I Photographed The Life Of The Shepherds

Being a pastor is an oldest job in the history of humanity

Sometimes it's a lonely job, the animals, have to go out every day to eat. All week, 365 days a year.

In this region north of Portugal, Sometimes it rains, it is cold, and in summer the temperature reach the mark more than 35 degrees.

But not everything is bad.

There is a great communion with nature. Pastors are incumbent thinkers, by nature, because they spend a lot of time alone, they are quite amiable, they can talk for hours, wonderful stories of life.

This couple chose to be a pastor. Teresa, was once a girl from the city, but she met her husband, and stayed with him all these years, keeping sheep. Always accompanied by the faithful friend, your dog, lion

Mr. Manuel, keep goats. They are 60 years old and have always kept livestock.The goats, only walk in the mountains, and manuel makes by day about 10 to 15 kilometers.It is a very hard life, says Manuel, but he can not live without the goats.

Mr. Manuel.It shows how serious a Goat is.Sometimes two herds meet and the animals mingle.The serial number allows you to identify his animals.

Sometimes at night, it is necessary to help the sheep to give birth to their children.

Every time new babies are born. Everyone is happy.These were born at night.

When they are born during the day and away from home, sometimes the lambs need to be loaded for miles.

There are other pastors who are dedicated to other works.For example, this man usually does "shoes" for horses.It is a profession that can end in the next 10 years, because people prefer tractors and jeeps, and horses are less and less.

People are not interested in fashion.They just want to protect themselves from the cold and the heat. But a good pair of boots, it's welcome.They are good people, living without matrialism stuff.

Dogs are an essential member of the shepherd.In ancient times, they were used to protect the sheep from the wolves.But the Wolves are already few. And dogs have life made easier, now they are used to guard the shepherd from loneliness.

Pastors have had other lives in the past. Some migrated to countries. But the passion for cattle is strong, and they end up coming back.They say that it is only a pastor that understands this passion.

In the winter, the men dedicate themselves to the cattle. And the women, gather to make savory sausages.It is a time, to fraternize. In small houses, archaic, but very cozy. All are welcome.

The sausages have to dry, with the smoke from the fire.At night, during the winter, long conversations are debated by the fire.

Luis, studied and became a nurse.But never forget your village. Before working in the hospitals, he had to be a farmer and a pastor, earning some money, which helped pay for his studies.

The mobile phone helps fight the solitude of the day.But in many places in the mountains, there is no network.

Kilometers are crossed, among the mountains

Sezerindo, always a shepherd.He knows the name of all his 30 sheep. He confesses that he has never seen the sea, but is not curious, he does not know how to swim, so the sea does not attract him. He prefers his sheep, than the bikini flocks of the beaches.

Teresa, she laments, because sometimes the days are long and difficult.

A storm is approaching.Sheep always eat. If it is cold, eat, heat, rain.They have to go out every day."Sometimes I like to go to a party on Saturday, but I can not leave the sheep. Sometimes I bring the radio, and when I play music, which I like, I dance with my dog, and the sheep watch and shout meeeeehh. " Confess Sezerindo

The food is made in the old kitchens. That gives a special taste to food.The animals, always attentive, hoping to have something left for them.

The night rests.This small dog also descends to the feet of its owner.

This is me, tired, after a day behind the sheep.They can eat and walk at the same time.They travel miles, between mountains. A job I was not prepped for.

It was a privilege to follow the lives of these people.They have few things, but they offered you everything, of pure goodness.I liked losing myself in the mountains, to find myself.