Adrenaline and Tradition: The Bull Runs of Camarma

Over the festival weekend, the "Tradicional Encierro por las calles" is the event that truly gets the town’s heart racing. Three times—Friday evening, Saturday morning, and Saturday evening—the sound of a rocket signals that the bulls are loose, and an electric energy surges through the streets of Camarma.

For me, this event is a photographer's dream and a pure adrenaline rush. For the first two runs, I was on my own, moving quickly between different spots to capture the action from every angle. I’d find a place along Calle de las Casqueras for the first bull, then hustle to a new spot on Calle Mayor for the next. It’s a fast-paced dance of anticipation and reaction, trying to frame the perfect shot as the runners and bulls fly past.

The whole town comes out to watch. People line the streets, packed tightly behind sturdy metal barricades. Balconies that are empty all year suddenly fill with families and friends, all looking down on the chaos below. For the third run, I joined my own family, and it was special to experience it not just as a photographer, but as a resident, sharing in the collective gasp and cheer of our community.

After the bulls make their run through the town, they are guided into a temporary bullring set up in an open dirt lot near the edge of town. It’s important to know that this isn't a traditional bullfight where the animal is harmed. Instead, it’s a display of courage and agility, mostly from the local young men. The best way I can describe the scene inside the ring is "organized chaos." Some guys are in the center, skillfully dodging and drawing the bull’s attention, while dozens of others line the walls, ready to leap to safety at a moment's notice.

As I stood there watching this display of adrenaline, risk, and deep cultural roots, a thought kept returning to my mind. I saw the passion, the commitment, and the community spirit on full display. And I couldn't help but imagine: What if this same passion was for Jesus? What would our church and community look like if people came together with this much energy and conviction to follow Him?

Sadly, that isn't the reality for many here. The deep traditions are a huge part of life, but faith in God often isn't. So while I capture these moments with my camera, I’m also praying. Praying that the same courage we see in the bullring would one day be seen in a vibrant, on-fire church right here in Camarma.

It’s one thing to write about the adrenaline and organized chaos, but it’s another to see it for yourself. I’ve put together a gallery of my favorite photos from the weekend below. I hope they give you a real sense of the energy and tradition that fills our town during these fiestas.