News
“A Burning Landscape” monograph produced by Fotohof 2026
Delighted to share the debut monograph of the “A Burning Landscape” project, produced by Fotohof Edition, with a design by Studio Fjeld and color grading by Natalia Alana.
”With “A Burning Landscape” Gonçalo Fonseca seeks to contribute to ending the devastating forest fires in Portugal. His photographs document the destruction of the Portuguese forest landscape and show efforts to prevent fires and accelerate reforestation.
“A Burning Landscape“ is presented as part of the exhibition “Project Groundswell – Visions for Climate Protection.” The exhibition and accompanying publications address the global challenge of climate catastrophe while highlighting solutions to the multiple crises. Supported by Creative Europe, the project uses the expressive power of film and photography to present possible solutions to climate protection issues.”
You can buy the book here.
2026, Softcover
24 × 18 cm, 88 Pages
32 Colour images
Edition: 350
Language: English and Portuguese
“A Burning Landscape” won the Groundswell Grant, exhibition at the Fotohof in Salzburg, Austria, February 2026
Thrilled to announce that my ongoing project "A Burning Landscape", about Portugal’s wildfire crisis, is one of the four winners of the Project Groundswell Grant.
Project Groundswell is an international photography initiative that aims to highlight work focused on climate action.
In 2026, the winning projects will be exhibited at @fotohof in Salzburg, @photomuseumirl in Dublin, @cortonaonthemove in Cortona, and @imagolisboa in Lisbon.
"A Burning Landscape" which began in 2024, started to take shape this year as Portugal had the largest wildfire in its history. It seeks to move beyond the usual media cycle of covering the issue only in summer, when the landscape is in flames, and instead explores potential solutions to Portugal’s wildfire crisis. Thanks to the support of Project Groundswell, it will continue in 2026.
Color grading by the talented @nataliaalana
“New Lisbon” exhibited at Photo Aix in France, October 2025
Some installation views of "New Lisbon" at the Photo Aix festival in Aix-en-Provence, France. Organized by @fontaineobscure , the 25 year old festival runs until the 5th of January 2026
I was proud to share the wall with photographer @yveslacroixphotography , and the exhibition space with colleagues and friends from Portugal like @paulianaphotos , @___maria.oliveira___ , @luisaferreira_com and @susanapaiva
Funicular Tragedy in Lisbon for the New York Times, September 2025
Recent coverage for the New York Times "Funicular Tragedy Rattles Lisbon's Sense of Itself" made the front page of the US edition yesterday and of the International one today.
Great reporting by Jason Horowitz and Tiago Carrasco, with a fantastic edit by Mona Boshnaq
Wildfire coverage for Bloomberg and The Guardian in Portugal, September 2024
Starting from the 16th of September, Portugal was faced with the most destructive wildfires since 2017, rekindling the memories of that tragic year that claimed the lives of 66 people.
During four days, the fires burned through more than 100 thousand hectares of land, destroying homes and businesses.
This is my coverage from the Aveiro region, during the peak of the crisis, for Bloomberg, and the aftermath for the Guardian.
"The Americans are here, and this sun-bleached coastal city is booming.
At bars, hotels and restaurants that line winding cobblestone streets, business is so good that Mayor Carlos Moedas recently slashed local income tax for residents. With economic growth of 8.2% last year and a 20% rise in tax revenue from prepandemic times, he’s also made public transportation free for young people and the elderly.
Can Europe’s emerging “museum economy” support sustained wealth creation and the expansive welfare systems Europeans have become accustomed to since the end of World War II? And what happens if the dollar falls and the tourists leave?" - writes journalist Tom Fairless in this interesting long read.
“Finding Home” exhibited at the Photoville Festival in New York, June 2024
Some installation photos from my work Finding Home at the 2024 @photoville Festival in NY.
Finding Home is a long-term documentary project about the resettlement of the Afghan National Institute of Music in Portugal after they were forced to flee their homeland in 2021.
The 13th annual festival returns this summer with over 85 public art exhibitions in all 5 boroughs of NYC, walking tours, panels, workshops, and IRL & online public programming throughout June!
Thank you to Laura, Sam, Suchan, and the rest of the team for the care and passion they bring to the festival.
Thanks to the Marquee Partners: @brooklynbridgepark, @nycparks, @leicacamerausa, @madein_ny, @theseaportnyc, @nyculture, @nyscouncilonthearts, and @photowings
“Cool to be far right? Young Europeans are stirring a political youthquake.” for The Washington Post, February 2024
"Cool to be far right? Young Europeans are stirring a political youthquake" our story for the Washington Post made the A1. With reporting by talented journalists Anthony Faiola and Catarina Fernandes Martins, and photo editing by the great Olivier Laurent.
A story especially poignant after the elections as the Chega party became the 3rd most voted political force, surpassing one million votes.
"On a continent better known for left-wing youth activism a la Greta Thunberg, polls show that young Europeans are fueling the growth of the far right from France to Sweden to the Netherlands. And in a year when former president Donald Trump is making a bid to take back the White House, multiple European governments may be headed for a rightward shift, propelled by voters in their late teens, 20s and early 30s.
The first major test is in Portugal, in an election on Sunday."
You can take a look at the full story here.
"Far Right's Success is a Measure of a Changing Portugal" for The New York Times, March 2024
Really happy about working on my first story for The New York Times, with top of the line reporting by journalist Emma Bubola in the Algarve and photo editing by Adam Dean.
"Far Right's Success is a Measure of a Changing Portugal" is out online and in the paper.
"The sun-soaked Algarve region on Portugal’s Southern coast is a place where guitar-strumming backpackers gather by fragrant orange trees and digital nomads hunt for laid-back vibes. It is not exactly what comes to mind when one envisions a stronghold of far-right political sentiment.
But it is in the Algarve region where the anti-establishment Chega party finished first in national elections this month, both unsettling Portuguese politics and injecting new anxiety throughout the European establishment. Nationwide, Chega received 18 percent of the vote." writes journalist Emma Bubola.
You can take a look at the story here.
Portrait shoot of Left Bloc leader Mariana Mortágua for the Guardian in Lisbon, March 2024
Portrait shoot of author Michael Donkor for The Guardian in Lisbon, February 2024
“Without a function they’re doomed’: in search of a new job for Portugal’s ancient pony breed” for the Guardian, November 2023
"Without a function they’re doomed’: in search of a new job for Portugal’s ancient pony breed" is my latest work for The Guardian.
I was fortunate to work with correspondent Sam Jones on this piece about the endangered Garranos and about the people fighting to save it. In the 1940's, between 40,000 and 60,000 Garranos existed in Portugal. Current estimates put the total population at 1,500-3,000.
"In a country such as Portugal – which knows all too well the damage wildfires can do – the Garrano is now being pressed into service as a fire-prevention tool. Acerg has signed an agreement with Portugal’s largest electrical infrastructure company, REN, to provide 280 horses that will clear brush under pylons by grazing across 4,000 hectares of mountainside." writes journalist Sam Jones.
You can read it here
“With super-intensive olive groves, farmers still make precious olive oil in dry Spain” for The Volkskrant, November 2023
Recent assignment for The Volkskrant in Miajadas, Spain. In this dry region, super intensive olive plantations are booming. Journalist Maartje Bakker and I came to this small town to understand why. You can take a look at the work here.
“Portugal helps drug users get high safely. Is Oregon ready for that?” assignment for The Oregonian, 2023
Extremely proud to have worked on this series about Drug Decriminalization in Portugal and Oregon's experience with the policy for The Oregonian with talented journalist Noelle Crombie.
"This fall, a delegation of about two dozen Oregonians, including lawmakers, treatment providers, police and policy advisers, visited supervised consumption sites as part of their first-hand look at how decriminalization works in Portugal and what ideas, if any, they could export to Oregon.
The trip came at a pivotal time. Public support for Oregon’s landmark and controversial drug decriminalization law known as Measure 110 has waned amid seemingly intractable crises: fentanyl addiction and escalating drug overdose deaths, chronic homelessness and a lack of adequate support for people living on the streets with severe mental illness." writes journalist Noelle Crombie.
This two part series is available here and here .
"Portugal’s bid to attract foreign money backfires as rental market goes ‘crazy'" for the Guardian / Observer, August 2023
Latest work for The Observer/ @guardian about the profound housing crisis in Lisbon with a thoughtfully written text by correspondent Sam Jones, in which we talked to different people being affected, to digital nomads and experts that painted a grim picture. Thank you to all who lent their voices for this piece!
“Finding Home” exhibited at the Galeria da Estação in Braga, Portugal. July 2023
Finding Home, my latest long term project about the 273 students and staff of Afghanistan's National Institute of Music that came to Portugal in December 2021 was exhibited in Braga, Portugal from July to August 2023 in the Galeria da Estação, with a wonderful curation by Encontros da Imagem festival director Noora Mänty.
Portrait Assignment of Portuguese Finance Minister for Bloomberg, July 2023
Recent assignment for Bloomberg , shooting portraits of Portuguese Finance Minister Fernando Medina in Lisbon on July 11th 2023
"Finding Home", published in Annabelle Magazine (CH) March 2023
A famed music school from Afghanistan attempts to rebuild itself after fleeing the Taliban. In Portugal, they found a new home, but for many of the traumatized teenage musicians, the extended stay in a rundown military hospital in Lisbon proved too much to bear. Out of 273, about 90 students remain with the school, with many others have gone to other countries in search of the European Dream they were promised.
“My dream is to keep Afghan Music alive“ says Shogufa Safi, 18, conductor of the all female Zhora Orchestra, now living in Braga, north of Portugal. With Afghanistan now a silent society, a huge weight has been put on this group of refugees. They are to be the protectors of Afghan musical traditions, making sure the ancient sounds of their home country continue to be heard in the future. Their regeneration in Europe is something they are still fighting for, living as refugees in a strange land.
"Lithium Mine in Portuguese Nature", assignment for Volkskrant (NL) March 2023
"The European Commission has presented an ambitious raw materials law.
Europe wants to produce more earth metals itself, which are crucial for the energy transition. In an isolated village in northern Portugal, you can see how much that can hurt: a huge lithium mine must be built here. This pastoral idyll is in danger of being disrupted, says shepherd Paulo Pires (48). He points to a hill in the distance where the British mining company Savannah wants to open a 500 hectare lithium mine. The cries of the cuckoo will be drowned out by the sound of trucks, the beautiful landscape will be mutilated by ruthless excavators that will turn the green hills into a bare five square kilometer open mine" writes journalist Peter Giesen.
"New Lisbon" - Exhibition and Catalog at the Santa Maria Maior Gallery in Lisbon, Portugal, March 2023
Started in 2019, "New Lisbon" follows the intimate lives of vulnerable individuals that are deeply affected by the housing crisis in the Portuguese capital. As the social fabric unravels, and Lisbon falls prey to gentrification and foreign real estate investment, rent-burdened families have to take extreme measures to keep a roof over their heads, squatting in abandoned apartments and sleeping rough.
New Lisbon won the Leica Oskar Barnack Award – Newcomer (2020). It was a finalist in the “Community Awareness Award” at the 78th Pictures of the Year International in 2021. The project’s other distinctions include the Yunghi Grant 2020 (US), the Estação Imagem Award - Daily Life 2020 (PT).
It was exhibited for the first time in the city where it was produced, which made me extremely proud. Over four weeks, over 700 people visited it.
"The Balloon Revolution: Portugal experiments a new way of fighting fires", assignment for Él Periódico (ES), February 2023
In the Aigra Velha village in Góis, we documented a controlled burn that acted as a training for both forest rangers and for the "Eye in the Sky" project, that aims to develop a new aerial platform that supports firefighting operations.
Had the pleasure to work on this piece with journalist Dion Mebius of the Volkskrant (NL) on the Housing Crisis in Lisbon.
"In Portugal, the purchase and rental prices of homes have risen even faster than in the Netherlands. Adults are forced to continue living with their parents or their ex. Migrants build shelter for themselves and their small children in slums. "Finding a house here is impossible."
"Dubai, City of Life" - campaign for My Dubai with Leica, November 2022
An interesting project for My Dubai, that together with Leica brought five photographers to this unique place to document it for a week. One of the things I was keen on showing was the high-speed changes that are happening in the city and the fight to keep its heritage alive.
“Three Women Saving a Mountain Village” Der Spiegel, September 2022
Our latest story for Der Spiegel about the revival of the Aigra Nova village in Coimbra, where only one permanent resident lives. It is a story about the interior of Portugal and the efforts of Lousitanea, a small organization fighting agaisnt depopulation.
"I could always go back to the city if I wanted to. But there I would be alone among many. Here I am in the company of few." - Lurdes, 67, last resident of Aigra Nova.
“Eucalyptus Now” - Der Spiegel, September 2022
In October 2017, in the worst fires in recent memory in Portugal, my grandparent's home, in the Coimbra district, almost burnt down. We were lucky this time. Unfortunately, many families all over the country didn't have that luck, and either lost their homes or loved ones.
For two decades, Portugal has been the uncontested leader in burnt area in Europe. In our latest investigation for Der Spiegel, journalist Jan Petter and I tried to understand why. We talked to environmentalists, to pulp industry leaders, to forestry workers and biologists.
In 5 days, we travelled almost 2.000 km visiting eucalyptus plantations, pulp factories, burnt areas and environmental reserves.
"Upstream" - Feature in Leica Fotografie International Magazine, February 2022
"Ghost Village Emerges From Reservoir Amid Spanish Drought" - Assignment for Bloomberg, February 2022
"Upstream" - Leica M11 launch, January 2022
“Portuguese Economy amid Latest Surge in Coronavirus Infections" - Assignment for Bloomberg, January 2022
“Inside Lisbon’s housing crisis” - Assignment for The Guardian (UK), December 2021
Some photos of Dulce Dengue and her children, who were evicted in March 2021 taken during an assignment for The Guardian in which writer Beatriz Ramalho analyzes Lisbon’s Housing Crisis
“Winning the War on Drugs” in Newsweek Japan, October 2021
For the past two decades Portugal has been treading in uncharted territory, after deciding to decriminalize the consumption of all drugs. In 2001, facing a heroin epidemic, lawmakers decided to invest in harm reduction strategies and began treating people with addiction as patients who needed help, not as criminals who should be persecuted. Now, twenty years on, Decriminalization was a success, and the rest of the globe seems to be catching on.
Squatting Moms published in Annabelle Magazine (Switzerland) October 2021
Showing a part of a 18 page spread of my “Squatting Moms” story in Annabelle Magazine.
The stories of Joana, Elsa, Edna and Dam really shine through here, highlighting their bravery and dedication to their families.
According to housing rights activists, there are hundreds of families who resort to squatting in Lisbon due to low salaries and rising rent prices. Many are single mothers, from migrant or Roma communities and were deeply affected by the pandemic.
“In Portugal, Radical Right targets the Ciganos" - assignment work for De Volkskrant (Netherlands), September 2021
Using the local elections as a backdrop, Dion Mebius and I travelled to Moura, in Alentejo. We wanted to understand why the far-right party Chega fares better in areas with a higher concentration of people from the Roma Community.
"The 247 million euro business with Europe's Breakfast Berries" assignment work for Der Spiegel (Germany), June 2021
Assignment work for Der Spiegel (Germany) in the Alentejo, south of Portugal.
"The Europeans' hunger for blueberries, strawberries and raspberries has turned Portugal's province into a gold mine for large corporations. Migrant workers and the country's largest national park are suffering from the boom." writes journalist Jan Petter
New Lisbon won Leica Oskar Barnak Award Newcomer 2020
Still mind-blown for having won the Leica Oskar Barnak Award - Newcomer 2020. For the last two years, the "New Lisbon" project has been the driving force in my life. I am incredibly happy and sure it will help me going forward and motivate me to keep telling these important stories.
Thank you Leica Camera , Karin Rehn-Kaufmann, Joel Meyerowitz and the rest of the jury for this wonderful honor, in the 40th anniversary of the Award.
PT
Ainda não acredito bem que fui o vencedor do prémio Leica Oskar Barnak - Newcomer. Durante os últimos dois anos, o trabalho "Nova Lisboa" tem sido a força que me faz levantar da cama de manhã. Tenho passado os últimos tempos a contar estar histórias tão importantes, que espero que sejam vistas por todos, para que a Habitação passe a ser vista como um direito básico, e não como uma mercadoria.
Obrigado a todas as pessoas incríveis e corajosas que me abriram as portas das suas casas e partilharam as suas vidas comigo. Sem vocês nada seria possível. Obrigado à Leica pela distinção.
You can see the video from the ceremony here:
Assignment in Viseu, Portugal for the Volkskrant (NL), May 2021
Assignment in Albufeira Portugal for the Volkskrant (NL), May 2021
“Portugal’s Hope: British Back at the Bar” by Dion Mebius
New Lisbon exhibited at the Gongbech Gallery in Jeju, South Korea, February 2021
Squatting Moms exhibited in PhotoBrussels 05, November 2020
New Lisbon exhibited at the Shanghai Center of Photography in China, November 2020
New Lisbon in Titel Thesen Temperamente (TTT) for Das Erst 1 (GER)
In December 2020, German National TV came to Lisbon to know more about my work and the Housing Crisis in the city for one of the best programs in Das Erste, TTT. You can take a look at the work here:
Toxic Legacy of the US published in Revista Sábado (Portugal), December 2020
Squatting Moms exhibited at PhotoBrussels 05
Happy to share some photos of the exhibition at @hangar_photo_art_center in Brussels, Belgium , where my work "Squatting Moms" is exhibited.
"The World Within" features work by 27 photographers that documented life during the first lockdown. My projects shows the daily life of single mothers who are squatting apartments in Lisbon .
Many squatters are migrants or Afro-descendants. Some work as hospital staff, or as cashiers in supermarkets or as delivery people. Prior to the beginning of the pandemic, they were forgotten by society and left to their own devices. Now, they are thanked and applauded for their work, taking risks so that our society can continue to function.
Interview in Público newspaper about winning the LOBA Newcomer
Squatting Moms published in Semanário Expresso (Portugal)
Squatting Moms published in 5W magazine (Spain)
New Lisbon in the Magazine of Amnesty International (Portugal)
New Lisbon was published by Amnesty International Portugal in their monthly magazine.
New Lisbon - Shortlisted for the Leica Oskar Barnak Award - Newcomer 2020
New Lisbon - Won Daily Life Prize at the Estação Imagem Awards 2020 (Portugal)
Photos from “How to Win the War on Drugs” published in report by Narkotika Politiskt Centre (SE)
Assignment in Lisbon for Der Spiegel
Had the pleasure to work on a story about Squatters in Lisbon for Der Spiegel.
Lisbon is one of the premier tourist destinations worldwide and the "hottest real estate market in Europe" according to Bloomberg. Property prices in some areas of the city have gone up by 80% in 2018, and rent prices have sky rocketed. According to housing rights activists, there are hundreds of families with no other option than to occupy abandoned apartments.
Talk at Portuguese Institute of Photography
Had the chance to talk about my work and projects to a packed room at the Portuguese Institute of Photography in February 2020. I love speaking with students and sharing some insights on what I’ve been up to and why.
It was great to see a room on a weekday buzzing with excitement and questions. You can take a look at a read-up of the event here
Assignment in Lisbon for Internazionale
Wonderful working on this story about the Housing Crisis in Lisbon for Internazionale with the journalist Franceca Berardi.
Very happy with the result
“Santos Lima” cover of Spanish magazine 7K
A chapter from my long term work New Lisbon was published in Spanish magazine 7K.
Really happy how this turned out.
June 2019
“Santos Lima” published in Expresso (Portugal)
“Santos Lima” won Young Talent Award at Educating the Eye Prize (Spain)
Gonçalo Fonseca was a speaker at TEDx Lisbon 2019
Wonderful opportunity to take about my work and what I’ve learned with the protagonists of my projects. Take a look at the video here
Love Markets in China in Washington Post
Really happy to have my work on the Love Markets in China published in the Washington Post
Lovely edit by editor Kenneth Dickerman.
“How Portugal Won the War on Drugs” TIME Magazine, 2018
Truly ecstatic to publish my work “How Portugal Won the War on Drugs in TIME.
Thank you to editor Paul Moakley, for believing in my work and giving me this chance.
Assignment in Chennai for Le Temps (Switzerland) 2018
Portrait assignment in Auroville in August 2018 for Swiss Newspaper Le Temps
“How Portugal Won the War on Drugs” in Diari Ara (Spain)
Happy to publish this story, my first time in a printed newspaper. You can take a look at the full edit here
September 2017.