (photo below in the background).
A couple of hours later, after a tough walk along and high above the ice massive of the Grey glacier, now already above the glacier lake, we get a frontal glance of the glacier tongue. This day´s walk took us approx. 17 hours (!), quite a bit longer than the 10 hours indicated in the map and guide...
Day 5: Scenic views at the camping site at Lake Pehoe, and later on the trail, to the "Horns" of Torres del Paine". Another a day accompanied by excellent weather...
Day 5 continued: up a small valley for around an hour and a half, and the view opens for a splendid 360 degree-scenery of rocks, mountains, and lakes...
Near dawn and upon arrival at the mountain hut for the night, the beautiful scenery of the Paine lakes dominates.
Day 6 - new year´s eve: Refugio Chileno, a place to stay for the night in the middle of nowhere in Torres del Paine (see photo below, centre right, with very small blue roof)...
Climbing up a steep morrain, one reaches one of the most famous places of the park: a tiny valley with a grey lake that offers the probably most appalling view of the Paine "towers".
Flying over Rio, Sept2000 - Have a look at the hang-gliding tandem flight I enjoyed over Rio de Janeiro.
Encounters in Brazil 1999-2002 - See some Snapshots from events and meet-the-stars-opportunities...
With american musician and producer Arto Lindsay, Carnival 2002 in Salvador. Arto, who became famous as an 80s punk guitarist and turned to modern bossa nova and jazz-rock in the 90s, lived in Brazil for a couple of years. He has worked as a producer for some of the most outstanding Brazilian musicians, among them Marisa Monte, Gilberto Gil and Caetano Veloso.
With north-brazilian singer Elba Ramalho, Carnival 2001 in Salvador. Elba is one of the most acknowledged singers in Brazil, blending folcloric rhythms with modern instrumentation and a terriffic voice...
With Luciana Mello, daughter of Samba-Legend Jair Rodrigues and herself an exciting new voice in the Brazilian Popular Music scene. The photo stems from carnival 2001 in Salvador.
March 2000. Salvador/Bahia, the city that stages the worlds biggest street carnival: an exciting event involving hundreds of thousands of people, great music and a lot of dancint. Additional explanations to this piece: I do NOT suffer of any skin desease in my face here – I just got painted some afro-Brazilian way that day... This photo is with Grammy-winner Gilberto Gil - wearing the traditional clothes of the carnival block "Children of Gandhi". Gilberto Gil is one of the internationally most successful songwriters and musicians. He has published dozens of Albums since the late 1960s, amongst them the magnificent "Acoustic [MTV Unplugged]" (1994) and 1997s Grammy-winning "Quanta".
Since Jan/2003 he is Minister of Culture in President Lula´s cabinet.
Christmas 1999, Salvador/Bahia: After a Timbalada concert in "Ghetto Square", Salvador. With Edilson, member of the Brazilian National Football selection and named "best player 1999" by Fifa.
With american musician and producer Arto Lindsay, Carnival 2002 in Salvador. Arto, who became famous as an 80s punk guitarist and turned to modern bossa nova and jazz-rock in the 90s, lived in Brazil for a couple of years. He has worked as a producer for some of the most outstanding Brazilian musicians, among them Marisa Monte, Gilberto Gil and Caetano Veloso.
With north-brazilian singer Elba Ramalho, Carnival 2001 in Salvador. Elba is one of the most acknowledged singers in Brazil, blending folcloric rhythms with modern instrumentation and a terriffic voice...
With Luciana Mello, daughter of Samba-Legend Jair Rodrigues and herself an exciting new voice in the Brazilian Popular Music scene. The photo stems from carnival 2001 in Salvador.
March 2000. Salvador/Bahia, the city that stages the worlds biggest street carnival: an exciting event involving hundreds of thousands of people, great music and a lot of dancint. Additional explanations to this piece: I do NOT suffer of any skin desease in my face here – I just got painted some afro-Brazilian way that day... This photo is with Grammy-winner Gilberto Gil - wearing the traditional clothes of the carnival block "Children of Gandhi". Gilberto Gil is one of the internationally most successful songwriters and musicians. He has published dozens of Albums since the late 1960s, amongst them the magnificent "Acoustic [MTV Unplugged]" (1994) and 1997s Grammy-winning "Quanta".
Since Jan/2003 he is Minister of Culture in President Lula´s cabinet.
Christmas 1999, Salvador/Bahia: After a Timbalada concert in "Ghetto Square", Salvador. With Edilson, member of the Brazilian National Football selection and named "best player 1999" by Fifa.
Pantanal/Brazil, May/2000 - Tavelling the Pantanal.
The Pantanal is a unique region in Brazil´s Center-West, famous for its exquisite range of birds, fish and other wildlife, including caimans and mammals. The following photos were taken in the Northern Pantanal, in Mato Grosso/Brazil.
Access to the Pantanal. The Transpantaneira road was the attempt to link Mato Grosso´s cities to the Mato Grosso do Sul by a dirt road crossing the Pantanal. One that could be used through the rain season, when the Pantanal gets flowed. The attempt failed, around 150km of the planned 450km were completed. It is unknown whether it was due to environmental reasons or lack of money.
On the Transpantaneira, cowboys bring cattle from now dryer Mato Grosso fazendas to still humid Pantanal fazendas, which are slowly becoming accessible for the animals. The road has little traffic during the day, mostly farm pesonnel and tourists are around.
On the horseback. Riding is one of the best ways to experience the Pantanal, for bird-watching and experiencing the flat but colorful landscape, here in May still widely under water. But pay attention, or your horse might step on a Caiman...
It is a rare privilege to come across an Anaconda during one of the obligate morning or evening excursions by foot or by horse. This one we found was about 3 metres long, but Anaconda can actually measure up to 10-12 meters.
The Tuiuiu is one of the most iconic animals in this region rich in exotic species. With a wing-span of about 3m, it looks impressive when flying. On the ground, it calls attenton because of its weird-shaped neck with the deep red mark.
A "must-do" in the Pantanal... is Piranha-fishing. Due to the season (with still relatively high water levels) and only to a small part due to lack of fishing-skills our Piranhas were relatively small. But they were perfectly appropriate for "caldo" (soup), still. And that soup was delicious...
So what´ this guy´ name?
Caimans, sun-bathing on the river beaches. But why do many of them keep their mouths open? Mouth parasites.
How close can you get? There are lots of Caimans to be found in the Pantanal. Too many maybe. This small one was of course caught by our guide through a night-watch tour by boat, and it hold instinctivley still while I held it.
One more example of how close you can get to a Caiman. But a good zoom on your camera certainly helps....
Bird-watch. Species like falcons can be easily observed in the Pantanal, especially throughout the dry season, when birds gather together at the few places where fresh water is left.
The Pantanal is a unique region in Brazil´s Center-West, famous for its exquisite range of birds, fish and other wildlife, including caimans and mammals. The following photos were taken in the Northern Pantanal, in Mato Grosso/Brazil.
Access to the Pantanal. The Transpantaneira road was the attempt to link Mato Grosso´s cities to the Mato Grosso do Sul by a dirt road crossing the Pantanal. One that could be used through the rain season, when the Pantanal gets flowed. The attempt failed, around 150km of the planned 450km were completed. It is unknown whether it was due to environmental reasons or lack of money.
On the Transpantaneira, cowboys bring cattle from now dryer Mato Grosso fazendas to still humid Pantanal fazendas, which are slowly becoming accessible for the animals. The road has little traffic during the day, mostly farm pesonnel and tourists are around.
On the horseback. Riding is one of the best ways to experience the Pantanal, for bird-watching and experiencing the flat but colorful landscape, here in May still widely under water. But pay attention, or your horse might step on a Caiman...
It is a rare privilege to come across an Anaconda during one of the obligate morning or evening excursions by foot or by horse. This one we found was about 3 metres long, but Anaconda can actually measure up to 10-12 meters.
The Tuiuiu is one of the most iconic animals in this region rich in exotic species. With a wing-span of about 3m, it looks impressive when flying. On the ground, it calls attenton because of its weird-shaped neck with the deep red mark.
A "must-do" in the Pantanal... is Piranha-fishing. Due to the season (with still relatively high water levels) and only to a small part due to lack of fishing-skills our Piranhas were relatively small. But they were perfectly appropriate for "caldo" (soup), still. And that soup was delicious...
So what´ this guy´ name?
Caimans, sun-bathing on the river beaches. But why do many of them keep their mouths open? Mouth parasites.
How close can you get? There are lots of Caimans to be found in the Pantanal. Too many maybe. This small one was of course caught by our guide through a night-watch tour by boat, and it hold instinctivley still while I held it.
One more example of how close you can get to a Caiman. But a good zoom on your camera certainly helps....
Bird-watch. Species like falcons can be easily observed in the Pantanal, especially throughout the dry season, when birds gather together at the few places where fresh water is left.
