chokers

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the translation of 'kropfband' - the traditional necklace these women are wearing - as choker made me mistrust the various online dictionaries, as in my ears this sounds a bit weird. but as they all agree, who am i to dissent.

focusing on the chokers proofed to be difficult when the groups were marching, so i was more then grateful for several unintended stops that gave me the opportunity for close inspection. as everybody was in high spirits - the bad weather had stopped just for this day - photographing was no problem, just seeking eye content asking for consent and then making pictures.

even the impressive zoom with the long lens hood did not create any camera shyness, but of course it is not the right tool to capture unobserved moments. it was a different kind of street photography, where the chance for good picture was to behave so naturally that the subjects just noticed and forgot.

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eagle downs galore

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in the course of the festivities of the 850th anniversary of bad reichenhall as a city (it was a camp already at roman times) today we had the "gaufest" of the traditional mountain costumes association. the started at 6:00 in the morning with silver salute, which was resumed for probably 45 minutes after church had ended and the groups were assembling for the procession through the city.

from the numerous optical attractions today i show you a small selection of ladies with eagle feathers on their hats. in former times those eagle feathers were given as a present by the respective admirers, who collected them from the eagles nest risking their lives in the hope that this act of daringness would help them to win the heart of the adored one.

in the alpine region the traditional costumes associations are still important groups in the villages and small towns where their festivals of 'fahnenweihe' (flag blessing ceremony) and the beer festivals form annual highlights

this photo on flickr

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