On Fire

Fire runners and fireworks…

August 23rd, 2016. Sitges, Spain: Members of 'Diables de Sitges - Colla Vella' gather to enlighten their fireworks during the 'Festa Major de Sitges'.

Sitges, Spain. August 23rd, 2013: A group of friends gather under the "Drac (dragon) de Sitges" for a photo as sets off his fireworks at the "Festa Major de Sitges".

September 17th, 2016. Sitges, Spain: A fire-eater of the 'Diables de Terrassa' enlightens the fireworks of his gathered comrades during Sitges' little 'Festa Major', 'Santa Tecla'

Sitges, Spain. 24 August, 2018: A member of 'Ball de Diables' sets off his fireworks among the crowd of spectators at the 'Festa Major de Sitges'.

August 21st, 2014. Barcelona, Spain: Children in devil costumes dance to traditional drums under fireworks during the "Correfocs" at the "Festa Major de Gracia".

Barcelona, Spain. September 20th, 2015: Participants dressed in devil costumes set off their fireworks during the "Correfocs" run at the 2015 Merce festival in Barcelona.

Barcelona, Spain. September 21st, 2014: A devil shouts as he sets off his fire crackers dancing in the street during the Merce 2014

Barcelona, Spain. 11 February, 2017: A fire beast sets off its fireworks while it is carried through Barcelona's gothic quarter during the 'correfocs' (fire-runs) at the city's winter festival 'Santa Eulalia' 2017

Barcelona, Spain. 21 August, 2016: Children in devil costumes dance to traditional drums beneath exploding fireworks during the 'correfocs' fire-runs at the end of the Festa Major de Gracia.

September 17th, 2016. Sitges, Spain: A member of 'Diables de Sitges - colla jove' sets off his fireworks during Sitges' little 'Festa Major', 'Santa Tecla'

September 17th, 2016. Sitges, Spain: A fire-eater of the 'Diables de Terrassa' enlightens the fireworks of his gathered comrades during Sitges' little 'Festa Major', 'Santa Tecla'

Sitges, Spain. 23 August, 2017: Members of 'Diables de Sitges - colla jove' set off their fireworks among the crowd of spectators at the 'Festa Major de Sitges'.

Sitges, Spain. 23 August, 2017: A member of 'Diables de Sitges' sets off his fireworks as he walks an ancient lane during the 'Festa Major de Sitges'.

Sitges, Spain. 23 August, 2017: Tens of thousands follow the traditional display of fireworks at the 'San Bartolome' church taking place every 23rd of August during the 'Festa Major de Sitges'.

Sitges, Spain. 23 August, 2017: Tens of thousands follow the traditional display of fireworks at the 'San Bartolome' church taking place every 23rd of August during the 'Festa Major de Sitges'.

Sitges, Spain. 23 August, 2017: Tens of thousands follow the traditional display of fireworks at the 'San Bartolome' church taking place every 23rd of August during the 'Festa Major de Sitges'.

Sitges, Spain. 24 August, 2017: Members of 'Diables de Sitges - colla jove' set off their fireworks among the crowd of spectators at the 'Festa Major de Sitges'.

August 23rd, 2016. Sitges, Spain: A member of 'Diables de Sitges - colla jove' sets off his fireworks among the crowd of spectators at the 'Festa Major de Sitges'.

Sitges, Spain. 24 August, 2016: A member of 'Ball de diables' sets off his fireworks as he walks down the 'Escalera de Punta' during the 'Festa Major de Sitges'.

Barcelona, Spain. 25 September, 2017: Tens of thousands crowed into Avinguda Maria Cristina to follow the traditional Pyromusical Show, a synchronized combination of firework displays, the magic water fountains and music at the end of Barcelona's city holiday 'La Merce'

Barcelona, Spain. 25 September, 2017: Tens of thousands crowed into Avinguda Maria Cristina to follow the traditional Pyromusical Show, a synchronized combination of firework displays, the magic water fountains and music at the end of Barcelona's city holiday 'La Merce'

Sitges, Spain. 23 August, 2015: A member of 'Diables de Sitges - colla jove' sets off his fireworks among the crowd of spectators at the 'Festa Major de Sitges'.

Sitges, Spain. 23 August, 2015: The 'Aliga (Eagle) de Sitges', a folkloric symbol, sets off his fireworks among the crowd of spectators at the 'Festa Major de Sitges'.

Sitges, Spain. 23 August, 2015: Thousands follow the traditional display of fireworks at the 'San Bartolomé' church taking place every 23rd of August during the 'Festa Major de Sitges'.

Sitges, Spain. 24 August, 2015: The 'Aliga (Eagle) de Sitges', a folkloric symbol, sets off his fireworks as he walks down the stairs of the 'St Bartolome Church' during the 'Festa Major de Sitges'.

Sitges, Spain. 22 September, 2016: Thousands follow the traditional display of fireworks at the 'San Bartolome' church taking place during the 'Santa Tacla Festival' in Sitges.

August 21st, 2014. Barcelona, Spain: Children in devil costumes dance to traditional drums under fireworks during the "Correfocs" at the "Festa Major de Gracia".

Sitges, Spain. 22 September, 2016: Thousands follow the traditional display of fireworks at the 'San Bartolome' church taking place during the 'Santa Tacla Festival' in Sitges.

About

Matthias Oesterle

Matthias Oesterle

Graduated graphic designer Matthias Oesterle finds out to be a news and documentary photographer "by accident" when visiting Barcelona's occupied Catalonia Square during the protests of the 15-M Movement back in 2011 out of pure curiosity.

His background of more than 20 years in the world of images as On-Air designer in the news section of the biggest German private TV chain, independent web-designer/developer and Art-Director at one of Spain's leading advertising agencies and his passion for this new "way of life" helps him to capture images that are very soon published in BILD, Daily Mail, the Guardian, EL Pais, Le Figaro, Le Monde, Libération, National Geographic, Paris Match, Smithonian, Spiegel, Stern, Telegraph, the Times, Time, Welt, WSJ etc.

Some of his photos are essential part of the story 'FIESTA!' when Róbert Csere of .týždeň wins the 2015 NPPA Magazine Picture Editor of the Year and a honorable mention for the best story opener. Born in Germany in 1969 he actually lives in Barcelona and Menorca.