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MushroomMagic — Sidewalk Beethoven

Published: 2006-03-12 23:50:20 +0000 UTC; Views: 4219; Favourites: 152; Downloads: 58
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Description Please dont turn this into a political photo; I admire him for playing the piano on the street corner. He was an good pianist. I like this photo alot, I like how no one is really paying attention to the man playing, they all just go about their business. Its humbling in a way, but it also captures the true essence of a musician; not to get noticed, but do it for the sheer fun of it.

The final shot in the City Life series, taken at Pikes Place Market, Seattle. Enjoy.
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Comments: 85

amourplease [2007-12-09 05:28:21 +0000 UTC]

I love the used look of the piano he's playing and the One Way sign especially in this piece. My eyes are immediately drawn to his hair and I especially like how you didn't include his face in the photograph. Beautiful composition.
Great work!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

MushroomMagic In reply to amourplease [2008-03-15 01:13:49 +0000 UTC]

hehe i know its late, but i was back in the area last month, and he was still playing there! im really glad you loved the photo

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JessicaElephant [2007-12-05 05:03:39 +0000 UTC]

I was about to ask if you were in Seattle when you took this and then I saw in your comment you were, I saw that guy last year... I bet he's out there everyday though? So I guess that's not that much of a coincidence

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MushroomMagic In reply to JessicaElephant [2007-12-05 06:33:36 +0000 UTC]

he could very well be there every day!

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iri-desuns [2007-11-26 09:33:20 +0000 UTC]

i thought there was something about the sign saying 'one way'...

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7ANYA [2007-11-25 06:43:35 +0000 UTC]

It feels good seeing pictures of home. I hope that the little things that make me like Seattle like people like him still remain when I come back to visit after I move out in the future. It's kind of like childhood memories. He adds a good feeling to Pike Place. It's fun having a shared knowledge about these little treasures, much like the strange wall of gum-and-pennies.

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MushroomMagic In reply to 7ANYA [2007-11-26 08:04:39 +0000 UTC]

haha yea that wall, very cool, and disgusting at the same time

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nightingale13 [2007-11-25 06:42:28 +0000 UTC]

my family bought this guy's cd once...

big mistake. he's an amazing player but his cd doesn't have any music on it haha.

it's just him rambling about whatever ... whenever....

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MushroomMagic In reply to nightingale13 [2007-11-26 08:04:17 +0000 UTC]

haha i can imagine

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TrollGirl [2007-11-25 05:11:51 +0000 UTC]

Ah, Mr. Fox was excellent with choice of caption, it's truly the Piano Man of the song

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MushroomMagic In reply to TrollGirl [2007-11-26 08:03:58 +0000 UTC]

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hyenacub [2007-11-25 03:29:40 +0000 UTC]

A nice picture! Reminds me of the Old market here where I live. There are musicians on those street corners, too. It's pretty cool. Never saw a guy with a piano, though.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

MushroomMagic In reply to hyenacub [2007-11-26 08:03:42 +0000 UTC]

thank you!

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blacwac [2007-11-25 02:51:09 +0000 UTC]

I have no clue who this guy is but........
He is AWESOME!!!
First, he's playing piano by the side of the road.
Second, the signs.
I know you said that it wasn't meant to be political. That isn't the reason I like the signs (well it's part of it). I like it because he has signs on a piano.

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MushroomMagic In reply to blacwac [2007-11-26 08:03:27 +0000 UTC]

hehe glad you like the shot, seattle is a very colorful place!

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IdleShutter [2007-11-25 00:41:06 +0000 UTC]

I got pics of this guy at Folklife this year! he is an amazing pianist isnt he I love is signs (know you didnt want it to be a political pic.) I recognize that very street corner too! <3 Seattle.

amazing shot.

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MushroomMagic In reply to IdleShutter [2007-11-26 08:02:24 +0000 UTC]

thank you very much! and yea i wanted to downplay the political aspect because as many political pictures are on here, most turn into flame wars.

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under-blue-skies [2007-11-24 23:31:54 +0000 UTC]

Beautiful composition and shot. A true musician indeed

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MushroomMagic In reply to under-blue-skies [2007-11-26 08:01:27 +0000 UTC]

indeed, pursing a passion!

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lola-piano [2007-11-24 22:19:52 +0000 UTC]

This is beautiful and full of stories...
I wonder now in winter days, where does he go..

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MushroomMagic In reply to lola-piano [2007-11-26 08:01:11 +0000 UTC]

i do too, hopefully somewhere warmer.

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lola-piano In reply to MushroomMagic [2007-11-26 16:47:44 +0000 UTC]

I hope so too...

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faeryink [2007-11-24 20:11:15 +0000 UTC]

For some reason, I really like the One Way sign with the arrow pointing away from him. The picture is great.

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MushroomMagic In reply to faeryink [2007-11-26 08:00:48 +0000 UTC]

i'm glad you enjoy it!

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OrendorffKnight [2007-11-24 19:04:18 +0000 UTC]

Reminds me of the song "Let's Impeach The President" by Neil Young. (not a fan of his but heard the song) But It's a wonderfully captured picture.
The guy has a lot of guts to play the piano alone and to add to it he has the sign "impeach bush"
Love his hair too.

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MushroomMagic In reply to OrendorffKnight [2007-11-26 08:00:33 +0000 UTC]

thank you very much!

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S-Scott [2007-11-24 18:57:10 +0000 UTC]

My favorite place in the entire world. Very nice.

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MushroomMagic In reply to S-Scott [2007-11-26 07:59:42 +0000 UTC]

thank you very much! Pikes Place is amazing

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bandislife88 [2007-11-24 18:54:42 +0000 UTC]

I once had my cousin tell me I should play the piano on a street corner. I love how he doesn't seem to care what people think...he just plays. This is a great picture. Really made me smile.

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MushroomMagic In reply to bandislife88 [2007-11-26 07:59:24 +0000 UTC]

you do it for the fun of it, not for what other people think!

thanks!

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whispersinthenight13 [2007-11-24 18:31:26 +0000 UTC]

Few appreciate music like they should these days...

Amazing photo. I wish I could hear some of what he played.

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MushroomMagic In reply to whispersinthenight13 [2007-11-26 07:58:28 +0000 UTC]

agreed, as a musician, it pains me to see how culturally dry society is. people dont even take the time to look for music, just buy into mainstream crap.

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ShonWright [2007-11-24 18:25:36 +0000 UTC]

nice!

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MushroomMagic In reply to ShonWright [2007-11-26 07:57:30 +0000 UTC]

thanks!

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written-in-the-sand [2007-11-24 17:24:06 +0000 UTC]

very interesting picture. i love the angle and the feeling in this shot. the people... *shakes head* i don't know.

excellent shot.

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MushroomMagic In reply to written-in-the-sand [2007-11-26 07:57:24 +0000 UTC]

many thanks!

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written-in-the-sand In reply to MushroomMagic [2007-12-01 00:10:46 +0000 UTC]

many welcomes

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RockOfGibraltar [2007-11-24 17:20:16 +0000 UTC]

I'm all for sidewalk symphonies; nice capture!

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MushroomMagic In reply to RockOfGibraltar [2007-11-26 07:57:08 +0000 UTC]

thank you!

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RockOfGibraltar In reply to MushroomMagic [2007-11-26 19:40:53 +0000 UTC]

you are most welcome.

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aznxenocide [2007-11-24 16:52:33 +0000 UTC]

Pike Place rocks. I love that place. This is an incredible photo. Great job!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

MushroomMagic In reply to aznxenocide [2007-11-26 07:56:58 +0000 UTC]

i do to, great place to visit, grab a starbucks, and mingle with the *eccentric* locals

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acegprodigy [2007-11-24 16:17:24 +0000 UTC]

He's really funny if you talk to him.

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MushroomMagic In reply to acegprodigy [2007-11-26 07:54:10 +0000 UTC]

hehe i bet

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kupo-nut86 [2007-11-24 09:05:59 +0000 UTC]

I respect your opinion, but I find it a bit...Well, I lose hope in humanity a bit more, let alone the United States. I must also note the irony in the picture because it can be taken in two directions--or more in terms of society's take on it.

Great job in capturing a lot of meanings of it. Makes me see that even if an artist has one say of something, the instant stuff comes out about it, makes it no longer yours in a sense, but everone's.

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MushroomMagic In reply to kupo-nut86 [2007-11-26 07:53:59 +0000 UTC]

totally agree

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UnLapinTimide [2007-11-24 08:15:20 +0000 UTC]

Wonderful capture. A great composition and very thought provoking. As soon as I saw this, I instantly knew it was from Pike Place. I saw him still playing his piano just this summer. I'm amazed that he's been playing his piano on Pike Place for over a year now, according to the date given in the deviation.

I must say, I see this man in a wonderful new light now.

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UnLapinTimide In reply to UnLapinTimide [2007-11-24 08:16:11 +0000 UTC]

And congrats on the DD!

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MushroomMagic In reply to UnLapinTimide [2007-11-26 07:53:39 +0000 UTC]

thank you very much for the kind words

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UnLapinTimide In reply to MushroomMagic [2007-11-27 02:06:04 +0000 UTC]

You're very welcome.

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