La Velación - Mayra Ferra visual storyteller

La Velación is an ethnographic research project I photographed while in the outskirts of Hermosillo, Sonora, México. It takes place at a cattle ranch. I spent the day documenting a family gathering filled with rituals that included prayer, eating, and the sacrificing of a cow. I decided to do research on this family’s rituals because it was something that I was not familiar with; although, I am Mexican and practice in many traditional Mexican rituals this was something new to me.
A yellow, metal door that leads to the living room in one of the homes at Mr. Moreno's ranch.
An ancestor's portrait hangs above the fireplace as horse tack reflects from a nearby wall.
A framed, vintage deer painting adorns the wall of a spare bedroom in Mr. Moreno's ranch home.
Two children keep a horse company while they wait for lunch.
A woman rests her hand on a chair occupied by her partner.
A young cowboy tips his hat as others play in the yard.
A vest hangs on the backrest of a metal chair.
Family members relax in the yard while they wait for the carne asada to be ready.
A saddle sits on a post after it has been cleaned.
Grandchildren play soccer as the adults prepare the meal for lunch and breakfast for the following morning.
Cattle meat hangs in the open air as Mr. Moreno leans against a pole.
Two young girls head to the family cemetery located on Mr. Moreno's ranch.
A pastel-colored chapel sits next to the family cemetery.
Mr. Moreno's grandson eats chips while visiting his uncle's grave in the family cemetery.
The cowhide of the sacrificed cow is tacked down in the family cemetery.
A closer look of the cowhide.
Mr. Moreno's granddaughter ties a knot on the cemetery gate to keep animals out.
Mr. Moreno hammers wooden tacks into the cow's head.
The cow's blood is poured into a pot filled with meat and diced vegetables for one of the dishes being prepared.
Blood splatters on the ground from the cow's remains.
A fly rests on a woman's finger covered in cattle's blood.
The ranch's dogs eat leftover cattle meat.
A slow cooked meat is placed underground and kept there until morning.
Two men hold a wire as another prepares to place a tin sheet above the hole.
A man covers the hole with a tin sheet that was dug to hold the slow cooked meat for tomorrow's breakfast.
Green, wavy cacti stand tall around the family's property.
A view of Mr. Moreno's land at sunset from atop a hill.
Women continue praying the rosary and other prayers as children wind down by playing video games.
All women present begin their vigil and prayers at sundown.
The last few minutes of sunset cast an orange tint over the cloud-filled sky.