Photographer’s Note
Chichicatenango is a small and stucco-white town, lying on the crests of mountaintops at an altitude of 1,965 meters. It is located about 140 km and 2-3 hours drive northwest of Guatemala City and is home to what is surely the most colorful native market in North and Central America, perhaps in all America.
The famous handicraft market of Chichicastenango draws not only the K'iche' Maya of the surrounding region, but vendors from all over Guatemala. They represent many of Guatemala's linguistic groups such as Mam, Ixil, Kaqchikel and others, each hawking his or her products in a riotous cacophony of color, dialects and costumes, smoke, and smells. This town in the mountains of El Quiché has been, since pre-Hispanic times, one of the largest trading centers in the Maya area.
I took that pic on the step of San Tomàs Church, in the middle of the crouded market.
All in that image is static, the time was stopped, and all are waiting for something.
I like that pic also for the boy in the middle.
he's completely in contrast with the rest of the image: all people were looking around, all were dressed with typical Maya clothes...
At home we have a 120cmx80cm poster of that pic.
Scanned image.
Critiques | Translate
KevRyan
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1853 W: 198 N: 5070]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-g-g.gif){kind=small}
(22340) 2005-02-24 4:25
This is a wonderful atmospheric composition - I love the inter-relationships of all the different people, colours and the quality of light.
delaufer
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Workshop Editor/Silver Note Writer [C: 100 W: 67 N: 40]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-g-s.gif){kind=small}
(260) 2005-02-24 4:46
Nice colorful street scene. The smoke really adds depth. I just wish the little boy didn't have his back to us.
paul_bk (0) 2005-02-24 4:48
Ciao omonimo ;-)))
molto bella questa, forse troppo azzurrata sullo sfondo ma in effetti aumenta il contrasto con i colori in primo piano....
Complimenti
Paolo
clodreno
![Gold Star Critiquer [C: 3841 W: 0 N: 0]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-n-n.gif){kind=small}
(0) 2005-02-24 5:51
Una bella foto.. in quest'immagine mi piace il fatto che nessuno ti guardi..Tanti bei colori.
Una foto simpatica...
grazie
Jeppe
(18623) 2005-02-24 9:54
Thanks for sharing your fine wall decoration - I can understand why you like this image - the position of the people - the old (poor) staircase and the smooky background gives a special atmosphere - thanks Paolo for sharing your fine work and the note to give us the background.
Praetzer
(1657) 2005-02-24 16:39
Nice; I captured the same but 2 years earlier.
The pictures don't look very different. The atmosphere is the same.
You can find mine Here
On the other hand: your note is a lot better.
Emile
(19869) 2005-02-25 0:57
Very good shot, good colors and sharpness. Nice composition. Well done.
joseelias
(367) 2005-02-25 8:16
Very good image. The place seems very interesting and their clothes are really very nice. Regarding the photo I think it’s well composed with the first group of people placed in an important place of the composition. There’s also a diagonal line made by the people in direction of the building which creates a good reading.
alabama_pl
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Silver Note Writer [C: 60 W: 10 N: 26]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-s-s.gif){kind=small}
(340) 2005-03-05 11:10
very pictorial, realistic, well framed and good POV; you were at right place at right time.
arifhuque
(491) 2005-04-04 4:12
Great Photo. You captured the atmosphere perfectly. Reminds me of being is South America... :)
thebig_d81
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 136 W: 5 N: 93]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-n-g.gif){kind=small}
(777) 2005-04-06 5:43
I like this photo. I have had a look through some of your photos and this would have to be one of my favourites. I think the title sums up the picture or is it the picture sums up the title.
I like the way how everyone one is looking in the same direction except for the little boy.
It almost looks like smoke is comming out of the building in the background.
![Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Silver Note Writer [C: 36 W: 21 N: 33]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/s-s-s.gif){kind=small}
dimitrisT
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 153 W: 13 N: 83]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-s-g.gif){kind=small}
(932) 2005-05-03 5:28
Now, this could be a wonderful painting! Excellent composition! I like the depth in the picture, with the people lost in the smoke-fog. A really great shot!
sarju
(5308) 2005-07-06 9:43
Hi Paolo
Incredible shot
you have captured the scene so well
It looks like a set of movie ... very well composed .... cheers .... sarju
Nottinghill
(1215) 2005-07-25 3:16
The photo is interesting through the scene dynamics. Some are looking towards the photographer and some are looking towards something on the left, apparently interesting as well. Don't know if the overdosing of blue in the background and noise come form the original photo, or from the scanning process. So the scene is very intriguing and well composed, but technically it could be better.
eloisa
![Silver Note Writer [C: 8 W: 3 N: 19]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/n-n-s.gif){kind=small}
(182) 2005-09-18 9:22
ahhh eccola qua!
sai che mi ricordavo di questa foto? mi era già piaciuta molto la prima volta che me l'hai mandata via mail, ma la riguardo sempre tanto volentieri.
adesso vado a lavorare.
ciao!
Amirsun
(2114) 2005-12-14 6:04
Ohhh.. What a shot, Paolo!
Very powerful composition, POV, DOF, Dynamism, Faces ... every things are perfect!
Indeed skilfully captured and best to show daily life in Guatemela, tanks for posting.
Best you.
bantonbuju
(48468) 2006-03-24 4:22
ciao paolo,
i swang by your first page and found this little treasure, man, i always keep saying you are human-skilled, you should shoot more pics with pople,
this one is simply amazing, a great work, really;
very very nice,
good weekend,
jerzy
krakowiak
(4702) 2006-10-09 6:51
In my opinion this is very interesting, documental photo. Thanks for the note and for sharing :-)
Best Regards,
Pawel
PS: The colours reminds me some old photos from 70-ties ;)
Polonaise
(5632) 2006-10-09 20:58 [Comment]
sadeik
(3159) 2006-12-19 13:18
This is a great market image, although there seems to be a slight green haze.
Excellant group portrait
Simon
Photo Information
-
Copyright: Paolo Motta (Paolo)
(40690)
- Genre: People
- Medium: Color
- Date Taken: 1995-09-00
- Categories: Daily Life
- Camera: Nikon N80
- Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
- Theme(s): Guatemala colors, 1995 From Panama to Mexico by bus [view contributor(s)]
- Date Submitted: 2005-02-24 4:19
- Favorites: 3 [view]
Discussions
- To paul_bk: re (2)
by Paolo, last updated 02-25 04:04 - Added your reference (1)
by Praetzer, last updated 02-24 16:50 - To clodreno: re (1)
by Paolo, last updated 02-24 07:03
