This was an unexpected treat, as I was shooting with Cástulo (who is Argentine) for a project on which I'm collaborating. During our first meeting I mentioned that I danced Tango, and he said he played the bandoneón, which is the heart and soul of the Tango sound. It is also a spectacularly difficult instrument to play, and he was self-taught (there being a scarcity of bandoneón teachers). I expressed my admiration, and we left it at that, and scheduled our shoot. When he showed up with his bandoneón, it was too much to resist and we did a short, impromptu pre-shoot.
It was such a treat to have live tango music during the session!!! Unfortunately, most tangos evoke deep, mournful feelings, and all I was getting were these deep, tragic looks from him. So I had to request a "milonga" to get him to smile.
This was the best of his smiles; I just wish it had coincided with a more undulating moment for the bandoneón, which is a beautifully articulated and sinuous instrument. I feel it just looks placed, rather than actually getting played as wonderfully as it was.
[POST CHALLENGE]
Oh, Cástulo will be SO tickled! Thank you all for your generous votes and comments.
Bear, just because it's YOU, I will attempt such a composite and share later :-)
Statistics
Place: 1 out of 50 Avg (all users): 7.2689 Avg (commenters): 8.8333 Avg (participants): 6.8387 Avg (non-participants): 7.4205 Views since voting: 3420 Views during voting: 226 Votes: 119 Comments: 40 Favorites: 3 (view)
Late to the Congratulations party... but Better late than never.... CONGRATULATIONS my dear friend!!! Well deserved, One of my highest scores in this challenge! U ROCKED it sister!!
Great work Johanna. Congrats on ribbon. I agree with you on lack of sinuosity of the instrument: I noticed that immediately. Why not work up a composite for us where you graft this head on a better version of instrument/body? :-)
You over-estimate us, Johanna. Placed? Played? I was captivated by his obviously spontaneous smile and simply found the instrument a most wonderful prop. My top score and a gap between it and the next scores. Beautifully done. Congratulations on the well-deserved blue.
Wonderful work, with a rich character and a tapestry of wrinkles, ruffled shirt and intricate accordion that together speak experience, joy, artist. Looks like a Tanguera.
I gave the shot a 10. It has a special quality to make that made me really feel the joy and emotion. When I look at the smile I feel something so genuine about it embraces and makes me feel like I want join in. The lighting is solid. The composition of solid. It was my favorite of the competition.
Such a genuine smile! I love it. The lighting is just a WEE bit intense for my liking, but at least it allowed you to catch all his brilliant smile lines
el bandoneonista
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