Here are a few pictures that I took at last Sunday's All Souls Procession held in downtown Tucson, an event I look forward to attending every year. Amazing creativity among participants during this Dia de Los Muertos influenced event.
Many people carry pictures of relatives and pets who have passed on.
Procession participants become spectators and spectators become participants, everyone is in the remembrance celebration / ceremony in one way or another. All 30 to 40 thousand of us.
Cameras are quite literally everywhere. This is a picture that I took from inside the procession looking out at spectators lining the street.
This guy was playing a great mournful jazzy saxophone. Other parts of the Procession had drummers, bag pipe players, and a trumpet player.
I was surprised by this shot. As the procession neared the finale grounds one of the people lining the street was holding up a somewhat dimly lit painting. I fired off a shot with flash to expose this very nice painting was being held up over the other people's heads. It almost looks like a postcard photoshopped into my picture, but it was really there. Nice!
As is the norm for the All Souls Procession every year, Urn attendants in elaborate handmade costumes collect notes of remembrance / wishes from participants along the procession route. They then transfer the notes from their handheld urns to the very large metal urn that will be lit on fire during the finale ceremony.
A beautiful, brand new, stainless steel urn that was pulled by hand through the procession route is lowered by crane onto a tall platform during the finale.
At the end of the finale, the urn is lit on fire and to the cheers of the crowd everyone watches their notes burn up and head skyward. Isn't that cool and intricate work on the metal urn designs?
Here is a slideshow on flickr of my full set of event photos for this year (click lower right corner icon to expand to full screen):
In the next few days I'll post pictures of last Saturday's Procession of Little Angels which was held at Armory Park as part of the All Souls Procession weekend.
If you are interested in seeing all of my blog post related to the All Souls Procession over the last few years, click here.
These are great Warren! This is such an important cultural event for Tucson and I'm so glad we attended both the Procession of Little Angels and the main Procession this year! The cameras were nuts!
Your imagery and talent is unrivaled! So glad you are there each year documenting it. We have young children the midnight finale is always just out of reach but, now thanks to you I get to see it! Cheers~cb
thanks! you're too kind... The finale usually starts between 7-8pm and is over in about an hour, but with getting back to your car and getting home can still be a bit late. Are you aware of the Procession of Little Angels? Its great for young children and is held earlier in the day on a Saturday. I just posted pictures from this years event.
I love this parade and swear I'll get down to see it one of these days. In the meantime, your photos are superb, Warren.
ReplyDeleteThanks Bruce, it really is a very cool and special event.
DeleteThese are great Warren! This is such an important cultural event for Tucson and I'm so glad we attended both the Procession of Little Angels and the main Procession this year! The cameras were nuts!
ReplyDeleteThanks Teena! I agree, this event is very special and brings Tucson together in so many ways. I glad you all enjoyed!
DeleteYour imagery and talent is unrivaled! So glad you are there each year documenting it. We have young children the midnight finale is always just out of reach but, now thanks to you I get to see it! Cheers~cb
ReplyDeletethanks! you're too kind... The finale usually starts between 7-8pm and is over in about an hour, but with getting back to your car and getting home can still be a bit late. Are you aware of the Procession of Little Angels? Its great for young children and is held earlier in the day on a Saturday. I just posted pictures from this years event.
Delete