Music of the Street
67
THE WIND
Music goes through the street like a wind, bouncing off the bricks, the lamp posts, the pools of putrid water between road and sidewalk, the trembling street signs, and the people that cut across it all like skiffs across a strong wind.
Music affects everything like wind. The things that move don't notice it as much. It's the ones that are still that really feel it. They are the ones moved. They are the only ones who can be moved because they aren't busy doing it themselves.
The city soars around us, birds cutting through the wind. And the music moves softly through it all, finding us, still in the chaos.
description of MORNING SONG
I see her there every time. And every time I have the same impression.
She doesn't like all of these people.
She looks down, looks away, adjusts her instrument, keeps busy with anything.
And then she plays, and it's like watching someone rouse from a deep sleep. The music is like a yawn and a stretch, and the bright sounds cut through the dense and sleepy morning.
description of THE MUSIC BENEATH
It was like there was a whole other world beneath that straw hat of his. A world with no hunger or thirst or need.
Only music.
I never once saw him look up. But it wasn't as if he was ignoring all of us watching him. It was almost like the music was just the only living thing.
description of VIOLINIST PTS. 1 AND 2
The two violinists here were actually playing together. They may have been husband and wife, I'm not sure.
I took several pictures of them together but just couldn't get one that I liked. Then I photographed them separately. Bingo.
For some people, music is a very personal experience. Even for two people playing together, the same song. It's like two celestial bodies orbiting one another. Their motion is synchronized, but within each one is a world all its own.
description of GRANDPA ELLIOTT
Icon.
If you've walked around Royal street, you have more than likely seen Grandpa Elliott. His voice embodies the Cajun spirit, and, if you're not careful, you may get lost in it.
It is rough, raw, and beautiful.
description of ONE MAN BAND
While this isn't the strongest in composition or quality, I still wanted to include it, because I think it still captures a bit of the spirit of the music.
It is wild and syncopated. It surrounds him, bares him up, and he works it all like a complex machine.
Watching him perform you get a real sense for the timelessness of music. It always was, always will be, and something about it will never change. It's ability to transpose and transport us.
Music goes through the street like a wind.
Be still and feel it.
It is an interesting endeavor, attempting to capture music in a photograph. But when you realize that music can be more than a sound, that it is beyond the physical, that it is a state of mind and being, it becomes suddenly possible.
You just have to be still.
The next time you encounter a street musician, watch them.
Closely.
If they have music in their heart, it will shine through just about every part of them.
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Thanks, mj.
I'm hoping to do a hub of videos of these same musicians. Their talent really is mesmerizing.
I'm really impressed with how you seemed to capture the sense that the musicians are lost in their music. Just the musician and their music.Well done....
I'm glad you got that, debbie, that's it. It's easy when you're watching someone play to think about how the music makes you feel. It's another experience when you watch the musician and try to get a sense of how the music is making them feel.
Thanks for commenting :)
very nice! You have an eye for what lies beneath the surface and that, when brought to the attention of viewers/readers as you have here, is where the real beauty and art live.
Amazing pictures! Well done. :)
I really enjoyed the pictures, well done.
Your pictures are amazing! Thanks for sharing - and music is a great way to get my morning started.
Really like how you took these beautiful pictures and put a beautiful description beside them. I love it when street musicians share their music with us. Thank you for writing this!
@Allana Thank you for that. Music is poetry, even if there are no words. It is a joy to attempt to capture even just a piece of it.
@ThePracticalMommy Thank you so much :)
@cherylone I am very glad you enjoyed them, thank you for your comment :)
@Geoff Thanks! I can't consider my day officially started until I have music ;)
@Charlotte Thanks so much! I agree, there is just something so special about it. Your comments are always appreciated :)
This is simply magnificent. To see these artists through your perspective is a real treat, and the photos are fantastic! I feel like I've really gotten a taste of the area... especially because street performers can really define a certain neighborhood. Brilliant Hub!
Thanks so much :)
You said it. Street performers define downtown New Orleans. The culture is so rich and it's just so much fun to be a part of.
Thanks for your comment, I'm so glad you liked these.
Very impressive Evan, the soul is evident in both photography and musicians, I loved the light too, a kind of old fashioned quality to them, poster worthy. Very well done and a pleasure to look at and read.
Musicians in New Orleans definitely have a lot of soul.
Thank you for the encouragement. These were a lot of fun to take, I'm glad you liked them.
What an incredible Hub. Your words with the photos complete it. Thanks for sharing with us!
Thanks so much, Robin. I'm glad you enjoyed these :)
Very nice photographs, you certainly adjusted the cameras values to suit your topic perfectly. Congratulations for having won second place in the Hub Patron of the Arts Contest.
Great portraits emichael, could hear the music, congratulations on the Photo Gallery win. Regards, snakeslane
What a terrific collection of photos. You really captured quite a feeling; it is as if I am there hearing the music in person. Congratulations on you win in the photo/art contest!
Congrats's worth the win for sure, just beautiful!
Bravo
Kimberly
Congratulations on winning the Hub Patrons of the Arts contest. The portraits you took of the street musicians are wonderful.
My friend, congratulations on your contest win. This is truly well put together and exemplifies what the contest was looking for.
Congrats! Well done. It's easy to see why you won. Goodnight.
Magical! I can hear the music and feel the mystery of New Orleans in this hub. Beautiful in every way. Congrats on the win! I lived in NO for a year and fell in love with the city and the people. There is no other city like it, anywhere. You captured its soul perfectly in these pics and your poetic description.
Quite lovely and definitely a capture perfectly of music being played by those who love it. As a musician myself, totally "get" what your pictures are saying to us all.
Congratulations~
Evan - congratulations!!
Amazing pictures . congratulations. Have a great day.
Stunning work! You did indeed capture the spirit of the music in this collection!
Claudia Tello - Thank you. These players are so full of life and soul. My hope in taking these pictures was to capture that as best as I could. Thank you so much for the comment.
snakeslane - Thanks so much. I'm still in a little bit of shock that I won. It's such an honor.
ktrapp - It's great to hear so many people say they can hear the music through these pictures. That was what I hoped for. Thanks for your comment :)
kimberlyslyrics - Thank you so much!
Happyboomernurse - Thanks!
marriedwithdebt - Thank you, I appreciate that :)
mary615 - I still can't believe it. Thank you so much!
rebekahELLE - There really is no place like it. It sort of gets into your soul and becomes a part of who you are. I'm glad these pictures were able to evoke that connection again. Thanks for your wonderful comment!
akirchner - I believe anyone can appreciate the special magic in these street performers, but it resonates even deeper in a fellow musician. I'm glad you enjoyed these. What do you play?
capricornrising - :) Thanks!
vasantha T k - Thanks, you too!
SilverGenes - Thank you, it's great to hear you say that.
LOVE NEW ORLEANS! Those are some great pics and the heart of New Orleans. You did a great job capturing all of this with your photographs. Congratulations!
Congratulations... one can almost hear the music and feel the atmosphere in these photos.... Thanks a lot !!
Evan, can I ask what flavor of camera you're using? I'm a bit of a shutterbug myself, and always looking for new ways of creating images.
Marlin,
I love it, too. Music is the heartbeat of the city, and I'm so excited to see people connecting with and participating in the music and culture of the city through these photos.
Thanks for stopping by.
And congratulations yourself! I haven't gotten a chance to read the other winners yet, but I will soon. Congrats on the publishing opportunity, that is exciting!
Drax - Thank you very much!
Hey Capricorn,
I use a Canon T2i (550D) with a 35mm prime lens. For the last two photos, I borrowed a 75-300mm zoom.
I love the camera and the 35mm lens is perfect for portraits. That setup is also great for video, if you are into that at all. The depth of field gives a very nice cinema feel and also does extremely well in low light situations.
Congratulations on your win, it was a great hub.
Thank you, cherylone :)
Unbelievable photos are always around, but can lack a certain soul. In the very city of soul that some overexpose, you gave us a new look, with plain words that shook.
That means a lot, thank you.
Well done on your win, your hub really deserved it.
Thank you, debbie, you are too kind.
wow, great portraits! Well written!
Hey there :)
So glad you liked these!
Congrats..I like the way you format and 'package' the hub ..using different font to give a style of its own
Thanks!
OMG OMG ...i think you are a perfection in a whole package !!!...you can write, you can took photos perfectly. And everything with full expression,
Im dying to know how you took a photo dat cool?....i mean, i have a camera...but i have lil bit ideas bout all the tricks yet...i just turned 20 last month!!! PLEASE!!!!!!!?
Voted up up and higher up!
Thank you :)
All I can say is that it just takes a lot of trying and a lot of failing.
My sister is a wonderful photographer, and so I learned a lot from her. But other than that, a big part of my learning process involves researching other photographers and their methods of photography and then trying to replicate those methods. Lots of times I fail and have to adapt and find what works for me. Research other photographers who use the equipment that you do and see what they do to make a good photo.
But aside from all of the technical aspects of photography (which are secondary, in my opinion) it's really about finding a subject that truly interests you. For me, in this hub, it was all about music, culture, and capturing a person in the midst of their passion. So find something that tugs at your heart and then capture it.
The more you work with your camera and try to learn, the better you will become with the details.
If you have anymore specific, technical questions about settings for a particular picture, I'm more than happy to answer and give advice as best as I can.
Best of luck to you, and thanks so much for your comment.
What a great topic for a photo essay! I enjoyed viewing all your photos. And, congratulations on winning the award! It is richly deserved!
Thank you so much. Considering all of the talent here, I feel very fortunate to have won.
I'm glad you enjoyed these pictures.
What can I say? Wow. I just don't know how I missed this one.
Thanks, Paradise7. I'm glad you found and liked it :)
Stunning hub - well worth the competition win! It's funny how I'm only now getting around to viewing these!
mjfarns Level 3 Commenter 6 months ago
Fantastic photographs! Mesmerizing!