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The Huilcaparu corn is ancestral and originates from the region we now call Bolivia, in particular the Cochabamba Valley. Its value for the ancient civilizations of the Americas is clear, “The first task of the Incas upon conquering new territories was always to build irrigation works for the specific purpose of planting maize.”
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Though adapted to the Midwestern Brazilian climate, this corn originates from the Peruvian Andes, where ancient evidence has been found of seeds following human migration.
Today, there are at least 200 varieties of corn, which are the result of genetic selection initiated ten thousand years ago in Mexico, and developed by Amerindian peoples since then.
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THE PROJECT
Seeds and Tales is a fine-art print photography project by Riccardo Riccio in collaboration with the Brazilian agro-ecological company Trovão Tropical. Together, they embarked on an extraordinary journey in Brazil and immersed themselves in native communities, accomplishing the mission to collect seeds that hold enchanting stories within.
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Using the ultramacro technique, Ricardo Riccio skillfully captured the essence and beauty of these remarkable seeds. Each photograph showcases the intricate details, textures, and colors that make every seed unique and captivating.
The resulting collection of photographs has been transformed into fine art prints, whose sale proceeds go in part to supporting urban gardens and Indigenous communities in Brazil.
All the species depicted in the project were donated, exchanged and finally planted in order to fulfill their ecological function in the quest for food sovereignty, genetic preservation of endangered species and recovery of biomes. The Seeds and Tales project does more than just contemplatively portray the wonders of the natural world, it preserves ancestral tales and magnifies the universe of potential in these tiny gems.
phaseolus lunatus
pterodon emarginatus
zea mays
hymenaea courbaril
albizia pedicellaris
THE CREATIVE PROCESS
Brazil's vast and diverse land poses an infinite and complex challenge when it comes to defining its cultural and natural essence. Over the course of a year, we traveled through the continent-sized lands of Brazil and uncovered the most rare and unique seeds in a journey that took us from the northwest region of Acre State all the way to Rio de Janeiro.
RESEARCH
Our search for these seeds began with engaging in conversations with diverse groups of "seed guardians", which are individuals dedicated to collecting and trading seeds, genetic collectors, and indigenous communities. Obtaining the seeds came through various means, including donations, trades for other seeds, and purchases. The final selection of seeds was meticulously made, taking into consideration each seed's distinctiveness, aesthetic appeal, and cultural significance.
SELECTION
Our goal is to portray each seed in the most captivating manner possible. To achieve this, the photographer Riccardo Riccio used focus-stacking with an ultra macro lens. This combination of techniques has enabled him to masterfully highlight the unique beauties, colors and textures present in every seed, resulting in fine-art prints that mesmerize and captivate the viewer.
PHOTOGRAPH
Focus stacking is a technique that involves photographing the same object from various distances, capturing it in up to 50 different shots. Each photograph, separated by mere millimeters, meticulously focuses on different aspects of the seed. The true magic happens when these images are skillfully layered in Photoshop, resulting in an incredibly sharp final composition that seemingly comes to life with a striking 3D-like quality.
TECHNIQUE
Macrophotography offers a captivating world of extreme close-ups, allowing us to delve into the intricate details of small objects. By utilizing specialized lenses designed for ultra close-up photography, we magnify small seeds beyond life-size proportions. This technique unveils astonishing details, revealing the hidden marvels of even microscopic seeds.
ULTRA MACRO
RICCARDO RICCIO
Riccardo Riccio, a renown Brazilian-Italian photographer, shares through Seeds and Tales that, "seeds have been a timeless form of currency among humans since ancient times. Seeds carry the beginning of life, and the history of its people".
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With Seeds and Tales, he portrays the captivating beauty and historical legacy of endangered indigenous seeds in Brazil and South America. Through ultramacro photography, each fine art print achieves unparalleled contrast, intricate details, and breathtaking sharpness.
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This remarkable project unites Riccardo's two passions - Photography and Nature. With every picture, he constructs a bridge between nature's wonders and the viewer, inviting you to embark on a captivating journey through the enchanting world of Seeds and Tales.
THE PHOTOGRAPHER
TROVÃO TROPICAL
Trovão Tropical is an agroecological lifestyle company based in Rio de Janeiro that carries out and manages socio-environmental projects. They guide their initiatives by the desire for genuine food sovereignty and freedom in both rural and urban environments.
For this, they employ syntropic agroforestry planting techniques combined with native stingless beekeeping. An exceptional synergy is created with this method, one which is capable of boosting abundance – while regenerating degraded soils and recovering springs, they promote horizontal and integrated relationships with our planet's natural processes.
Their organization is plural and acts as an incubator of ideas, with initiatives in the areas of audiovisual, editorial, documentary, adventure sports and cultural production.
THE CONCEPT
Mirna Wabi-Sabi is a non-fiction writer and the founder of the Plataforma9 initiative, which focuses on innovation in multilingual digital communication, publication, and education. She oversees the publishing of bilingual pocket books, articles of political analysis, photo-journalistic series, and a media literacy course. Plataforma9's mission is to utilize narrative to spark constructive shifts in our troubled society.
Seeds and Tales delivers a stunningly constructive shift in perspective, by transmitting the focus of the audience towards something so valuable yet often overlooked, the seed. As a writer and editor, Mirna contextualized the ancient tale which orbits each of these subjects.
