Spring in Seville

Spring in Seville

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Light catches the ruffled sleeve of a woman's traditional Sevillana dress as she takes part in the Feria de Abril (April Fair) in the Andalusian capital of Seville.

Starting its life as a livestock fair in the nineteenth century, the Feria de Abril is now an opportunity for people in the city to dress up and take part in an exuberant, springtime fiesta.

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Slideshow

A woman walks past decorated tents known as "casetas," which form a traditional part of the festival.
. Seville, Spain. REUTERS/Marcelo del Pozo

A woman walks past decorated tents known as "casetas," which form a traditional part of the festival.

Two women wearing elaborate Sevillana outfits laugh together in the bright light.
. Seville, Spain. REUTERS/Marcelo del Pozo

Two women wearing elaborate Sevillana outfits laugh together in the bright light.

Children whirl through the air on an amusement park ride.
. Seville, Spain. REUTERS/Marcelo del Pozo

Children whirl through the air on an amusement park ride.

Lola (centre) and her daughters, Isabel (left) and Alejandra, pose for a portrait wearing matching ruffled dresses.
. Seville, Spain. REUTERS/Marcelo del Pozo

Lola (centre) and her daughters, Isabel (left) and Alejandra, pose for a portrait wearing matching ruffled dresses.

A woman wearing a typical flamenco outfit rides a white horse.
. Seville, Spain. REUTERS/Marcelo del Pozo

A woman wearing a typical flamenco outfit rides a white horse.

People promenade beneath coloured lights during the festival.
. Seville, Spain. REUTERS/Marcelo del Pozo

People promenade beneath coloured lights during the festival.

A woman with two big flowers pinned in her hair pulls a surprised face as she sits with others wearing traditional outfits.
. Seville, Spain. REUTERS/Marcelo del Pozo

A woman with two big flowers pinned in her hair pulls a surprised face as she sits with others wearing traditional outfits.

A couple kiss at the fair.
. Seville, Spain. REUTERS/Marcelo del Pozo

A couple kiss at the fair.

“I get a really strange feeling trying to stay serious and concentrate in this atmosphere.”
Marcelo del Pozo, Reuters Photographer

I think of myself as a photographer with a very neat and tidy aesthetic style, and I like to work with spaces to create a composition and fit things into the place where I want them to be. But it is precisely this that is difficult at Seville’s Feria de Abril.

At the festival, it’s all loud noise, music, people riding horses, carriages, heat and alcohol circulating in abundance.

In this raucous environment, I find it really difficult to reach a proper level of concentration, and when I do manage, it’s hard to hold on to it.

The Feria de Abril is a very social festival, where groups of friends and families have fun, sharing food and drink and dancing.

Because I am actually from Seville, I often bump into friends or acquaintances. They are always trying to buy me a drink, and I have to give explanations so that they understand that I’m at work and not there to party.

I get a really strange feeling trying to stay serious and concentrate in this atmosphere. Some people look at me weirdly, not understanding what would make a guy work alone in a place like this.

The Feria de Abril is an explosion of colour and an expression of joy that can be very attractive for a photographer. But there is a lot of clutter and messiness for my senses.