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.

Click on an image to see it larger.
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

Monday, September 1, 2014

If it's Sunday, it must be Tlacolula

No matter how screwed up the politics are here, and where aren't they screwed up, they are a mere blip on the Oaxacan horizon.  There are way too many positives, places, people, events and food, glorious food, to dampen the the real spirit of the place.  With 10,000 years of history, if they are one thing, Oaxacans are resilient and determined.
And there is no better way experience all of the above than to go to the Sunday market in Tlacolula.  So back we went.  These are all hip shots, shot from the hip so as not to disturb the flow... and not to get the evil eye sent my way.  Holding a camera up and pointing directly at someone changes everything, but most of the time all you have to do is ask in a polite way and voila.... "I am ready for my closeup, Mr. DeMille...."  But I love shooting blind from the hip.  I never know if my aim is even close, but with practice.... one gets better.
When one enters the market proper there is a phalanx of many women all selling tlayudas or tortillas.  It is quite crowded and you have to force yourself through, but the temptations are right in your face.
Speaking of faces...
I have been there so many times, I am starting to recognize people who are there selling their wares each week.  This abulea always has a special charm, an aura, around her.  We always talk to her about her beautiful traje, her outfit.
 I forget which village she comes from.... next time.
This is my seed man.  Last week he had an old peso piece, a large coin, about the size of a silver dollar.  He was flicking his wrist and bouncing it off the cement floor.  The thing rang like a bell.  He smiled and repeated it a few times. And he was the center of attention for a brief moment and it was a wonderful moment at that.

1 comment:

Louise Ducote said...

You know, you replied to me the other day that you "shoot from the hip" and little masters-in-English-me thought you meant that you figuratively "shoot from the hip," as the English expression goes. I get it! Will give it try next time I'm in Oaxaca; it may actually work since I'm about a foot taller (or at least feel that way) than the very-photographable little old ladies who rule the market.