Jae Rae Photography

A visit to the holy land of Medina in Saudi Arabia of a private wedding, an honour to photograph in such a harmonious place in our planet.

Approximately 87,000 dancers filled the streets of La Paz for Bolivia's Gran Poder festival, a UNESCO-recognized celebration blending Andean Catholicism with Indigenous traditions, once a year, the Gran Poder come to life.

This year, a special key figure of the Gran Poder and Galán family, Bolivian researcher and LGBTI rights activist David Aruquipa wears the Waphuri Galán character for the Gran Poder festival this year. A member of Familia Galán, a collective of LGBTI artists and activists, Aruquipa has participated in the traditional Kullawada dance for more than two decades. The Kullawada, historically associated with textile spinners, is characterized by elaborate costumes and jewelry symbolizing prosperity and is performed as an expression of devotion to the Tata del Gran Poder, every year, in different coloured costumes. This year was green 💚

More pictures on instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/p/DbUYqbpET7i/?igsh=MTNkcnpvNzh2d2RuYg==

The lead up to the gran poder has well and truly taken place here in La Paz, in the run up for the Great Gran Poder this Saturday.

Bling, swings & glitz 💖 1st part: Pre entry extravaganza parade of Gran Poder, delayed this year to the end of July. The streets get filled with dancing, beers and brass tunes. The Gran Poder itself is the anticipation of the Entrance the Lord Jesus of the Great Power of the Holy Trinity Cultural Heritage of Humanity granted by UNESCO in the City of Peace, La Paz on an annual occasion, with over 65 dance fraternities fill the streets. #lapazbolivia #granpoder #morenada #everydayandes #streetphotography

Pre entry extravaganza parade of Gran Poder, on instagram!

https://www.instagram.com/p/DbUbYc3kYCG/?igsh=MWQ2MHVlNDUzdjA1ag==

The Gran Poder itself is the anticipation of the Entrance the Lord Jesus of the Great Power of the Holy Trinity Cultural Heritage of Humanity granted by UNESCO in the City of Peace, La Paz on an annual occasion, with over 65 dance fraternities fill the streets.

Bling, swings & glitz 🪩🤍 2nd part: Pre entry extravaganza parade of Gran Poder, delayed this year to the end of July. The streets get filled with blessings to Jesus, buying photo memories and street filled confetti. The Gran Poder itself is the anticipation of the Entrance the Lord Jesus of the Great Power of the Holy Trinity Cultural Heritage of Humanity granted by UNESCO in the City of Peace, La Paz on an annual occasion, with over 65 dance fraternities fill the streets. #lapazbolivia #granpoder #morenada #everydayandes #streetphotography

Pre entry extravaganza parade of Gran Poder, delayed this year to the end of July. The streets get filled with dancing, beers and brass tunes. The Gran Poder itself is the anticipation of the Entrance the Lord Jesus of the Great Power of the Holy Trinity Cultural Heritage of Humanity granted by UNESCO in the City of Peace, La Paz on an annual occasion, with over 65 dance fraternities fill the streets.

An evening of night at the museums, where in La Paz, the evening is free entry to all museums for one evening annually. The mayor of the city joined in opening the doors to the mayors office as part of contributing.

In the upheaval of what is a weakening government against the volume of Bolivians day by day demand higher quality of fuel, reduce in salary of all political appointees and legislators and institutional leaders with calling president Rodrigo Paz to step down for threatening to change the constitution without the established process. A combination of eruption of clashes in the streets has brought the moment where resilience to attempt entering the governmental area of La Paz has clocked beyond the ticking bomb expiry.

Attempts in reassuring the teachers of the rural sector a deadline of demands from the ministry of education fail prior to a 4pm ticking bomb, causing an uproar of tension and unity being risen.

Marches of protesting for demand of the education department to resolve demands brought to the building of the ministry of Education.

Upon returning to madre tierra of Bolivia, I stumble upon a capoeira gathering, a blend of martial arts to locomotive movement with the background of Brazilian instruments and chanting as each session is conducted with two people. What a beautiful first encounter to return.