Alejandro, guitar player in Oaxaca

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I did'nt dare to approach this blind beggar in Oaxaca, Mexico, because I was ashamed of me taking a picture with my 350$ worth camera of this starving guy. So, like a coward, I shot from the other side of the street, and miss both of my goals: making a nive picture, and a "social testimony"... Next time… Hope this musician still plays his beautiful music.

Nikon F65, Kikkor 28_80 3.5/4.5

added to Cream of the Crop pool as most interesting

P.S. Now that I have a 1000 $ worth camera, will I dare to even go out with it?

***** Update

The last comment I had really blew me down:

tillery2452 says:
His name is Fidencio and he is from Zaachila. He is not starving, but like everyone here in Oaxaca, he sometimes does not have enough money. He does not speak English, but does not mind his photo being taken. I like the photo very much.

Thanks Tillery, I change the name of the picture. Internet is really some crazy thing.

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Comments

← prev 1 2 next →

(143 comments)

Professional Recreationalist says:

I often pay street people a small sum, they always seem to think it fair.

It's still a cool shot
Posted 49 months ago. ( permalink )

Thomas Baltes says:

good advice, i'll remember it.
Posted 49 months ago. ( permalink )

48x48 (noémi) says:

wonderful colours, compostion and sense of grandness
Posted 49 months ago. ( permalink )

Thomas Baltes says:

thanks, I'm flattered. I think I fell in love with some of your photos, I'll comment some of them soon.
Posted 49 months ago. ( permalink )

dekoekkoek says:

wonderful picture
Posted 49 months ago. ( permalink )

Methanie says:

Excellent colors and composition.
Posted 49 months ago. ( permalink )

Tous les noms sont déjà pris... pfff... says:

Perhaps a closest shot should have been not as good as this one.
The man, despite his handicap is free, out of the barrels.
This red surrounds him with passion and the letters on the wall seem undertitle his words and music.

Sometimes we're blind. Your picture gives eyes to our heart.
Thanks.
Posted 49 months ago. ( permalink )

daligt says:

Great colors!!! Looks even better with the frame.
Most of the times when i take pictures of people i come up and give them a buck or something significant. Makes me and them feel better.
Posted 49 months ago. ( permalink )

Thomas Baltes says:

wow thank you all for your words, I did'nt expect so many regards… Especially considering the quality of your pohotostreams. Thanks a lot!
Posted 49 months ago. ( permalink )

pivi says:

Une compostion formidable, j'adore la disposition des éléments noirs dans l'espace rouge; le format carré est très adapté. Il y a beaucoup de très bonnes choses dans cette photo. Bravo !
Posted 49 months ago. ( permalink )

artic pj says:

very nice!
A great mood is set by this picture!
Posted 49 months ago. ( permalink )

kaycatt* says:

Wow, some kind of a poster art!
Very well done!!
Thanks for visiting my place!
Posted 49 months ago. ( permalink )

mun kuvia says:

I guess this is what we have colour photos for. An image not to be passed by without a reaction.
Posted 49 months ago. ( permalink )

arokiaraj says:

living peacefully with his music which gives him life
Posted 49 months ago. ( permalink )

Belltown says:

Compelling shot. Next time, drop some dough in the cup, and it'll be all good. Get some close-ups while you're there.
Posted 49 months ago. ( permalink )

sol' [deleted] says:

just great picture! tne red wall is walderfull.
Posted 49 months ago. ( permalink )

kmsf says:

if you really want to do penance, make it unframed :)
you could also improve the cropping...

-voted as "deleteme2" (from the Delete me! group)
Posted 49 months ago. ( permalink )

EricBartholemew says:

A very good shot, but the grafitti is cut; there's not quite enough of the barred window; or get rid of both entirely. Horrible, horrible frame:

-voted as "deleteme3" (from Deleteme! group)
Posted 49 months ago. ( permalink )

Rod Monkey says:

love the musician and the red wall, but I would have composed differently so he wasn't central and to lose the window

-voted as "deleteme4" (from the Delete me! group)
Posted 49 months ago. ( permalink )

짜디그노스 (Zadignose) says:

There's nothing technically wrong here, the distance to the subject is fine, nothing to quibble about, but I'm afraid it's nothing I haven't seen before, so I'm just not sufficiently thrilled to vote a save.

-voted as "deleteme5" (from the Delete me! group)
Posted 49 months ago. ( permalink )

짜디그노스 (Zadignose) says:

P.S., I like elements that continue off the edge of the frame, like the barred window, graffiti, and outcropping that might be an element of another window frame to the left, or similar architectural detail. The framing seems perfectly correct to me.
Posted 49 months ago. ( permalink )

Elliot Swan says:

Love the minimalist approach. Great colors, and I like the window cut off as well as the frame..but I don't like the graffiti cut off.

-voted as "deleteme6" (from the Delete me! group)
Posted 49 months ago. ( permalink )

Mark Dock says:

Nice picture. However, I'd like to see some more colours in it, perhaps something blue? And the frame. Why? Tell me. Please.
-voted as "deleteme7" (from Deleteme! group)
Posted 49 months ago. ( permalink )

tilo driessen says:

the elements don't add up. the wall isn't that interesting. the sidewalk too bright. the pauper not all that picturesque.

-voted as "deleteme8" (from Deleteme! group)
Posted 49 months ago. ( permalink )

waynemethod says:

Nice background

saveme
Posted 49 months ago. ( permalink )

zkemp says:

I love the scale of this.

I'll ignore the border, as it is a legitimate trend (framing digital photographs!) to gripe about, but it doesn't really change the image.

-voted as "saveme2" (from Deleteme! group)
Posted 49 months ago. ( permalink )

zkemp says:

That should read "illegitimate trend."

carry on.
Posted 49 months ago. ( permalink )

E. Howe says:

Next time, give him a few pesos. Let him know you're taking his picture. And don't be surprised if he whistles like a wolf when you walk away.

Edie
Saveme3
Posted 49 months ago. ( permalink )

Robin Thom says:

Good story and I like the composition just fine.

The colours feel a bit flat
( histogram looks strange )
and there is some pretty bad pixellation...
particularly on the graffiti.

-voted as "deleteme9" (from the Delete me! group)
Posted 49 months ago. ( permalink )

Figuromo says:

the image itself is great, but not sure about the framing, and the cropping seems bit off.

-voted as "deleteme10" (from Deleteme! group)
Posted 49 months ago. ( permalink )

Sonny says:

There IS something up with the color but the subject and your story make up for it.

Be bold, use your camera! Taking and capturing are not really what we do.

You missed the shot you really wanted and he missed the dollar he probably really needed.

Thank you for sharing the photo and your thoughts.
Posted 49 months ago. ( permalink )

Thomas Baltes says:

Well, actually, I know about the frame, it was some stupid idea. The weird histogram is due to the scanner I used to import this picture, which was taken with a (how do you say it in english?) "not digital", "traditionnal" camera, a Nikon F65 with a 18-70 lens.
Thanks for these who liked the picture, thanks for the advices of these who loved it but kept honnest with the group motto and delted me anyway :)
Posted 49 months ago. ( permalink )

andipantz says:

beautiful!
Posted 49 months ago. ( permalink )

ljyw says:

beautiful!
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

Janet Leadbeater says:

Rating #1:

Rated 9 out of 10 in the 100 Points group.
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

Bill in DC says:

Very nice setup of the subject and beautiful, rich color. (123)
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

Alexander Yates says:

very nice...

1-2-3
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

<cleverCl@i®ê> says:

street life~

123
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

ThePres [deleted] says:

Fantastic capture!
1-2-3
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

s_issever says:

so nice! like it. simple but powerful. congratulations...
(1-2-3)
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

Cpt@ says:

indeed, simple and (therefore) very nice!
(1-2-3)
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

redmann says:

I think it's a great shot, and a pertinant social comment. Well done on both counts.
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

Thomas Baltes says:

thank you all!
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

Agata...(exumbra) says:

Thank you for rating and posting in the100 Points Group.
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

Agata...(exumbra) says:

Stunning composition. I love the three elements: the window, the man and graffiti, balancing each other on the red wall. I also like the fact that you kept the pavement in the image. The natural temptation would be to crop it, but it actually gives a nice counter balance to the intense red wall. It still is a social testimony - I don't think you missed that aspect.

Rating #1: Rated 9 out of 10 in the 100 Points group.
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

Thomas Baltes says:

Thank you agatha, it's very nice from you
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

fusaka says:

Rating #2:

Rated 9 out of 10 in the 100 Points group.
Only thing I don't like is the border... that old man is great and the red wall is amazing.
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

Agata...(exumbra) says:

next rating should be #3 - there's a rating from jayjuice higher up.
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

.voyageur says:

Muy buena foto, el rojo resalta muchisimo. Por ahi hubiera quedado mejor tomar mas del cerca al musico

Rating #3:

Rated 8 out of 10 in the 100 Points group.
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

the näyrde von göbbels [deleted] says:

Fab compo & colors. And what a photogenic dude, blind, guitar & can. Fab street capture, Bravoo!!

Rating #4:

Rated 10 out of 10 in the 100 Points group.
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

Chicago Wedding Photographer, Laurie Peacock says:

Rating #5:

Rated 7 out of 10 in the 100 Points group

I would prefer if you cut the window away.
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

Thomas Baltes says:

@ Fusaka: I regret the border too, this is something I added without paying attention after cropping the picture. I will post the same without border…
@. voyageur. : I don't speak that good spanish, even if I learnt a bit when I went to Mexico/guatemala, so I must suppose: do you say that the red wall is beautiful, but that I should have been closer?
@ the nayrde: thanks :)
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

Zenith Phuong says:

Rating #6:

Rated 9 out of 10 in the 100 Points group.

i like this photo! very dramatic!
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

Rodrigo Benavides says:

Rating #7:

Rated 10 out of 10 in the 100 Points group
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

p.m.graham says:

Rating #8:

Rated 9 out of 10 in the 100 Points group.
great shot - i love the red wall
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

azem says:

Rating #9:

Rated 9 out of 10 in the 100 Points group.

This is a remarkable shot, you executed it very well, great composition, subject, and a cool looking graffiti.
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

AlfGX [deleted] says:

Rating #10:

Rated 9 out of 10 in the 100 Points group.

Great capture !
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

Sonny says:

Final rating in the 100 Points group is 89 Points (based on the first ten ratings).

Well done!

Please publish this photograph in the 80-89 Points Group and thank you very much for participating in the 100 points Group.
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

muskva says:

don't worry! we love it anyway! next time you gonna have better zoom. I struggle with making pics of strangers a lot. so many great pics I didn't make couse I've respected their privacy. Asking for permision is not good idea too - object knows it's being photographed - all unique atmosphere is gone and ruined...
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

drl. says:

this is very beautiful... i love the man on the red background and the grafitti is a perfect touch to make this different from the billion other photos of street musicians that i have seen in my lifetime.
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

coffee jerk says:

so much of this photo has been covered, both technically and emotionally. i don't feel like i can add much other than that the technical aspects bother me somewhat (digitizing effect on wall and graffiti), but the emotional tone does well to compensate for that, plus you explained the scanner issue. you are very close, just keep shooting, you have a good eye.
8/10 score me group
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

Orbital Joe says:

I do agree that a tighter shot would have taken away from the overall effect...
I like it just as it is...

Score 8.5/10 (from the Score Me!
group)
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

Lazy_rider says:

I like it. Maybe the window attract too many atention to me, but this is very good photo.

Score 9/10 (from the Score Me!
group)
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

arturlr says:

Great composition and the red wall with the graffiti add a mood to it. I have to agree that you could have cropped a little bit to better frame the photo (taking out the window from the right-top corner). It is still a great photo.

Score 8/10 (from the Score Me! group)
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

www.mfr-photodesign.de says:

this shot is absolutely great. I love the composition and colors... I would score it at least 10/10 ;o)
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

malias says:

You've captured a really interesting moment.
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

George the Greek says:

I'm sure he would've appreciated a charitable act.

I am not good about approaching strangers either.

But beautiful shot nonetheless.
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

www.mfr-photodesign.de says:

this would also make a cool CD cover...
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

Jesus Guzman-Moya says:

¡Excelente foto!....
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

rolands.lakis says:

Super
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

tomato umlaut says:

Very good colour, and what a nice composition! The big wall, the half graffiti, half window all serve to focus attention on the guy.

Your story is so universal: it happened to me, and to so many others here. It's been good to read so many thoughts on what to do. This is a technicality of photography that people don't usually write about.

I'm glad I stumbled on your picture at random.
Posted 47 months ago. ( permalink )

*patrick says:

Very very nice photo! Something I'd hang on my walls at home
Posted 47 months ago. ( permalink )

Daniel Andre says:

This one is a masterpiece :O
Posted 47 months ago. ( permalink )

Meanest Indian says:

Absolutely STUNNING capture!
Posted 47 months ago. ( permalink )

in the scene says:

Actually, I think you accomplished both.
Great picture!
Posted 47 months ago. ( permalink )

organicc says:

I like the composition as it is, but I always give street peolpe some money to help them after I shot them.
Posted 47 months ago. ( permalink )

Felipe Monardes Mena says:

Wonderful shot, very good composition!
Posted 47 months ago. ( permalink )

México nostálgico y mágico says:

just great!
Posted 46 months ago. ( permalink )

kiplingflu says:

j'adore le icon de andrew bird.
and really like this picture.
a nervous ...
Posted 46 months ago. ( permalink )

Cypha: Unknown [deleted] says:

what a great shot.
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

Rohan Phillips says:

Very nice work- I think this image is good because it was taken further back to give some context to the man's environment. I'm sure a closer portrait would have been good, but this picture works well anyway.
Posted 42 months ago. ( permalink )

stephhh [deleted] says:

this photo is terrific! you deserve some serious admiration! you should check out a photo contest that Urban Pollution is having right now! cheers!
Posted 41 months ago. ( permalink )

the beatrix says:

this is a great photo anyway
Posted 41 months ago. ( permalink )

OzBandit says:

I like the contrast with the red wall, nice shot

(from the 1on1 group)
Posted 41 months ago. ( permalink )

myjuditz says:

Very good composition, excellent shot!
(2for2)
Posted 41 months ago. ( permalink )

kainet says:

cool, nice framing and colors!
Posted 41 months ago. ( permalink )

Yi-Lin & Kevin @ 4115 Wisconsin Ave says:

nice street snap. A bit close would make it even better!

--
Seen in 2 for 2 (view 2, comment on 2) (?)
Posted 41 months ago. ( permalink )

Detailswe4sake*Photography says:

You are invited to post this photo to the Music. contest in the Themed Weekly Contests Group (contest ends December 2nd)
Posted 39 months ago. ( permalink )

Eliza Beth says:

awesome shot.
Posted 39 months ago. ( permalink )

Kathy~ says:

2ND PLACE
Congratulations on winning 2nd place in the MUSIC contest with this photo in the Theme Weekly Contest Group,
Seen in a discussion of Themed Weekly Contests 3 Contests Going on NOW!. (?)
Posted 39 months ago. ( permalink )

vinay_p (Clicksnbeyond) says:

amazing pic .. very touching
Posted 39 months ago. ( permalink )

Hughes Léglise-Bataille says:

Nice one, superbe composition avec la fenêtre dans le coin :-)

--
Seen in your Someone set. (?)
Posted 38 months ago. ( permalink )

Mariana Maya Photo says:

Really nice. It works great that you took it from afar. All teh red surrounding teh blind man gives hima sence of a small and lost person with teh red being quite dramatic!!
Posted 38 months ago. ( permalink )

mrpmosh says:

I do not think the guitar player is starving...
I used to see this guy and his pal jamming together on my way to elementary school... That is 20 years ago! :)
Posted 37 months ago. ( permalink )

Xav&landscape says:

Cuba or Mexico ... it's difficult to say ... that's why your shot is very interesting ... hope I will see him during a next travel in Oaxaca !
Posted 37 months ago. ( permalink )

Hector Melo A. says:

Beautiful Bellissima!!...very nice!!
Posted 37 months ago. ( permalink )

Rhett Redelings says:

Actually you accomplished both your artistic goals. Next time you can give him some change. It's not your fault you're in a different position than he is.
Posted 36 months ago. ( permalink )

gorbot. says:

This is a great shot. Sharp, contrasty and colourful. Absolutely nothing wrong with this camera.
Posted 36 months ago. ( permalink )

www.BambaExperience.com says:

Hi, love your picTravel in Mexico, could you add it to this group page so that we can share it with everyone? Cheers!
Posted 36 months ago. ( permalink )

STΞPH [OИ & OҒҒ] says:

Wonderful colors & composition...

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Street Music, and we'd love to have your photo added to the group.
Posted 35 months ago. ( permalink )

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Taken on February 1, 2006
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