LOS EMPALAOS
A centuries-old act of faith, witnessed from within.
I was granted access to document the preparations and behind-the-scenes reality of the unique procession known as Los Empalaos, one of the most intense and visually striking Holy Week traditions in Spain, in Jerez de los Caballeros, Extremadura.
Working inside the ritual allowed me to photograph what happens beyond the spectacle, the preparation, anticipation, physical intensity and profound personal commitment behind a tradition rooted in faith and identity.
The story also reveals something larger: how a deeply local tradition becomes part of the cultural experience of a place, drawing visitors while remaining deeply personal to the people who keep it alive.
