A photographer relies on sound to capture the key moment a horse emerges from a ritualistic fire

SAN BARTOLOME DE PINARES, Spain (AP) — Manu Fernandez is a photographer based in Madrid who has been working for The Associated Press since 2004.

Why this photo?

I wanted to document this festival, “Las Luminarias,” held once a year in San Bartolomé de Pinares, about two hours by car from Madrid, Spain’s capital, where time seems to move backward and tradition remains alive. The photograph shows a little-known ritual from rural Spain in which animals pass through fire and smoke as an act of purification. Historically, this ritual was believed to protect the horses from disease and ensure their health for the year.

How I made this photo

I photographed this by positioning myself low to the ground, just a few meters from the bonfire, waiting for the horse to enter the flames. The light came almost entirely from the fire, so I released the shutter at the moment the animal was silhouetted against the flames to convey the intensity of the ritual. One of the main challenges was that you cannot see exactly when the horse emerges from the fire, so you have to anticipate the image by listening to the sound of the horseshoes as it gallops.

For this image, I had the help of my editor and boss, Emilio Morenatti, who was editing the work remotely during the festival. Taking this photograph required extra caution, as it meant being very close to the fire. When the horse emerges from the flames, it can sometimes collide with people nearby.

Horses are protected before passing through the fire with precautions such as wrapping their tails and braiding their manes, applying protective substances and dampening their hair to reduce heat and the risk of burns.

Why this photo works

The image works because it captures a highly intense and fleeting moment: A rider on the mare passes through flames and smoke, creating a striking contrast between the fire and the silhouette of the horse and rider. This brief instant, lasting only a few seconds, makes the image especially powerful and unique, highlighting both the energy and the cultural significance of the ritual.

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