Stormy waves on Ipanema Beach in Rio de Janeiro by Rini Kools

Ipanema is a neighbourhood in the south (Zona Sul) of the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro, between Leblon and Arpoador. Ipanema beach has become famous thanks to the song Garota de Ipanema (better known as The Girl from Ipanema), composed by Antônio Carlos Jobim, with lyrics by Vinicius de Moraes and performed by Jobim himself, João and Astrud Gilberto, and Stan Getz. Ipanema borders the perhaps even more famous Copacabana beach.
The name Ipanema comes from the Indians who used to live there. Freely translated, it means 'dirty water'. Because the waves at Ipanema beach break late, it chases away the fish the Indians came to fish for at the time. Hence the name 'dirty water'. With the drizzly weather, wind and turbulent waves, that appellation seems more applicable than ever. And that immediately explains why this shot does not show the usual image of this normally sun-drenched beach filled with sunbathers.
Ipanema is widely regarded as the safest district in the Zona Sul. The district is a long way from the favelas and Ipanema is also allocated more police than the surrounding areas and can therefore be considered safe.
The shot shows the beach of Ipanema and Leblon, with Vidigal, one of Rio de Janeiro's biggest slums, in the background.