Four days in Mexico again, a photo from Oaxaca, Oaxaca

Photographer's Note

I have been told many times that in my pictures people tend to turn away from me. Hardly anyone makes eye contact with me, rarely does anyone look straight at my camera. All right, here you go folks. Finally I got the attention of someone. Happy?

This is taken at the most interesting market in Oaxaca. About five blocks away from the city center (zocalo), there is a permanent market which is a fascinating place to stimulate all your senses. However, every Saturday, an "animal market" is set up behind this big market where pigs, sheep, goats, chicken are sold offering a hell of a sight. Very few toursists go there and even I stood out as an outsider (I usually blend in with the crowd. Well, maybe not so much in Sweden). However, within a few minutes we befriended a father (Mario) and son who gave us a very informative description of the market. Apparently some of the animals were not doing very well, and those two guys in the back were trying to feed a sick sheep for twenty minutes. We avoided lamb chop that night.

Theme: Four days back in Mexico

"Mexico is naturally surreal"
--- Andre Breton

Well, I could not resist the force. So, over the Memorial day long weekend a friend of mine and I took another trip to Mexico. I only had 5 days and wanted to spend time in both Mexico city and Oaxaca. Arrived in Mexico City on Thursday afternoon (May 24th). Walked around the city that afternoon and the whole Friday. Took the midnight bus to Oaxaca. It's a fabulous option as you sleep and commute at the same time without wasting any time. Reached Oaxaca at 7 am Saturday. Spent the whole Saturday and Sunday in Oaxaca and the neighbouring villages, and took the midnight bus back to Mexico City on Sunday.Back in Mexico City on Monday morning 7 am. Took anothee bus to Puebla for the day and back to Mexico City that night. We were exhausted, but the Pueblano mole is definitely worth the trip. Back in the US on Tuesday (May 30th).

I wonder whether there are cheap tickets to Mexico during the upcoming 4th of July weekend.

michiels, chc, AnimeshRay oznaczył to zdjęcie jeko użyteczne

Critiques | Translate

gabrielpat (7163) 2007-06-10 15:35

Hi Prantick,
a nice idea,but really over exposed i think.

[workshop] [compare]

michiels (4170) 2007-06-10 15:46

hi Prantik,

i think this one is great, and the animal looking straight to your lens is very good, it is honest !!! I like the composition, you are a master in making daily life scenes in almost surrealistic images. great one !!!
greetings, inn

chc (1468) 2007-06-10 16:25

Hi Prantik,
Straight at us indeed! I like your composition a lot. Is there a way to better underline what's written on the wall?
Christophe

rosiegirl (1596) 2007-06-10 19:05

You have a very unique way of telling stories with your photos. A slightly dramatic view of the everyday- tying together the all players in scene. All the elements are talking together now.
For some reason, I want to see a little bit more of that goat. He kind of is a barrier keeping the viewer out right now rather than holding my attention or drawing my gaze inward(imo), but he definitely is need in the scene, just a tad more of him. I really enjoy the design that rope makes. Nice work!

Rosie

Furachan (0) 2007-06-10 21:01

The way I see it, Prantik, you can do no wrong in Mexico... You've got the "eye" for those sundrenched streets and the way all the pieces fit in the frame is reminscent of Webb (once again) but without the need to PROVE WHAT A G...M GENIUS YOU ARE WITH FOUR STORIES IN ONE SHOT, he he.
Overexposed - I think the damn wall and the entire street was overexposed by that sun, man.
No?
-F

s10001in (0) 2007-06-11 0:14

Nice one...Prantik..
As someone mentioned I do not feel like burnt highlights..
I liked the relationship what you are trying to make with foreground & back ground..
But infact relationship is not as strong as I found in your rest of the photos from Maxico..

Photos what you uploaded till today was intimate & natural in terms of feeling ..
this too is probably very natural..but somehow I am not comfortable with this..I am not getting why!!! but somehow..somewhere..
-Regards,

AnimeshRay (9089) 2007-06-11 1:29

Love the composition. Quite surrealistic--Buenuelesque, I would say. Some quite bizarre acts being acted upon--the goat eyeing you, the man straddling another goat, as it were, in the distance, then what is the man doing? Is he trying to white wash over the goat's head, or is he erasing the graffiti? The car, the rope on the foreground, RU license plate (what is it? Russia? Not seriously!)...what a collection here you have, Prantik, is nothing short of a bizarrely surreal image from the home of Bunuel. (yes, I see that HP did a marvelous job with the exposure in his workshop). Bravo!

wolf38 (30) 2007-06-11 4:35

Hello Prantik. Picture and text please me well. The photo is very alive and authentic. Center is clearly the goat. Very beautifully. Best regards, Wolfgang.

lamp (137) 2007-06-24 22:36

i like the composition and color, but i like your note and what you think more

Polonaise (5802) 2007-07-27 4:27

If this photo is NOT one heck of a Mexico itself - then I don't know what is ???
(:-)))))))))
Built by the colors distribution...
Built by the contents with the goat as a crest of arms to this somehow incredibly unusual country.
There is also one more element in your whole series, Prantik...
Consistency...
Mexico thorough YOUR very eyes...
That's the way you perceived this land...That's the way you will pass your vision on us... Persistently
And I respect that a lot...

Humbly

george