Capri Pastry Shop Project - Fresh start

[Antonio Correia]

Photographic Project Presentation
Capri Pastry, in Setúbal, has existed for approximately 65 years, being until July 2025 a well-known establishment in the city centre, with a regular and faithful clientele, aware of the consistently excellent quality of its pastry. However, times change and the establishment is now preparing to move to new premises in another space in a transition that represents a significant challenge, which carries some risks for the business and for the various workers involved.
I set out to create a photographic project that would document the appearance of the establishment as it was before the move with the idea of building a visual memory of a space that has marked generations over so many years.
This project aims to preserve the essence of a place that is part of Setúbal's history and identity, capturing not only the physical space, but also the unique atmosphere that characterises this establishment before its transformation. The photographic record also included the employees and employers, with the photographs of the former not being published for privacy reasons.
More than spaces, there will also be the details that gain prominence here: the usual utensils, the signs of daily use, the marks of time that tell stories. All images are in colour. Among them, the azulejo panel with the poet Bocage stands out, at the entrance, almost like a symbolic guardian of this place so dear to the people of Setúbal.

 

[Peter Roberts]

That's a very worthwhile project, Antonio. I look forward to seeing more of it.
I always think that it's very important to document the changes that happen around us. They can happen all too quickly these days.

 

[Gianluca Drago]

What @Peter Roberts said.

 

[Gary Ayala]

Wishing you Good Shooting.

(And some good eating while you shoot. )

 

[Bill Brown]

The small farming community where I grew up had a donut shop called the Spudnut. Not for sure why it was named that. It was part of the local fabric. Going inside for a donut was an experience in and of itself. Like so many things in life I took it for granted that they would always be there. Then one year I went back to visit friends and it was gone. One of my photographic regrets is not getting some good shots of that place.

One of my personal projects, from 1986 to 2022, was documenting a local fall parade through town and then a festival at the city park. Many times we would enjoy a donut or two just before the parade and I photographed the parade while standing in front of the donut shop. I produced an exhibit of my Harvest Festival photographs in 2023 for the towns heritage museum but sadly I had no photos of this business. You've got a great idea. Keep up the good work.

This was my exhibit announcement. There are no floats any more and most of my photographs have become historical records of this event and the town.

 

[Antonio Correia]

Thank you for your comments Peter, Drago, Gary and Bill.

This project does indeed have, as its fundamental idea, the creation of some form of memory of the past. Photography, in this context, transcends its merely documentary function to become a way of preserving not only physical spaces, but also the stories, memories and human legacy that inhabited them.

I don't know where these images will be in 20, 30, 40, 50 years' time, but that matters little to me. What truly matters is that they exist, that they have been created with intention and respect. Perhaps one day they will serve as silent testimony to an era, to a way of doing business, to a community that gathered around this space.

The shop today, on 5th July 2025, is completely dismantled and everything is being transferred to the new establishment - it is precisely this transition that makes this photographic record even more valuable and urgent.
I also hope to have the opportunity to photograph the new location, thus creating a complete visual narrative of this transformation. I sincerely hope that it too will be a commercial success in this fierce and competitive field of catering.

----
The terrace allowed the enjoyment of the square, inviting contemplation and use in a traditional architecture building, where the red and white striped awnings added charm to the space.​

 

[Bill Brown]

Antonio, when I began photographing the Harvest Festival in 1986 I gave no thought to the future. I just was drawn to the subject matter and didn't think about all the changes that would occur in the following decades. As it has turned out this body of work is probably one of the largest historical records of the town and this event over the last 40 years.

After my exhibition ended the museum asked if they could retain all the photographs as a permanent part of the museum. I was happy to oblige their request. They often tell me how much visitors enjoy seeing them. One of my clients, a small family owned lab, has the slogan "Someday it will be pleasant to remember". I am happy to play a role in this remembering.

 

[Gary Ayala]

I could see myself having a coffee and pastry there.

 

[Gary Ayala]

I could see myself having a coffee and pastry there.

Everyday

 

[Gary Ayala]

Everyday

Maybe many time a day.

 

[Antonio Correia]

Gary, once a day would be enough !
On the first day of my photographic project at Capri, I arrived quite early at 7:30 in the morning. Half an hour before opening, a small queue had already formed of people eager for their morning breakfast: fresh pastries, hot coffee and the traditional pastel de nata, as you can see in the first picture from the outside.

 

[Antonio Correia]

Professional Backstage
In the stainless steel entrails of a professional kitchen, each surface tells a story of culinary dedication, where the contrast between the welcoming warmth of the illuminated public area and the metallic coldness of the washing equipment reveals the essential duality of public gastronomy. Here, where large pots rest, steam still dances in the air, whispering secrets of flavours that were consumed on the other side. The organised shelves and suspended utensils are silent witnesses to a choreography, where each movement has purpose and each space has function.

 

[Gianluca Drago]

Perfect.

 

[Antonio Correia]

Thank you, Drago, for your very brief but complimentary comment.

I must confess that, after capturing this image and processing it at home, I realised I had inadvertently cut off the complete designation of the pastry shop. The name doesn't appear in full, as it should, causing me some initial discomfort.
At the time, I thought about retaking the photograph and correcting the framing. However, absorbed by the creative process and the continuity of work, I ended up completely forgetting to return to the location.

Nevertheless, after reflection, I concluded that this image deserved to be part of the project. There's something in the composition, light and captured atmosphere that transcends that error. The photograph manages to convey an essence valuable to the overall work.
Furthermore, not everyone notices these details. Often, it's the emotion evoked by the image that truly matters.

Thank you again for your comment.

 

[Gary Ayala]

Gary, once a day would be enough !
On the first day of my photographic project at Capri, I arrived quite early at 7:30 in the morning. Half an hour before opening, a small queue had already formed of people eager for their morning breakfast: fresh pastries, hot coffee and the traditional pastel de nata, as you can see in the first picture from the outside.

I'll take a Pastel de Nata, por favor.

 

[Gary Ayala]

Professional Backstage
In the stainless steel entrails of a professional kitchen, each surface tells a story of culinary dedication, where the contrast between the welcoming warmth of the illuminated public area and the metallic coldness of the washing equipment reveals the essential duality of public gastronomy. Here, where large pots rest, steam still dances in the air, whispering secrets of flavours that were consumed on the other side. The organised shelves and suspended utensils are silent witnesses to a choreography, where each movement has purpose and each space has function.

Your prose eliminates the need for photography.
(Well done on the image and the text. Both communication tools compliment each other.)

 

[Antonio Correia]

I'm very grateful for your comment, Gary !
This image, like the threshold one, represents the transition between different environments. I chose them very intentionally and sequentially, as I believe these passages tell a unique visual story. Each transition has its own character and meaning, creating a unique visual narrative.

These are spaces that invite us to pause, to reflect on what we leave behind and what awaits us ahead. These images capture that subtle magic of boundaries and passages, something that has always fascinated me in architecture and in life.

Thank you for the comment Gary !