The here and now... and what and why

Complacency is a trap. At least that’s what I was thinking when I up and left the comfort of a Yankee prep school gig, where I taught music, amongst other things, for 28 years. There was also that life long career as a composer, musician and artist.

First, it was a year in St. Thomas, USVI, working as a reporter and shooting photography and then, a year in San Agustin Etla, Oaxaca, Mexico.
Time passed.
More time passed and a year back in the Athens of America followed by a hasty return to Oaxaca where it is all happening.
A couple of years in San Sebastian Etla and now, just down the road in San Pablo Etla. Life is good.

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For additional photography please visit my flickr page.
You can find my music on Jango (World & latin - Worldbeat) and at iTunes and most online stores.
¡Soy consciente de todas las tradiciones del Internet!
If you are coming to Oaxaca, please contact me for tours or advice.

Santo Domingo

Santo Domingo
The view from Corazon del Pueblo

The hereafter re me

My photo
Oaxaca, Oaxaca, Mexico
Musician, photographer, videographer, reporter, ex-officio teacher, now attempting to be a world traveler

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Another wedding in Teotitlan


I am shooting another wedding in Teotitlan del Valle.  This time it is Sergio, the brother of Fermina, whose boda I shot a couple of months ago.  I have a better idea of what is happening just because it is not all new to me.  Two things struck me today.  First, how much work and preparation go into the event and second, just how much fun people have in doing that work.

All day I was surrounded by happy, laughing people, who were all bustin' their tuches (I do not believe that is the Zapotec word for it) and of course, speaking Zapotec, so I did not understand a word.  However, joy and laughter, comprendo.
I will write more when I recover, but again, the men and women remain apart through most all of the celebration with old and young having differing jobs and responsibilities.

I showed up to help the men in killing and cleaning almost 100 turkeys this morning.

Yes, there is a shot of me plucking some poor bird's feather. 
Not the best portrait, but that is Zacarais, father of the groom, and two of the groom's brothers, Beto and Antonio in the back.

Here is the groom, Sergio with Monday's meal.

The younger women grinding corn for tortillas using matates.  It is such hard work, but they were having a total blast.
 
Cooking vegetables for the caldo de res, beef soup.

Great faces everywhere.

More as I get it.  Man, I am tired and I did nothing.  They are still working and getting ready to party for a week.  That is stamina.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love these! The joy definitely comes through. But, also want to see the turkey plucking gringo pic.

La Cubanófila said...

I always think, "These are the best photos yet!" and then, you post even more amazing ones!

Thanks, Chris--love spending time in Teotitlán again and again. Wondering what gifts I should be acquiring for so many newlywed couples before arriving this summer?