Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Cowboy Fiddler

Well, not exactly. This man was playing the violin for tips at Soulard Market last Saturday. He was pretty damn good, playing a variety of music from country and western to classical. I think he was wearing the big hat because his skin is so fair. His gaze is distant. This could make him seem disengaged but I think reflects complete confidence with his instrument.

You can see what look like long scratches under the brim of his hat and the base of the violin. They are bits of thread broken off the bow. The bow strings are made of horsehair and they slowly break off. Eventually you have to get the bow restrung. Some violinists pull off the loose strands immediately. Some, like this guy, don't care. I was a simply awful violin student as a kid so I was probably in the latter group.

TOMORROW: Thursday Arch Series

8 comments:

Viola said...

Nice shot! It looks that he plays calmly and confidently.

lv2scpbk said...

I really like listening to the fiddle.

TORUŃ DAILY PHOTO said...

A true professional! I wondered what those 2 strands of hair were doing coming out of his ear. Now I know! Thanks for visiting us over at TORUŃ DP!

Kate said...

Is it concentration or a trance? Seems disengaged to me but that might be total concentration instead. It's a good portrait!

Anonymous said...

This is a great portrait! Everything is excellent. You even caught the 'A' string vibrating, while the violin is super-sharp. The composition and exposure are great, too.

Lavenderlady said...

I might have missed the strings...just concentrating on the look on his face. I'm glad you pointed them out.

Mary Stebbins Taitt said...

Nice composition and wonderful lighting on this.

Mary Stebbins Taitt said...

Interesting about the strings. My daughter played violin and my son played cello and we used a bow and rosing on some plates for resonance in the science museum where I worked.