Rituals of Penance :

• Prize
• Photographer
  Guillermo Gutierrez, Peru
• Studio
  Photographer

Los Empalaos" is a traditional ceremony celebrated from
immemorial times in the night of Maundy Thursday in the small
village of Valverde de la Vera, Caceres, Spain.
This is the story about one of the citizens of Valverde de la Vera.
Cesar Higuero Martin, aged 26 who decided to dress-up as an
Empalao and complete the ceremony.
He meets with his relatives in a family house late in the night, so
he can be dress-up in the traditional costume . The process is
taken with great care with the family and dressers paying
attention to ensure that no harm is caused to the penitent.
Empalaos make the steps of the 'Via Crucis', marking the
Stations of the Cross, during the night of Maundy Thursday
while bound by rope to a crucifix as an act of penance and to
honour a promise made to the Empalaos Brotherhood and the
Christ of Vera Cruz.
Finished the Vía Crucis of 14 stations, they return to the house
from where they started so the Empalao is undressed, finally
the body is rubbed to recover the good traffic of the blood.

• Awards
  2014 Documentary Winner of the HUMANITY PHOTO AWARDS (HPA) for the story ” Burial of the Sardine “ Third Prize_PRIX DE LA PHOTOGRAPHIE, PARIS (Px3) _Press Travel/Tourism for the story ”Burial of the Sardine “ Honorable Mention _PRIX DE LA PHOTOGRAPHIE, PARIS (Px3) _Press Travel/Tourism for the story “Lord of the Miracles” 2010 Finalist_ Not to gender Violence_ Casa Encendida Madrid Competition_Spain Finalist_ I Photography Competition Madrid Metro_Spain