This morning I went to photograph the Good Friday Semana Santa procession through Baza, Granada Province, Andalucia, Spain. It was put on by Our Lady of Dolores Brotherhood and was spectacular. We are not talking about a big city performance as in Malaga or Seville. This is a small town in rural Spain. These people are all volunteers and do it for the love of it, nobody gets paid. What is encouraging is the amount of young people involved. In a country where youth unemployment is more than 50 percent some with a bleak future ahead, they still get out and do something for the community. Many people would think it is purely a religious festival or procession and it mainly is, but the Brotherhood´s are in themselves not religious organisations, thet are more akin to Unions, Buffs or Freemasons.
I took a few hundred images but for…
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Late this afternoon I attended the rehearsal of the performance of the Passion Play in a tiny village in rural Spain called Cuevas del Campo. It is where, every year, about 600 of the villagers dress up in authentic costumes and perform the Passion on Good Friday. It is one of those must see activities whilst in Spain at Easter Time. These people are not professional actors, they are the townsfolk of Cuevas del Campo. They re-enact the passion and crucifixtion not for tourists or money or anything like that, but to honour their beliefs and traditions in a spectacular fashion not to be missed.
Any coments are welcome.
Well, this post just reflects what I believe to be true in life in general.
Today a new store opened in Swindon Town Centre. Peacocks the clothing retailer opened up a new store. Nice and clean and warm, with plenty of stock and nice staff. Whilst only a few doors down HMV is closing down, selling off all of it’s stock at hugely discounted prices. What a shame for not just the staff that work there but for Swindon Town.
I believe in progress and new technology and the internet etc but I also do not want to see the High Street become a ghost town and I will support it as much as I can. However what I do believe in is:-
When one door shuts another one opens …..
Swindon Borough Council’s Access Day hailed a great success.
Over 20 local Swindon schools, with 160 children, attended the Swindon Borough Council’s Leisure Services Access Day last week, which was run in conjunction with the Borough’s Advisory Teachers.
Taking place at the Link Centre in West Swindon, Children with a wide range of disabilities were encouraged to have a go at a number of activities which were run by SBC’s Leisure staff and local clubs.
Croquet (Swindon Croquet Club), Fencing (Swindon Fencing Club), Wheelchair Basketball (Swindon Shock), Wheelchair Rugby (Swindon St George), Football (STFC Football in the Community), Dance (Swindon Dance), Martial Arts (Success Martial Arts), Swimming (Swindon Dolphins & ASA), Climbing, Boccia, Trampolining and Ice Skating were just a few activities on offer to the children throughout the day.
Louise Hunt, London 2012 Paralympian Tennis player was also in attendance to support the day and speak to the…
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Well, he has gone and done it. After lots of speculation Paolo Di Canio has resigned from Swindon Town Football Club STFC.
I think it is a shame. I am not a follower of football but I do like Paolo and think he has the right attitude to his players, team, club etc and is sticking to what he thinks is right. I have had the pleasure of photographing him a few times now and he seems to be a nice chap. And whats more he is very passionate about what he does.
Good luck Paolo with what ever you do next, sad to see you go.
It is generally thought that the Republic Retail Clothing Chain will be going into Administration tomorrow (Wednesday 13th). Country wide this could mean up to 1000 job losses including those in Swindon. These two images are of the Swindon Branch of Republic clothing and despite when I was taking these images there seemed to be a fairly good and steady foot fall through the store, countrywide the trading figures are poor and from what I can see the trade seem to think that the clothing chain will be going into administration.
Watch this space I guess.
Remeber that I now blog as The Swindon photojournalist 🙂
Well it depends where you come from.
This is not a new photograph. In fact I took it prob about 5 or 6 years ago. Why? Well I was just wandering around the graveyard of The Christ Church on Cricklade Rd Swindon and came across this headstone. It really interested me as do a lot of Military grave stones. So I did a little bit of research.
Private Raymond Dunn was in 2 Para and was 20 years old when he died on the 27th August 1979. He was one of the 18 Soldiers killed at the Warren Point Massacre, a guerilla assault by the Provisional IRA South Armagh Brigade.
Raymond Dunn died in a Military Conflict, like modern day conflicts, did he want to be there?, did he understand why he was there? did he die believing in a cause or because he was just unlucky…
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NEW Blog Swindonphotojournalist
Hi,
I am very concious of the fact that I have not posted here for a very long time. The reason is that I created a new blog called The Swindonphotojournalist where I blog about what I am doing and news stories mainly about Swindon. I am pleased to say it is going really well and I am getting lots and lots of hits.
Problem is I dont really want to close this one down. So if you have landed here please feel free t go take a look at Swindonphotojournalist.
Many thanks and kind regards
Pete
pdimages 