Musicians, Rajasthan.

The people in the images aren't related. These images were shot hundreds of miles away from each other.

The young boy belongs to a family of musicians. The eldest of 3 siblings, he recently lost his father & saw his mother married off to her younger brother in law (a prevalent custom in rural Rajasthan). He has a sweet voice but has a long way to go before he's able to draw large crowds. He must learn the art from his step father/uncle to help support his family.

The older man is a musician who lives in a remote village in Badmer. Every morning he gets on any bus or truck that'll take him to the local district & plays to collect spare change. He knows no other trade. Many of the younger generation in his village have given up family customs such as singing & dancing to learn more sustainable trades such as carpentry & plumbing to support their families. The instrument he holds is at least as old as he is. He can only guess his age in years.

Cameras used: Canon Digital SLR Camera EOS 5D Mark II
Canon EOS 400D Digital SLR Camera (incl. EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens Kit)

Lenses used:
Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM Lens
Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM Lens

Brass and strings. Cambridge, UK.

A friend of mine at Cambridge asked me to cover part of the Szeged festival, I couldn't pass it up. I mean, who says 'no' to a wide angle zoom perched on the edge of the stage? (Note to myself: must buy wide angle prime. British churches are dark enough with lighting. Zooms don't help much when the lighting doesn't turn on).
Anywho. I'm a sucker for people with musical instruments. You couldn't get me to theater if you paid me (unless I was allowed in with a camera. Even one I have to muzzle with a thick scarf).
(Another note to myself: maybe British theater is better than the over-simplified, Hollywood-esque musical crap I had to suffer in the Southern USA).