Two 'caixers' (horse riders) gallop together with their arms entwined during the training session for the 'Jocs des Pla' (medieval tournament) during the traditional 'Sant Joan' (Saint John) festival in Ciutadella de Menorca
Es Migjorn Gran, Spain. 31 July, 2016: A 'caixer' (horse rider) rears up on his horse in front of the public as he rides through the streets at the beginning of the traditional 'Sant Cristofol' (Saint Christopher) festival in Es Migjorn Gran, the town's patron saint fiesta
Sant Lluis, Spain. 27 August, 2016: A 'caixer' (horse rider) rears up on his horse in between the cheering crowd during the 'Jaleo' of the annual festival in Sant LLuis, the town's patron saint fiesta
Two 'caixers' (horse riders) gallop together with their arms entwined during the training session for the 'Jocs des Pla' (medieval tournament) during the traditional 'Sant Joan' (Saint John) festival in Ciutadella de Menorca
A 'caixer' (horse rider) rears up on his horse surrounded by a cheering crowd during the traditional 'Jaleo' at the Sant Antoni Festival in Fornells
Ciutadella, Spain. 23 June, 2017: A 'caixer' (horse rider) rears up on his horse surrounded by a cheering crowd during the 'Caragol des Born' parade on the eve of the traditional 'Sant Joan' (Saint John) festival in Ciutadella de Menorca
Ciutadella, Spain. 23 June, 2017: A 'caixer' (horse rider) rears up on his horse surrounded by a cheering crowd during the 'Caragol des Born' parade on the eve of the traditional 'Sant Joan' (Saint John) festival in Ciutadella de Menorca
Ciutadella, Spain. 24 June, 2017: A 'caixer' (horse rider) rears up on his horse surrounded by a cheering crowd during the 'Caragol des Born' parade on the eve of the traditional 'Sant Joan' (Saint John) festival in Ciutadella de Menorca
Ciutadella, Spain. 24 June, 2016: Ciutadella De Menorca, Balearic Islands, Spain - Spectators try to touch the horse's chest for good luck as a 'caixer' (horse rider) rears up during the morning festivities on 'Sant Joan' (Saint John's day) in Ciutadella de Menorca
Ciutadella, Spain. 23 June, 2017: A 'caixer' (horse rider) rears up on his horse surrounded by a cheering crowd during the 'Caragol des Born' parade on the eve of the traditional 'Sant Joan' (Saint John) festival in Ciutadella de Menorca
Ciutadella, Spain. 23 June, 2017: A 'caixer' (horse rider) rears up on his horse surrounded by a cheering crowd during the 'Caragol des Born' parade on the eve of the traditional 'Sant Joan' (Saint John) festival in Ciutadella de Menorca
Ciutadella, Spain. 23 June, 2017: A 'caixer' (horse rider) rears up on his horse surrounded by a cheering crowd during the 'Caragol des Born' parade on the eve of the traditional 'Sant Joan' (Saint John) festival in Ciutadella de Menorca
Ciutadella, Spain. 24 June, 2017: A 'caixer' (horse rider) rears up on his horse surrounded by a cheering crowd during the 'Caragol des Born' parade on the eve of the traditional 'Sant Joan' (Saint John) festival in Ciutadella de Menorca
Ciutadella, Spain. 24 June, 2017: A 'caixer' (horse rider) aims his lance at a suspended ring as he gallops through the cheering crowd during the 'Jocs des Pla' (medieval tournament) during the traditional 'Sant Joan' (Saint John) festival in Ciutadella de Menorca
Ciutadella, Spain. 24 June, 2017: Ciutadella De Menorca, Balearic Islands, Spain - A 'caixer' (horse rider) spears a suspended ring with his lance during the training session for the 'Jocs des Pla' (medieval tournament) during the traditional 'Sant Joan' (Saint John) festival in Ciutadella de Menorca
A 'caixer' (horse rider) rears up on his horse surrounded by a cheering crowd during the traditional 'Jaleo' at the Sant Jaume Festival in Es Castell
A 'caixer' (horse rider) rears up on his horse surrounded by a cheering crowd during the 'Caragol des Born' parade on the eve of the traditional 'Sant Joan' (Saint John) festival in Ciutadella de Menorca
A 'caixer' (horse rider) rears up on his horse surrounded by a cheering crowd during the traditional 'Jaleo' at the Sant Jaume Festival in Es Castell
Ciutadella, Spain. 24 June, 2017: A 'caixer' (horse rider) rears up on his horse surrounded by a cheering crowd during the 'Caragol des Born' parade on the eve of the traditional 'Sant Joan' (Saint John) festival in Ciutadella de Menorca
Es Migjorn Gran, Spain. 29 July, 2017: A 'caixer' (horse rider) rears up on his horse in between the cheering crowd during the 'Jaleo' of the traditional 'Sant Cristofol' (Saint Christopher) festival in Es Migjorn Gran, the town's patron saint fiesta
Es Castell, Spain. 25 July, 2017: A 'caixer' (horse rider) rears up on his horse surrounded by a cheering crowd during the 'Jaleo' of the traditional 'Sant Jaume' (Saint James) festival in Es Castell, the town's patron saint fiesta
Sant Lluis, Spain. 27 August, 2017: A 'caixer' (horse rider) rears up on his horse in between the cheering crowd during the 'Jaleo' of the annual festival in Sant LLuis, the town's patron saint fiesta
Es Castell, Spain. 25 July, 2017: A 'caixer' (horse rider) rears up on his horse surrounded by a cheering crowd during the 'Jaleo' of the traditional 'Sant Jaume' (Saint James) festival in Es Castell, the town's patron saint fiesta
Sant Lluis, Spain. 27 August, 2017: A 'caixer' (horse rider) rears up on his horse in between the cheering crowd during the 'Jaleo' of the annual festival in Sant LLuis, the town's patron saint fiesta
Mahon, Spain. 8 September, 2017: A 'caixer' (horse rider) rears up on his horse in between the cheering crowd during the 'Jaleo' of the traditional Gracia Festival in Mahon, celebrating its patron, Our Lady of Grace
A 'caixer' (horse rider) rears up on his horse passing the greeting preast in his house before incorporating him into the cavalcade through the village prior to the traditional 'Jaleo' at the Sant Antoni Festival in Fornells
Mahon, Spain. 8 September, 2017: A 'caixer' (horse rider) rears up on his horse in between the cheering crowd during the 'Jaleo' of the traditional Gracia Festival in Mahon, celebrating its patron, Our Lady of Grace
A 'caixer' (horse rider) rears up on his horse passing the greeting preast in his house before incorporating him into the cavalcade through the village prior to the traditional 'Jaleo' at the Sant Jaume Festival in Es Castell
About me
Matthias Oesterle
Matthias Oesterle is a German documentary photographer based between Barcelona and Menorca.
His work focuses on people, place and tradition, with a particular interest in the gestures, rituals and everyday moments that shape community life. Working close to his subjects, he seeks proximity and immersion, documenting events and lived environments from within rather than from a distance.
He began working in documentary photography in 2011 while covering the 15-M protests in Barcelona. Since then, his practice has developed toward long-term documentation of social and cultural life across Spain, especially in rural and traditional communities where identity, continuity and belonging are expressed through collective practices.
In recent years, his work has increasingly centred on traditions, rituals and popular festivals — including correfocs, casteller performances and regional celebrations across Spain. Beyond the spectacle of public events, he is drawn to the human structures behind them: preparation, inherited knowledge, domestic thresholds, shared effort, humour, fatigue and moments of connection between generations.
Before focusing on photography, he spent nearly two decades in visual communication, including work as an On-Air designer for Germany’s largest private television news network and later as Art Director at a leading Spanish advertising agency. This background continues to inform his structured approach to composition, colour and visual storytelling.
His photographs have been published internationally in media including The Guardian, National Geographic, Le Monde, Paris Match, El País and The Wall Street Journal.
He continues to work on long-term photographic projects documenting cultural traditions, public rituals and the communities that sustain them.