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Horses of Wine 1

By pamelajean
I'm thinking of doing a series of statues, and so here is the second.

It's a life-sized monument to the Horses of The Wine in Caravaca de la Cruz, Spain, sculpted by Rafael Pi Belda, completed and inaugurated in 2007. V2 shows the statue from the other side. I replaced the sky in both. I think the sculpture is full of energy. I'll show you some front views next week.

The running of the wine horses is a celebration of the horses of wine. Around 60 horses take part in this unique event, which is incredibly dangerous, with a horse and 4 runners going at full pelt. The first to reach the castle wins, but the run is void if all 4 runners aren't still with their horse.
The ladies of the town labour all year to create the incredible embroidered mantles and there are prizes for the best dressed horse.

The myth of the wine horses dates back to the legend of the brave Knights Templar running up the hill to the Christian residents who were under siege from the Moorish armies camped at the base of the Cuesta. Their water had been contaminated and they were weak and dying of thirst. Hearing of their plight, the knights hunted for water, but could find only wine, so they tied skins of the precious liquid onto the backs of their horses, and ran them up the hill to the residents inside before the Moors realized what was happening. Once inside, the Holy Cross of Caravaca was bathed in the wine which miraculously healed the sick and enabled them to continue their fight and expel the invaders.
This feat of daring is commemorated in the running of the horses.
Pamela.

Tags: Spain Horse Event Sculpture Fiesta Architecture Horse race Runners Wine race Caravaca de la Cruz Sports and action

Voters: franken, graceland, Paree and 65 more

Readers' Choice Awards are given to photos that get over 30 votes

Uploaded:
23 Nov 2012 5:13PM
Camera:
Fujifilm FinePix S9600 Zoom
Shutter Speed:
1/58s
Aperture:
f/8.0
ISO:
200
Focal Length:
6.8 mm
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Comments


franken Plus
18 5.2k 4 United Kingdom
23 Nov 2012 5:16PM
Interesting sculptures.

Ken
carper123 Plus
9 1.3k 8 United Kingdom
23 Nov 2012 5:20PM
Luv v1, a super composition and subject matter set against a wonderful sky,
nice one, Pamela.
Darryl. x SmileSmile
RonnieAG Plus
11 154 119 Scotland
23 Nov 2012 5:25PM
A magnificent sculpture, captured in such detail and so beautifully exposed: clever bit of sky processing too.
Think my favourite is V 1 but each deserves a showing on it's own.
Ronnie.
fificat100 9 5 2 Scotland
23 Nov 2012 5:26PM
Well taken. Super detail on this impressive sculture. Defo V1, excellent.

Lavina
CarolG 14 199 20 Greece
23 Nov 2012 5:31PM
A wonderful sculpture, Pamela, now that's what I call a 'sculpture'. Full of life and movement, two excellent captures. Carol
lifesnapper Plus
14 8 2 England
23 Nov 2012 5:48PM
Very nicely worked images Pam, V1 is especially good.

John Smile
Hermanus 8 4 South Africa
23 Nov 2012 5:50PM
Wow Pamela this is an exquisite sculpture !! I love the movement and energy the sculptor captured here !! Looking forward to the next delivery in the series Smile Excellent photos Smile
fentiger 19 920 24 England
23 Nov 2012 5:50PM
Great technique to retain that pin sharp detail ~ very very good work Pamela.

Albert
gary_d 13 576 13 Wales
23 Nov 2012 6:14PM
A lovely sculpture and informative write up. - gary
tomcat 15 6.4k 15 United Kingdom
23 Nov 2012 6:23PM
A very interesting anecdote

Adrian
Badgerfred Plus
13 36 Wales
23 Nov 2012 6:41PM
These are excellent Pamela,
Fred.
TrevBatWCC Plus
12 13 17 England
23 Nov 2012 6:44PM
What a magnificent sculpture - and two beautiful captures here, Pamela. Interesting write-up, too Smile
Trev Smile
christinecilia Plus
9 14 England
23 Nov 2012 6:46PM
two great shots. christineGrinGrinGrinGrin
bobsblues 11 10 2 United Kingdom
23 Nov 2012 7:01PM
Wonderful statues Pamela , good write up to , look forward to the series.
Rob
EAS 11 1 13 Scotland
23 Nov 2012 7:08PM
Really enjoyed the info and the image is beautifully captured.

Ann
canonfan 10 7 United Kingdom
23 Nov 2012 8:03PM
Excellent images Pamela
Jim
jdinne 17 16 England
23 Nov 2012 8:20PM
Wonderful statues captured superbly. Great narrative as well Pamela.

John
bricurtis Plus
15 2.4k 51 England
23 Nov 2012 8:49PM
V1 is definitely the right pov to show this statue off Pamela. Really like that.
V2 has not got the same impact but I appreciate that you wanted to show the other side of the statue. The sky and the greenery needed a better blend.Smile
Brian.
Lillian Plus
11 23 17 United Kingdom
23 Nov 2012 8:58PM
Very impressive statue Pamela
and like how you have shown both sides
lovely detail
Lillian
LynneJoyce Plus
12 22 101 United Kingdom
23 Nov 2012 10:17PM
Fascinating - the sculpture, the story and the photographs.
Last modified by LynneJoyce on 23 Nov 2012 10:18PM
milky Plus
17 5 Wales
24 Nov 2012 5:45AM
Nice capture great colour & detail for both------Milky
mashwood10 9 6 United Kingdom
24 Nov 2012 8:34AM

Quote:Great technique to retain that pin sharp detail ~ very very good work Pamela.

Albert


Great stuff Pamela.

PamGrinGrinGrin
dmhuynh72 13 44 3 United Kingdom
24 Nov 2012 10:29AM
brilliant sculpture and you've captured the detail and tones beautifully Pam.
thank you for UA, it was a lovely surprise.
have a good weekend
Yung
saltireblue Plus
10 11.6k 71 Norway
24 Nov 2012 11:24AM
V1 Pamela, with the horse and runners coming towards us. In V2 they are going away and we are therby not invited into the image in the same way.
Hadn't heard this story before, so it was extremely interesting to read your notes.

Malc.
Glostopcat 14 255 2 England
24 Nov 2012 11:36AM
What a magnificent looking sculpture and a fascinating narrative to accompany it. Your images are always a pleasure to view and we often get a history lesson thrown in too!
CaroleS Plus
10 442 3 United Kingdom
24 Nov 2012 12:38PM
It is really nice to have the background to sculptures, especially ones such as this, so full of movement - just look at the expressions on the men in V1!
Carole
xwang 11 56 8
24 Nov 2012 1:16PM
Wonderful images, excellent colour and detail.. I like the set up.. looks like on the stage... beautiful indeed,great writing upSmile
Ade_Osman 17 4.5k 36 England
24 Nov 2012 3:11PM
Good stuff Pamela and thank you regards your comments on the hedgehogs......We'll have a juvenile coming back to us soon once the specialist carer has gotten him up to a weight where he'll make it through the winter, so I've no doubt there will be some rather nice images to follow....Smile

Ade
Tibetan 8 3 England
24 Nov 2012 3:28PM
A very good sculptor to produce such a fine product, excellent detail not only by the sculptor but by you also, very good presentation and can see it had rained, the light is perfect for these two shots, good sky what ever you did to it! so very well done!, look forward to seeing more a good idea, regards Leon. pity I can't give an award or you would have got it, regards Leon still more to come!GrinGrinGrinGrinGrinGrinGrin very good narrative that was very informative.Wink
Last modified by Tibetan on 24 Nov 2012 3:30PM
AnnChown 11 207 1 United Kingdom
24 Nov 2012 5:33PM
Fascinating write-up - and well taken images.
Ann
netta1234 9 382 2 Wales
24 Nov 2012 9:06PM
Great imagesSmile
NettaSmile
Ayoob 9 Australia
25 Nov 2012 12:35AM
Both shots excellent.........Grin
mikbee 13 3 8 Scotland
25 Nov 2012 5:14PM
Looks a finely crafted sculpture Pamela.
I am surprised to hear they repelled the invaders being filled with wine though.
Had it been a Scottish army they would have been greeted with bare backsides,
and the army singing ''Sunshine in Leith'' !!
Mick.
JohnChambersPhotography 9 5 3 England
25 Nov 2012 6:40PM
My fav is v1 but each shot is good on it's own, well framed shots good exposers

john
NeilWigan Plus
10 17 16 England
26 Nov 2012 12:13AM
Great sculpture ,sky manips not up to your usual high standards.
jaktis Plus
17 84 Sweden
26 Nov 2012 5:29AM
Perfect background in v1

Peter
AnneWorner 13 620 43 United States
26 Nov 2012 3:51PM
Superb detail on the sculptures in both images - cannot help noticing the reflections of water at the base, so I am guessing it had rained before or while you took these. I've yet to try changing backgrounds! but see that I must learn.

Anne
pamelajean Plus
15 1.5k 2201 United Kingdom
27 Nov 2012 7:14PM

Quote: The sky and the greenery needed a better blend


Quote:sky manips not up to your usual high standards


Thankyou for your honesty, Brian and Neil.
And a special thankyou to Brian for the help and advice that he has since given me on V2.

Pamela.
ValeryAst 8 Russian Federation
28 Nov 2012 4:55PM
Flawless pictures!Smile
Regards valery
Mavis 19 143 2 England
14 Dec 2012 7:26AM
Magnificent sculptures Pamela . They must have taken some making .You have photographed them so well ,giving a powerful feeling . Thanks for your interesting story about them xx

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