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Barrete Verde


Barrete Verde
Photo Information
Copyright: Joao Pereira de Faria (olissipo) (1105)
Genre: People
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-08-15
Categories: Event, Decisive Moment, Experimental
Camera: Sony Cybershot DSC-H5, Sony VCL-DH1758
Exposure: f/5.0, 1/500 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-09-10 2:58
Viewed: 409
Points: 10
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
A forcado is a member of the team that performs the pega de cara or pega de caras ("face catch"), the final event in a typical Portuguese bullfight. Forcados were usually people from lower classes who, to this day, practice their art through amateur associations.

In past times the bullring had a staircase to the royal cabin and forcados were employed to ensure that the bull did not enter the stairs. To assist them they used a pole (approx 1.7m long) with a half-moon of steel at the top. This was called a "forcado" (meaning something close to "fork") and it is from there the name comes. Nowadays, they only use a more symbolic, less functional version of it in the cortesias (opening ceremony) or historical demonstrations.

The pega involves eight forcados who challenge the bull with their bare hands. They form a line facing the bull and the caras (front man) eggs the bull on by "playing" with it and taking steps forward if necessary to get it to charge. Once the bull runs forward the first forcado times his jump onto the bull's head. Once on the bull's head and holding onto it, usually around its neck, six forcados jump upon the bull in the same fashion as the first forcado, piling upon themselves and grabbing the bull while one forcado grabs the bull by its tail. The objective is to subdue the bull. The forcado who grabbed the bull by the tail is the last one to release the bull after it is subdued. Bull's horns are covered with a protection of leather to prevent it from injuring forcados.

Forcados appear in traditional clothing of damask or velvet for this event, including a green, long, knit hat, which originates from the ancient Phoenician merchants. The campinos, who also traditionally wear the knit hats, are also present at the arena to herd the bull back to its pen at the end of the corrida. The forcados don't wear the hat on their heads, they carry it on their shoulders in the cortesias. During the pega, only the cabo, who is also the leading forcado, wears it.

These 3 forcados are from the "Aposento do Barrete Verde", and the photo was taken before the start of the bullfight, during the Barrete Verde (typical green hat) festivities in Alcochete.
fer, Marylou, mesquens1 has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • AndroK Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor [C: 1465 W: 23 N: 0] (11700)
  • [2007-09-10 3:00]

Good shot with nice composition and colors...

  • Great 
  • limba3 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1081 W: 436 N: 421] (13302)
  • [2007-09-10 3:05]

Hi
Nicely shown. Good composition.
Anna

  • Great 
  • fer Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 791 W: 131 N: 909] (8073)
  • [2007-09-10 3:56]

Olá João,

Ora aqui está algo bem tuga.Gosto do enquadramneto em diagonal,das cores e a pose dos forcados está fantástica.

Uma palavra para o texto que está excelente.
Fica bem,
Fernando

Hello Joao :o)
Nice shot ! Excellent POV and lovely colours. I enjoy the pose of these men, really well done. TFS
Saludos
Marylou

Olá João,
Que bela foto, muito bem enquadrada ( a diagonal está excelente: é o prório número de ouro...).
Belas cores e grande nitidês.
Parabéns
Raimundo

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