Horned raftsman

Posted by Michael Skorulski (Cigel, Slovakia) on 20 October 2009 in People & Portrait and Portfolio.

This sturdy fellow is poling a raft containing our car across a river in northeastern Brazil. In Latin American culture, the wearing of horns by a man signifies that his wife has cheated on him. The idea is that a horned animal is the last to see his own horns just like the man is the last to know of his wife's infidelity.

vfxy Photoblogs

Comments (15)

Dulcie from Danville, CA, United States

Superb shot...I just really like the angles of the polers and the way you composed this.
The color is great, so full of light but not faded.

20 Oct 2009 6:39am

@Dulcie: Thanks, Dulcie. I really appreciate that.

Elaine- from Canada

looks like hard work!! i can see why he has muscles... not sure i agree with the horn wearing concept lol anyway, i like the composition, and the guy's pose... great shot!!

20 Oct 2009 7:11am

grouser from Ludlow, United Kingdom

Light, colour and composition great as is the backgroung information. Dramatic depth and layers of imagery.
Why would he want to flaunt the fact that he has been cuckolded though?

20 Oct 2009 9:41am

@grouser: I asked myself that exact question. I think it is a way of accepting and getting past what has happened to him. Thanks, Grouser.

R.J.Dee from Ettlingen, Germany

this tradition reminds me to the Middle Ages when e.g. the whores had to wear yellow dresses ... why should a man make a fool of himself after being cheated by his wife ... but : foreign countries - foreign traditions !

good shot, anyway !

20 Oct 2009 11:16am

@R.J.Dee: I think it is a sign of accepting what has happened. Strange though.

Joe Jubinville from Florida, United States

I didn't know the river Styx was so sunny! The poles are the organizing bones of the shot, so nicely structured. You caught the raftsman, body and face, at the right moment.

20 Oct 2009 11:21am

@Joe Jubinville: Unfortunately much of his face was covered. Thanks, Joe.

MARIANA from Waterloo, Canada

Super framing and capture. Very neat shot !

20 Oct 2009 1:25pm

Evelyne Dubos from Le Mans, France

Il faut oser pour afficher cela devant tout le monde !!!
Intéressante composition, on est dans l'action...

20 Oct 2009 4:02pm

@Evelyne Dubos: Il est courageux et souhaite que d'autres de connaître sa douleur. Merci, Evelyne.

bluechameleon from Vancouver, Canada

Not something I see in my area, obvious there is much skill involved here. Great shot Michael.

20 Oct 2009 6:00pm

@bluechameleon: Thank you, Sharon.

Jean-Louis from Nîmes, France

Courage à lui de porter ça sur la tête !!
Un bon cadrage et de très belles couleurs !!

20 Oct 2009 6:13pm

@Jean-Louis: Merci, Jean-Louis.

Marion from Nanaimo, BC, Canada

At first when I saw the image I thought that he had quite a sense of humor, but no, he has been hurt and is letting the world know it. Perhaps he does it for the sympathy that we feel for him. Different traditions, but that's what makes the world such a deverse and interesting place. Great shot Michael. As always the colors and composition are just the best.

20 Oct 2009 8:04pm

@Marion: Thanks so much, Marion. Your comment is very thoughtful.

Marie from France

ce cadrage est original, c'est bien vu.

20 Oct 2009 8:12pm

Mike from Shell village, United Kingdom

A brilliantly colorful image, but what a strange custom, maybe he should give his wife the horns !

20 Oct 2009 8:12pm

@Mike: LOL yes ! Thanks, Mike.

Steve Rice from Olympia, United States

An excellent image. Do these rafts carry full size cars? Were you at all nervous?

20 Oct 2009 8:32pm

@Steve Rice: Yes they carry Land Rovers even. I was not at all nervous just very excited and interested. I had never been on a raft like this.

dideban from mashhad, Iran

Hi. good

20 Oct 2009 8:38pm

Judy from Brooksville, Florida, United States

A grand shot of an injured man ... interesting custom. the colors are glorious as always and your portraits are magnificent.
I can imagine watching a few vehicles being rafted across before putting mine in line. :D

24 Oct 2009 9:29am

@Judy: Yes, the procedure is a little daunting but exciting.

Add your comment ...

next day →

Sony DSLR-A300
1/125 second
F/11.0
ISO 100
105 mm (35mm equiv.)