Tales of a Ritual – The Trailer
Check out the trailer of the new documentary film I’m working on.
To be released in 2012.
Presenting Photojournalism Behind the Scenes
Presentation of Photojournalism Behind the Scenes, an auto-critical photo essay showing the paradoxes of conflict-image production and considering the role of the photographer in the events.
This project was awarded the Photodreaming Contest organized by Forma Foundation in which I was then selected by Denis Curti, the director of Contrasto (the major photo-agency in Italy, which represents Magnum’s work in the country and for which the top Italian photographers work) to shoot an assignment for the prestigious agency.
Vattienti Ritual – The Affirmation of a People’s Identity
Here are some shots from a multimedia documentary I’m making in collaboration with Yuval Shapira (pre and post production). It’s my first attempt to use video and still images together with an approach typical of Visual Anthropology.
You can find the full photo essay on my website: www.rubensalvadori.com under “Photography” –> “Vattienti”.
Nocera Terinese, a small town in the Calabria region – Southern Italy – is the scenario of a millenary ritual that represents the expression of a people’s identity, which struggles to keep its tradition unaltered through time.
A Vattiente beats his legs in front of the oldest church in town during the night procession
During the Holy Week previous the Easter celebrations, the village goes through an intense spiritual and practical preparation for the big event that takes place in the weekend.
The statue of the Madonna is taken out from its enshrine to be venerated and prepared for the procession in which it will encounter the Vattienti. These figures, who beat their legs with the Cardo and the Rosa (two pieces of cork, one of which has 13 fragments of glass in it), represent the suffering of Jesus at the column, and it’s attached to the Ecce Homo, or the representation of Jesus wearing red while on trial.
The Cardo (left) has 13 pieces of glass - Jesus plus the Apostles - and it is used to beat the leg, while the Rosa (right) is a flat piece of cork used to clean the wounds and make the blood flow around the selected area
An Ecce Homo awaits while the Vattiente he is attached to performs the ritual
A Vattiente with his face covered bows in front of the statute of the Madonna during the day procession. He decided to cover his face in order not to be recognized by his family members which will know he performed the ritual only after
Although many have criticized this ritual for being “violent” it is vital to understand the importance it has in affirming the essence of the people who practice it, which feel an extremely strong sense of belonging to the town and a bound to the soul of their culture during this interesting expression of identity.
The statue of the Madonna is carried through the procession during the saturday before Easter. A follower touches the hand of the Madonna in sign of devotion.
Light Festival in the Old City of Jerusalem
Performers move a giant puppet near a bagel stand next to Jaffa Gate for the LIght Festival in the old city of Jerusalem.
An installation next to the Western Wall and the Alaqsa Mosque for the LIght Festival in the Old City of Jerusalem.
Gay Pride Parade in Tel Aviv
The celebration for the Love Parade 2011 took place in the hot streets of Tel Aviv. Pride parades for the LGBT community are events celebrating lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities. Tel Aviv, Israel. 10th June 2011
See the full story on Demotix
A drag queen takes part at the Pride Parade
Calm, Hot Friday in Silwan
For the second week in a raw the Arab neighborhood of Silwan, East Jerusalem, witnessed no riots by the Palestinians against the Israeli anti-riot police. Muslim prayed at noon in the hot day, with no protests since after the violent clashes prior Nakba day.
Muslims pray in front of a tent in the Arab neighborhood of Silwan in a calm and hot Friday with no riots. May 27th, 2011
Lag Ba’Omer Celebrations in Jerusalem
Lag Ba’Omer celebrations among the ultra-orthodox Jewish community around the Mea-Shearim neighborhood in the night between Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd of May 2011. Jerusalem, Israel.
Full story available on Demotix: http://www.demotix.com/news/699355/jerusalem-fire-lag-baomer-celebrations
Video – Watch in HD:
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