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| The old baloon man |
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| The watcher of the money pinned on the statue |
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| The watermelon seller |
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| Waiting for the next player |
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| Players trying to beat the house |
The San Gennaro's feast has become an important rite that makes New York so special. A mix of religious and hip elements make this feast a must place to visit and enjoy. These photos date from 1972 and were shot on Ektachrome that kept the colors vibrant. Because the film was for outdoor use in the daytime, there was a very noticeable red shift and two had to be converted to black and white.
When I come across such "old" images that for me were taken just yesterday, besides thinking of my rather advanced age, i wonder what has happened to the subjects. The magic of photography is that it freezes a moment in time and makes the subjects immortal, so to speak. The camera was the Leica M-4 with the Summicron 35mm F2 and I used my Weston Master V selenium light meter for the exposures. All manual and yet the results are wonderful. Photography has really become too easy these days and it's not as fun.
Please note that historically, San Gennaro probably never existed or if he did, the "saint" part is an exaggeration. At the last vatican Council, there was an attempt to sort of demote him but the Neapolitans, whose patron saint he is, made such a fuss that he was rehabilitated. The fact that it was implied that the pope could never put foot in Naples if he didn't desist may account for the change of heart on the part of the Holy father.
Each year the blood of San Gennaro, a holy relic, "miracuously" liquefies. Naturally, it is acclaimed as a miracle.To give this more mystery it doesn't occur every year. When it doesn't liquefy, it's a sign of bad fortune. How little has changed since the times when the Romans believed in the omens of the gods.
Another necessary religious element is the money on the statue. This usage is as canonically important as BINGO.
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