Kapa’s Blog

Today I photographed a Macedonian Orthodox wedding. The family was traditional and followed the customs from the old country. Since my approach is candid and I have a photojournalist style, I’m focussing today the candid images that captured these traditions.

At the grooms house in the morning, there is a party atmosphere with a live band greeting guests as they arrive and Michael & his family dancing with them in the driveway before entering where plenty of food & alcohol was waiting as part of the celebration.

It was a community effort in preparing bread, with plenty of salt & lolly bears. The stick used to mix the dough had a couple of rings on it. Although the mum & daughter pictured in aprons were preparing it, the boy had to hold the stick that mixed it.

The final product with Michael & Blaga’s initials before taken to be baked.

Not just a Macedonian tradition, the groom is shaved in preparation for his wedding.

Bread is broken and shared with the meal at lunch.

Just before the groom leaves the house, a glass of water is kicked over outside the front door.

At the church, when the bride arrives she gives the koumbaro a towel and ties a ribbon on his arm.

Towards the end of the service, Blaga & Michael are wrapped in a shoal. I find this is quite a romantic image they way they’re wrapped, holding hands & focusing on the priests words.

During The Dance of Isaiah, chocolates, money and rice are thrown over the procession onto the brides dress tail.

Today at the Greek Orthodox Parish & Community of Kogarah, I attended the Christening of Steve, Stavros in Greek. It was quite an appropriate name for this week, as on Friday it is the Exaltion of the Cross.

As is the norm with Orthodox Christenings, it started with The service of the Catachumen in which the various prayers of exorcism are read by the priest. During this time I caught Steve’s very proud parents looking on.

Steve getting baptised.

It gets quite chaotic after the baptism with the grandparents trying to dress the baby & everyone looking on.

Now Steve’s dad Chris grew up in the same era that I did, when the muscle cars ruled the streets. To celebrate this special day, he took out the beast, a 5.9 litre 370 Charger. Strange seeing one of those with a child safety seat in the rear. Of course, this image, had to be converted to a grainy black & white.

Waiting at the reception, was an awesome cake made from cupcake’s.

As for Steve, very photogenic and an absolute pleasure to photograph.

At Steve’s Christening, I found out that everything was supplied by Thoughtful Trinkets at Carlton. I liked what I saw and here are a few things that captured my eye.

Not just a Christening Box, a great metal car with pedals too.

The candle was amazing, check out the detail in the 2nd photo.

The bounbouniere was simple yet classy, chocolate hearts mixed with the sugar coated almonds, note the colour match with the car.

Thoughtful Trinkets
342 Railway Parade
Carlton NSW 2218
(02) 9587 1394
www.thoughtfultrinkets.com.au

When organising events, especially Christenings & Baptisms, one question is how do we entertain the kids. Well, there are clowns & there are clowns, however these clowns I came across at Steve’s Christening were outstanding. For about 2 hours they kept the kids entertained with tug of war, face painting, drawing, games, balloon shapes, you name it, they did. Even some of the parents joined in the fun.

Some random images.

Cheekie Enterprises Clowns & Characters
(02) 9745 2016
www.cheekieenterprises.com.au

Tonight at the function centre attached to the Greek Orthodox Parish of ‘St. Paraskeve & St. Barbara’, I attended the Gala Night for the Hellenic Rugby League. The night was a great success in not only raising funds, but also in communicating what the HRL are doing in promoting rugby league in Greece.

Entering the hall, you could not miss the items that were up for public auction.

There were many items up for silent auction as well.

The entertainment started off with a couple of belly dancers, I dragged the shutter on this one & liked the effect.

Although some guests were reluctant to mix it with the belly dancers.

It didn’t take much encouraging to get up & let it rip.

This was followed by some traditional Greek Dancers

That danced with water jugs

and sieves

Then to the business end of the evening. Paul Aiton & Peter Wallace from the Panthers holding up one of the unique items up for auction. A pair of split jerseys, each signed by the current coach of the Roosters Brad Fiddler, and an ex player of all 4 teams, Australia, NSW Blues, Panthers and the Roosters.

I couldn’t finish this entry without a comment about my team, an item I had my eye on, the a signed jersey by the 2005 premiers the Wests Tigers. MC for the night was Gary Freeman.

For all those reading this from Greece, keep an eye on the Hellenic Rugby League website and details about a domestic Rugby League competition starting this October in the beautiful isle of Rhodes.