The blessing, a photo from Portalegre, South

Photographer's Note

This is my first post after a long time.
During the time I've been away from the site, I've traveled around every time I could, seeing traditional events and ceremonies, most part of them almost unknown or forgotten. I'll try to post some of the photos I've taken of them.
This first one was taken during the "Blessing of Animals", a very ancient tradition that takes place every year, in May, in a small village of the Alentejo. On this day, usually a Saturday, most part of the inhabitants, adults and children, bring their animals to be blessed by the priest. Early in the morning there's a mass in the Parish Church, where people gather, and then people go on a procession to the fields, where the blessing takes place.
The children take their little pets: bunnies, chicks, kitten, birds or dogs to be blessed (I guess I even saw a Vietnamese pig there) and the adults take sheep, horses, cows.... It's surely one of the most interesting events I saw in the region lately.

Tue, pajaran, lucasgalodoido, gervaso, ikeharel, COSTANTINO, Royaldevon, macjake, holmertz, maloutim, worldcitizen, PaulVDV ha puntuado esta nota como útil.

Critiques | Translate

lousat (139236) 2018-01-19 2:32

Hi Ana,welcome back after longtime,but no problem for me,i seen ever your pics on facebook,alway curious and always unique and lovely. This is very curious too,and how is nice this "nest" for the bird going to be blessed,top quality as usual for this very interesting tradition. Have a nice weekend and thanks,Luciano

Tue (92328) 2018-01-19 2:38

Hello Ana,
Good to see you back. It's a wonderful photo of this ceremony with this small chick in the basket full of flowers. It looks really cute. Very good sharpness and DOF too.
Lars

lucasgalodoido (27698) 2018-01-19 4:18

Olá Ana,
parece bem interessante esse evento mesmo, e a fotografia aqui ficou perfeita. Belo trabalho.
Parabéns e Abraço,
Lucas

Sergiom (117241) 2018-01-19 7:01

BOnjour Ana,

Cela fait très printanier comme composition. On se croirait dans la période de Pâques. Les couleurs sont très jolies et le petit poulet malheureusement deviendra grand.

Amicalement

Serge

gervaso (28177) 2018-01-19 7:30

Olá, Ana!

Um interessante evento, e muitos animais estão precisando mesmo disso, temos visto tantos sendo maltratados... E uma imagem fantástica, com excelente qualidade! Iluminação, cores e nitidez perfeitas, e uma profundidade de campo mais rasa que deixa a foto bem mais interessante! Belíssimo trabalho!

LuisGustavoLima (5184) 2018-01-19 7:42

Oi, Ana!

Uma foto muito delicada e bonita! As cores estão bem vividas e a nitidez está excelente. O fundo desfocado funcionou bem. Não conhecia o evento, ideia bem interessante.
Linda foto!

COSTANTINO (116452) 2018-01-19 8:25

Hello dear Ana
another pretty and delicate
photo from you
excellent presentation
regards
Costantino

mesutilgim (0) 2018-01-19 9:47

Hello Ana,
Wellcome back with this nice, colorfull and amusing capture.
With this entry of yours I've learned again something which I didn't know beafore.
TFS and have a nice weekend
MESUT ILGIM

Royaldevon (85932) 2018-01-19 11:06

Hello Ana,

You have certainly described a tradition that I have never witnessed though it sounds as if it is steeped in history. What a fine thing to happen, the children will love having their pets blessed.
Your photograph shows a basket full of flowers shared by the chicken, which does look charming. I would imagine the chicken is snug and warm in this sweet smelling nest, unaware that it is about to be blessed!.
Your shallow dof works very well to focus in on the basket and its contents.

Kind regards,
Bev :-)

abmdsudi (95869) 2018-01-19 19:14

Hi Ana
Bright and cheerful - what a great closeup work with excellent selective focus as the fuzzy background really lends this pops even more. Gorgeous capture in my eyes filled with divine colour, clarity and sharpness level. A fantastic contentful subject and some blessing there some where! but more importantly, it's a blessing for a keen photographer. Such a fine shot and presentation, well done, Congrats.
Best regards

macjake (98454) 2018-01-19 23:46

Hi Ana
yes, its great to see you back!
i'm sure you'll have many more of these photos to share in the next few weeks. I'd enjoy seeing them. we dont' see shots like this on TE very often, so its a welcome sight.
the note pulls everything together and makes it all understood. cheers
Craig

holmertz (102672) 2018-01-20 2:36

Hello Ana,
It's nice to see you here again, even perhaps just temporarily. Thanks for your critique yesterday. What a very pretty photo this is. You could print it and sell it as an Easter card. The "blessing of animals" sounds like a very nice tradition and I am sure it offers plenty of charming photo opportunities, which this is proof of. The colours and sharpness are perfect.
Kind regards,
Gert

Silvio1953 (221563) 2018-01-21 5:44

Ciao Ana, noce meet you again on TE afyer a long time, great vapture of lovely bird in a nice composition, wonderful natural colors, fine details and splendid sharpness, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

worldcitizen (16068) 2018-01-22 13:04

Hello Ana,
It's good to see you back. :-) This photo is adorable. I like the way this chick is peeking out of the basket, and the lace and flowers that surround him. I love all animals, and it's nice to see them being blessed.

PaulVDV (62886) 2018-01-23 3:42

Hello Ana,
What a very cute picture!
The basket is beautifully decorated with flowers but I'm not sure if the chick is as happy with it.
Best regards, Paul