Blog Archives
19: friendly woman, bivona
28 Faces, day 19
What I do in all my portraits is to try to stay out of it. I try to catch people the way they are.
-Mark Carder
Bivona, Sicily
photographed 9.4.2022
1: girl, bivona
Hello and welcome to a project I am calling 28 Faces.
My photographic journey has gone places (literally and figuratively) that I never even imagined when I decided on a whim to start a photo blog in 2009. I’ve been so fortunate to have meet other photographers who’ve supported and encouraged me, who’ve led me further along the path as it evolves and meanders, who’ve seen potential that I was missing. It’s a fascinating journey.
Anyway, today begins a whole month of portraits. And here’s a quote to get things started:
The most difficult thing for me is a portrait.
-Henri Cartier-Bresson
Bivona, Sicily
photographed 9.4.2022
the committee, at rest
The men who are entrusted to carry the saint on her procession are all members of a family that’s been doing this important task for centuries. When we asked how that family was originally chosen, our guide said it was so long ago that no one knows. That sort of dedication to a saint, to personal beliefs, to a community is admirable. And is something that I do not believe I’ve witnessed before.
Thank you for your patience as I presented all these photos of Sicily. It took me several months to commit to making the trip; finally making the commitment to go was one of the best decisions that I have ever made. So, here’s my Big Important Advice: don’t put off doing that thing that you think you want to do but aren’t sure about it because this might not be the best time or your schedule might be too tight to make it work or what about that other thing that you’ll miss at home (or at the office) if you go. If you CAN, you should.
Bivona, Sicily
photographed 9.4.2022
la processione
Later on the day of the saint’s feast, Santa Rosalia was carried on a procession through the town. A trio of priests led the way, and a marching band followed. The saint is heavy – and top-heavy, too – so there were frequent stops. The local residents followed on the sidewalks or crowded into the street.
Because our visit was well-known in Bivona and because we’d met the Mayor earlier that day, he was kind about waving us into good positions in front of the procession. And the townspeople were also very nice about our participation in an event that was a sacred day for them but which could have easily been perceived as a novelty to us. It was easy to get caught up in the magic (which is a thing that sounds like an easy cliche, but it really did feel that way).
Bivona, Sicily
photographed 9.4.2022
technology and the ancient saint
I would guess that nearly everyone at the church that day used their phones to document at least part of what was going on.
Chiesa Parrocchiale di Santa Rosalia
Bivona, Sicily
photographed 9.4.2022
One Day | One Image 