easter light, a photo from Bihor, West

Photographer's Note

HRISTOS A INVIAT!

* instance captured last night at the Easter Resurrection Mass

** please check WS for moments of the holly mass (held on an improvised stage in front of a recently built church), the new bishop was present, among other priests

*** i used ISO=1600, therefor some noise but ... i honestly don't like NeatImage and truly believe that noise ... is a part of life

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Easter is the most important event in the Orthodox Christian calendar. Traditionally, celebrations in Romania begin on Saturday evening. Dressed in all their finest clothes and holding candles, people gather round the churches. At the Easter Resurrection Mass (Slujba de Inviere) just before midnight, the priest comes out to give a blessing, distribute holy bread and provide the flame from which everyone will light their candles. Suddenly the darkness is lit up and thousands of candles are taken to the streets.

Everyone tries to keep the flame alive until they arrive home. There, around the table, the family comes together for a special Easter meal. Roast lamb and home-made cozonac (sponge cake with nuts and poppy seeds) are the traditional dishes.

In the countryside, the Easter Resurrection Mass lasts until early morning. The custom among country folk is to take their painted eggs, cozonaci and specially prepared dishes into the church on Saturday night so they can be blessed by the priest. ( ... read more here)

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HAPPY EASTER!

Iuli, AiresSantos, Vasylis, isabela_sor, japiey, jmcl, konok, cmoraru, Galeota has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Iuli (838) 2007-04-07 21:41 [Comment]

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Furachan (0) 2007-04-07 21:59

Splendid evocation of Easter in Romania, Teodora. The eys is drawn to the flame, always...what can I say. I love the fading candles in the bokeh zone. So well handled.
Bless you for this one. Happy Easter!
Francis

AiresSantos (56155) 2007-04-07 23:34

Hi dear Dora,
I like your ideia about this Easter composition, something different, good pocus. It's pity some noise but i like it.
My best wishes,
Aires
HAPPY EASTER

goodwill (4274) 2007-04-08 0:53

Its the attitude which makes the difference. The light in it seems to burn away the noise. The focus on the formost light with blurred background is excillent.
Cheers for the excillent composition.
Regards from India,
Rajeev

Vasylis (1414) 2007-04-08 2:28

...adevarat ca a inviat!
Foarte potrivita poza pt ziu se azi.
"Veniti de luati lumina"....asa cum lumina se pierde undeva in adancimea pozei tale.
Frumos de tot.
Pe curand.
Vasy

isabela_sor (47748) 2007-04-08 3:26 [Comment]

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japiey (10163) 2007-04-08 10:33

Hi Dora.
This is different in concept, something rare. The candle light is soothing, it melts your inner self and guides to a better light.... The way you adapted the subject in a frame as this is to be appreciated. Congrats.

jean paul

jmcl (14535) 2007-04-09 0:44

HI Dora,

Beautiful image .. incredible and wonderful control .. the light is just perfect (and that could not have been easy). Thoughtful and evocative. .. I think the noise works ..

take care,

John

konok (2068) 2007-04-09 5:10

Well, I can feel myself in the church... Good compo, good mood, warm colours of the candlelights - nice job!
Grats
Janos

batalay (41261) 2007-04-09 9:45

Hello Dora,

A touching, poignant and imaginative shot. In concentrating on the hands, holding the candle, it might be better to shoot at ISO 1600, and get the full details of the hand -- the lines. (Having said that, I probably would have done no better, it's just that after the fact, you think about these things). Your note is also first rate. I hope you had a good Easter.
Bulent

cmoraru (557) 2007-04-10 23:11

Cu intarziere :-( Adevarat a inviat! Intr-adevar, imagini foarte potrivite (si foarte reusite)!
Hmmm, anul trecut am incercat si eu cateva imagini in timpul slujbei, dar au atras atatea reprosuri ca anul asta n-am mai cutezat...
Toate cele bune,
Catalin

Dragonheart (8434) 2007-04-11 16:00

Hello Dora,
I love this shot excellent compositon lot ofenergy emiting out of this image.
Well done
Regards
Vivek

cozy (998) 2007-04-13 16:14

Hello Teodora,
I like this very much! It reminds me of when I was a small child and my mom would take us to church... We would hold our candles so carefully so as to not let them go out because at Easter we were holding the 'Holy Light'! Beautiful picture, excellent composition and framing!
In Greek we say HRISTOS ANESTI, the first half is the same :)
Kind regards,
Costa.

Galeota (10352) 2007-04-14 2:12

Hello Dora, I really like the simplicity and yet beauty of this photograph. Not particularly for its aesthetic dimension, but for the symbolic part that a flame carries within itself when bursting from the dark. There is a strong message of hope, it is at least how I perceive it, and the meaning that we are not alone (the repetitive candles on the background). Very nice.

kensimage (8563) 2007-04-16 0:16

This is really very well done, Dora--the light in the foreground is beautiful, the way only the hands are visible. It lends symbolic importance to the candle, beyond the usual. You have isolated the warmth and light, and their interaction with humanity, in a beautiful way. Regards, Ken.

pascal-harbi (1005) 2007-07-04 8:58

Hi Teodora!
A very sensitive picture, i specially like the composition, and that we can see some other candles further on.
Greetings from Switzerland.
Pascal

pal_claudia (458) 2009-08-20 8:53