Pase Del Niño Parade
The Pase Del Niño parade in Cuenca, Ecuador, takes place every year on Christmas Eve. It is one of the largest celebrations of the year in Cuenca, with the culture of Ecuador on full display.
The Pase Del Niño parade in Cuenca, Ecuador, takes place every year on Christmas Eve. It is one of the largest celebrations of the year in Cuenca, with the culture of Ecuador on full display. I had the chance to witness 2024’s celebration while visiting my Fiancé’s family for Christmas. I capitalized on this opportunity and brought my Leica SL2-S and Summicron 50mm lens to document the parade as part of my one camera, one lens, one-year project of 2024. I hope you enjoy the series and my commentary.
With this being only my second trip to Ecuador, I did not know what to expect from the event. I was told it was a big parade, however that was an understatement. The parade started around 10:00 AM, and we were told it lasted until 5:00 PM, well past when we decided to leave. One thing that stood out to me was the energy of the participants. The dancing spilled into the streets as each group went by. At some point, I realized I became a participant vs a bystander, waiting for the right moment of eye contact or an interesting expression.
I felt very much right in the middle of the action, often spilling over into the street of the parade from the push of the crowd behind me. Often with my camera up to my eye, I felt the breeze of the dancer’s dresses rushing past my face. All of this added up to create a very interesting experience combining composing and taking photographs while feeling overwhelmed with the sounds and sensations.
All I could do was grin and live in the moment. Some of the photos demonstrate the performers catching my gaze and resulting in a smile back. Perfect moment. Click.
