Madrid - the bullfight edition - 2 Sept.

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Yes, there had to be one, a "corrida" (bullfight) edition, but I decided to make it a completely separate one, not because it was that important, but because some people might not want to look at all at the images. By request I have chosen relatively delicate ones - no bulls streaming with blood etc, although some will inevitably be seen cos that is what happens. However I have censored the gorier ones (especially those with the picadores - who lance the bull from horseback to "slow it down"). But there is also I must admit a certain art (or nerve) to what the guys out there with the capes do (matadors/toreros) - even more so the guys (called banderilleros?) with small lances who place the lances on the bull's neck/back with no cover whatsoever. This I have tried to demonstrate in terms of how close man and beast are in some of these passing moves - whatever they are called.

And these have been culled from about 80 or more - a lot of hit and miss - from the top of the arena as I was only prepared to buy a cheap seat for 4.50E, less than $6. And let the telephoto zoom do the rest as you can see.

I must say that after about 20 minutes I felt rather queasy in the pit of my stomach about what some might call the brutality of the affair. Is it "sport" or "art"? - they say event reports appear in the culture pages of the newspapers, not the sports section. However I did stay for about 5 or 6 kills. They do vary in the "quality" of the finish - some toreros were whistled at for their less than stellar performances by the aficonados. The arena was not that full as you can see.

Will I go to another one? - I think not. One is probably really enough for us lilly-livered, animal loving non-Hispanic Westerners who did not grow up with this tradition. They were banned in Catalonia/Barcelona in 2010 but apparently the Minister for Culture in 2011 gave them a declaration of protection as 'an artistic discipline and cultural product'.

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Photos

Madrid - Las Ventas arena exterior
it holds about 20,000 I believe

Ventas arena - not that busy
I made sure I got 'sombras' (shade) seat

Ventas torero tempting
the bull to have a go

Ventas torero footwork
looks very stylish

Ventas man v bull
bull swerve going on

more torero footwork
you wonder how the bull misses (this looks pretty close)

a torero ready to move
looks kinda close

bandilleros about to lance
no capes no nothing - more nerve I reckon

torero ready to move
out of the way!

the Ventas horse team
who drag the dead bull out

Comments

[Huddo]

Bull indeed.
Hi Mike, Having been to one of those "events" myself, yes it is indeed a very, very personal view of the event itself. However! as a Sportsperson myself, the bulls are "fighters" but they have little chance in the long run, despite the artistry. Photo's superb as usual, thank you. Love Huddo.