a mysterious mystical meeting Photo

Photographer’s Note

Another photo from that magical moment (for me at least), joining a male-only audience which seemed like a private party, a bit in retreat in a wooded park : I could not resist the appeal of the voice, its intensity and the hand clappings that occured regularly.

=> ... I saw some surprising things : immediately welcomed and invited to join them and sit down ; the 2 men in front of me soon after kissed each other, on the 1st occasion on the lips, effusively and repeatedly, in a way I had never seen in Turkey (but this seemed very prude and serious, please believe me !). One was also feeding the other...

This was certainly not an orgy, - even if they were drinking raki after having shared a meal together (the sacrificed lamb, part of the festival for each family) : they were all very well behaved (and not everyone was kissing each other, but there were other instances as well) - very strange, mysterious...

... But what was really the most fascinating : the communion between everyone, the fantastic voice rejoicing and complaining in the same sentence, crying his joy and his love for each of us - I was totally transported, like most of the people in that group... (NB : not so far from the qawwali music that one can hear in Pakistan and India, with also such communion and trances).

... So, a very strong experience that I wanted to tell, but I fear that the photos won't explain this so well ; still, I think that it is interesting to see this series, as it is nonetheless informative IMO.

NB : if someone can explain the photos attached here, I'd be very grateful because I don't know much about the Alevi-Bektashi culture + Soufism etc...(this was during a religious festival).

(NB : if you have time and are interested, the whole sequence of events can be seen clicking on this link.)

rigoletto, lousat, tehanu_f has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

aadilj (17950) 2008-09-09 2:56

The image as ususal has a natural and very well adjusted perspective and pov. I like the textures and the single tones. The overall quality is superbly crafted

sanjeevkochumon (105) 2008-09-09 3:03

Liked the expression on the faces. B/W suits well for this picture. Very well adjusted tones.

alibasarir (14497) 2008-09-09 8:25

merhaba catherine,
gerçekten çok güzel görmüş ve mükemmel yansıtmışsın.siyah beyaz seçmende çok iyi olmuş.özellikle insanların duruş ve ifadeleri çok güzel eline sağlık.
selamlar sevgiler
Ali

MarcT (21103) 2008-09-09 10:06

Salut Cath,
Tu fais quasi dans l'ethnologie des peuples modernes. Le choix du N&B fonctionne très bien.
Bizzz
Marc

faubry (32417) 2008-09-09 10:24

bonsoir Cath, vraiment j'aime ce que tu fais en ce moment, encore plus que les autres fois, cette photo est émouvante par l'expression de l'homme en face de notre regard, très bon noir et blanc avec les contrastes là où il faut, bravo,
bises
francine

rigoletto (26774) 2008-09-09 10:47

You ask very difficult questions in your note, Cath. I really am surprized to see those seemingly homosexual acts, and they do the ritual in front of a foreigner lady! I am curious, yet still don't believe that it is a part of the "Alevi-Bektashi culture + Soufism etc". Neither do i have any idea about how much of these acts are caused by extacy or raki, how much of them are a part of a culture. Yet, as you already told, this is a very very interesting, very different serie. Congrats again for your objective photojournalism.
ps: did you make any search on the internet?
Hugs,
Deniz

lousat (16052) 2008-09-09 15:09

Salut Catherine,tu as eu de la chance pour vivre une situation comme ca! Tres excellent la photo,il faut avoir la musique aussi,mais dommage on peu pas.Mes compliments,une galerie toujours riche de surprise,bonne journee',Luciano

ninaL (19582) 2008-09-09 22:26

Une belle scène même si j'aurais préféré ne pas voir le large dos au premier plan ;))).
Mais on sent l'ambiance de la fête et le thème "hommes entre eux".
Amitiés, Grazyna.

Polonaise (5638) 2008-09-10 8:22

Demetrius, Theseus, Lysander, Egeus…
An exquisite male version of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" with an extra strophe of the "Hey tzigany, bratya moi…

Brief as the lightning in the collied night,
That, in a spleen, unfolds both heaven and earth,
And ere a man hath power to say 'Behold!'
The jaws of darkness do devour it up:
So quick bright things come to confusion.

Your presence there Katarzyna, among these men in there…
Your note… Your description of the event…

Passion, blood, sperm and saliva…
IN photography, red bloodied photography, intimae and confidential photography…

In my old country they say: If the devil can't do it - sent a woman to do the task…!!!

Since Traczewska's Chasidic series - I wasn't touched to such extent until now…

Those kisses in there… Feeding each other… Howling their passion in front of each other...

They do that since the beginning of times...

And you - a photographer - in the middle of it all…

Bow my head low… Very low…

………………

tehanu_f (6874) 2008-09-10 8:36

yes, not an orgy, but admit it, it's a little weird kiisng on the lips and feeding each other, isn't it? :))
you are really amazing. you manage to blend with the local people wherever you go, capture such special and fascinating moments, go to places where not everybody can go and widen your horizons all the time. Having met you and having more or less witnessed how you communicate with people, this isn't surprising for me now. With your gentle, friendly, non-judgemental, open-hearted and open-minded attitude, and your beautiful smile, you are welcome everywhere you go.
XXX

bantonbuju (48796) 2008-09-11 21:56

you do not even realize how much i envy you this trip, cath!
you had a chance to see so many interesting moments in real life, far from popular stalls with cheap souvenirs for tourists...
real life, real moments, real world...
best, j.