Christian Kieffer, GMPSA
September 2025 - Picaos
About the Image(s)
During my visit to La Rioja, Spain, in 2022, I encountered the town of San Vicente de la Sonsierra. The Los Picaos are public acts of penance associated with the Christian faith that take place in this town. In the Christian processions and Stations of the Cross, members of the CofradÃa de la Santa Vera Cruz de San Vicente, a confraternity of penitents, engage in self-flagellation using a discipline as a voluntary expression of their faith; these individuals are referred to as disciplinantes. FUJI GFX100S / GF32-64 @ 64mm ISO 250; 1/800 sec ; f9.0
3 comments posted
Religious processions are always examples of human interest. Your image captures the essence of the disciplinantes at the head of the procession as pernitants clearly tells a story of demonstration of faith. The image is well centered with the disciplinantes in the center and shows onlookers at the sides as well as the portion of the following procession. IMV, the image could have been improved had you compensated slightly, at say, -.3EV. The very slight underexposure doesn't make the image look underexposed, but does make the colors bolder. Posted: 09/01/2025 04:15:38
Thank you Alan for the suggestion. As you imagine I had a number of photos shit during this event, this is one of those I have not published or used in a contest. So certainly I will consider your suggestions. Posted: 09/01/2025 04:50:50
I like how you have captured not just the people in the procession, but also the person on the right who looks to be maybe a security person. I wonder if getting low to the ground would have added some additional drama to the view, but I'm sure getting back up before them walking on top of you would be difficult. Great detail and sharpness for the front people and lighting and colors handled well. Posted: 09/12/2025 10:32:27