A few images from Carnaval 2010 in Recife

Here are a few images from Carnaval this year – it was quite busy as could be imagined, so this is just a rough edit and I am sure I will have more images to post when I process and edit them more thoroughly at the home studio! There’s a few from the Galo da Madrugada, the Homen da Meia Noite, and blocos of Olinda. Here’s a taste of the cultural stew of Carnaval in Pernambuco!

Acochando (Tuning) the Maracatu Alfaias (Drums)

Many of the alfaias of Maracatu Estrela Brilhante of Recife are fascinating as works of art: they are quite old, made by hand, and the way they are constructed using cordåo (ropes) requires that every time the musicians take out the drums for use they have to sit down and tighten the ropes, in a process called afinando, also known as acochando. Here are a couple of images I shot recently at a practice at Alto Ze do Pinho, shot on Kodak Pro 160 NC film, medium format.

Bloco das Barbas, Poço Panela

This was quite a nice day at a beautiful location, Poço Panela which is a cobblestoned neighborhood of Recife.  There were frevo bands, the king and queen of the bloco of the beards, and a group of caboclinhos who trace their heritage to the indigenous side of the culture here. Besides the cultural stew, they actually were serving two types of wonderful stew as well – a caldinho (bean stew) and and okra and hot dog stew! All in all everyone was in the Carnaval mood including me – see previous post of the green goateed photographer!

Naçao Xamba

Here’s a few images from the Naçao Xamba – it was a “toque” in that they play music with and for the orixas. This group is well known for the strength of their religion and there is a special energy in their terreiro, their home ground where they practice. The soup is a traditional food which they serve to visitors and participants alike, it is called munguza. All part of the cultural stew…

Getting “prepared” for a bloco

I couldn’t resist posting a few photos of me getting ready for a bloco with my friend, Tania, getting me “ready” for the party. It was the bloco das Barbas, the block of the beards, and it was honoring the “rei” (the king) and “rainha” (queen), so I decided to honor the king as well. Photos of the actual party will be posted tomorrow!

Images from the maracatu sambada

Here are some images from the sambada which is the name for the rural maracatu’s practices, which usually last from Saturday night until dawn. Check out the last photo – the last group didn’t want to stop so they kept playing on the bus ride home at daybreak!

A truck full of sugar cane, which is the main cash crop of the zona da mata region.