guitar town, a photo from Oaxaca, Oaxaca

Photographer's Note

"Nothin' ever happened 'round my hometown
And I ain't the kind to just hang around
But I heard someone callin' my name one day
And I followed that voice down the lost highway"

- Steve Earle (1986)

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MARIACHI is a genre of music that originated in Jalisco, Mexico. It is an integration of stringed instruments highly influenced by the cultural impacts of the historical development of Western Mexico.

Throughout the history of mariachi, musicians have experimented with brass, wind, and percussion instruments. Mariachi music has become emblematic of Mexican music by appropriating various Mexican regional song forms.

Non-Mexican tourists frequently confuse mariachis with all types of buskers seen in Mexico.

- Wikipedia

Oh, damn...and I wanted to call this shot "El Mariachi" first. Thank you, Wikipedia!?

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MUSIC IN MEXICO is very important. Most restaurants have live music at least some time during the day. Also on bus rides (though not in first class) you sometimes have musicians hopping on and off to sing a handful of tunes and collect some money.

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THESE TWO MUSICIANS are roaming the streets of downtown Oaxaca, from restaurant to restaurant, trying their luck for a good place to play.

"I love U baby
But not like I love my guitar, no
Not like I love my guitar"

- Prince (2007)

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ISO-400

bukitgolfb301 has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

kiasari (2631) 2010-09-22 5:07

Hello Benny,

I think the long perspective makes this shot superb! I really like the warm colors in the perspective. Good framing and DOF. Well done!

Regards,
Abbas

papera (13760) 2010-09-22 6:00

mariachi!!!
I know, I know - it's a cliche' and I might be a confused non-Mexican viewer, but I see these streets and a guitar man and I have to think Robert Rodriguez...
I think that if you had caught these two guys against the dilapidated walls of your other photos, "a street in Oaxaca" (minus the beetle), the mariachi title would have been more than appropriated... for my non-Mexican ignorant taste, at least :)
great colours by the way - I love this clean sharp light, I can't get enough of it when I see it...
c.

dta (51378) 2010-09-22 6:51

Hello Benny ,
Je ne connais pas du tout ce pays , mais c'est une des idées que je m'en fait : maisons colorées , pick-up , musiciens ...
Une photo de rue interessante , et bien composée .
Amicalement

tomescuc (3291) 2010-09-22 13:35

Great image Benny. Cool angle down this colorful street catching the mariachi duo in motion and the vehicles line up on the other side and yes the wires add to make it very balanced compo. Classic dude.
Cristian

bukitgolfb301 (30063) 2010-09-22 17:07

Hello my dear Benny

Wonderful shot. Seems one secene from a cinema, very good secene specially for a typical middle America. Perfect framework by wide focus lens and well mature composition as usual. Blessing on your great job and thanks for sharing, have a good day,
Best regards,
Takero from rainy and very cool in Tokyo

peppe59 (14547) 2010-09-24 11:32

Ciao benny,
très belle cette scène typique du Mexique, avec les suonatori à droite et aux maisons très coloriées typiques des zones caraibiche. Tu complimentes
peppe

patdeph (35738) 2010-09-24 12:00

hello Benny
there is a nice impression of hapiness with these colorful houses and superb luminosity!The POV gives an impressive depth and very good perspective!Excellent!
Regards
Pascale

jhm (122410) 2010-09-25 0:36

Hallo Benny,

De muziekkanten op weg naar een betere plaats voor hun voorstelling.
Ook in onze Belgische steden kom ik regelmatig goede muziekkanten tegen.
Echt een mooi straatbeeld uit Mexico, het zal even warm geweest zijn.
Goed werk van det dagelijksleven ginder. Bedankt.

Prettig weekend,
John.

wolf38 (28166) 2010-09-25 4:50

The photo pleases me very well. It is original and worth seeing. Well presented. Overall excellent. In haste, Wolfgang. Regards, Wolfgang.

SteveH (6155) 2010-09-28 3:52

Hi Benny, Another great scene from Oaxaca - very Mex. You did well to find these characters which really make it work, adding to the feel of the image. Good exposure too in that harsh mid day sun. cheers, steve