Passing Through Portugal
Portraits and stories of people I met in this beautiful country
Welcome, If you're reading this, we've probably met somewhere in Portugal.
First of all, thank you.
Thank you for stopping, for trusting a stranger with your time, and for sharing a small part of your story.
This project began with a simple curiosity. As I prepared for my own journey through Portugal, I realized I wasn't only interested in the places I would visit—I was equally fascinated by the people I might meet along the way.
Some came for a holiday.
Some came for work.
Some came for love.
Some came because they needed a fresh start.
Although every story is different, they all begin with the same question:
What are you looking for?
Through portraits, conversations, and short audio recordings, I'm collecting these moments to create a project about people who find themselves away from home, between places, or at the beginning of a new chapter in their lives.
My hope is that these stories will remind us that, despite our different backgrounds and destinations, we often search for the same things: belonging, freedom, peace, purpose, connection, or simply the courage to begin again.
If you took part in this project, thank you for becoming part of it. Your openness made this journey richer than I could have imagined.
As the project grows, I'll share updates, portraits, and, eventually, the finished collection here. I hope you'll visit again.
Until then, I wish you safe travels—wherever your journey leads next.
Ildikó Bene
Photographer from Hungary
Coming soon...
The first portrait is still out there.
Somewhere in Portugal, someone is carrying a story I haven't heard yet.