listen

Posted by e. (New York, NY, United States) on 16 March 2008 in People & Portrait.

On a bench outside the Jiji Railway Station was a blind man making a living playing the violin. He was helped by his wife, who would make sure that no one stole his money. It was a sad sight, but at the same time very touching, because his music was beautiful.

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Photo taken at the Jiji Railway Station, Taiwan on December 15, 2007.

There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle. - Albert Einstein

Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies. - Shawshank Redemption

Comments (23)

Michael Rawluk from Prince George, Canada

Beautiful. It looks like he feels his music.

16 Mar 2008 5:11am

Rags from Plano, United States

i admire his determination to make something beautiful even though by looking, we seem to think that life ripped him off of his sight.

16 Mar 2008 6:30am

Saeed from Tehran, Iran

Nice shot. Last Week In Iran i saw a blind man making a living playing the violin same this shot...

16 Mar 2008 6:48am

Ana Lúcia from Leiria, Portugal

I love the intensity of that feel there...

16 Mar 2008 7:05am

Michael Skorulski from Cigel, Slovakia

A great portrait and he looks so intense. Wonderful.

16 Mar 2008 8:19am

Harald from Frankfurt am Main, Germany

He looks fully concentrated. Well seen and captured.

16 Mar 2008 9:55am

Elle from Sydney, Australia

Cool camera you have :) I've always wanted to learn how to play the violin. I love the expression on his face. Very focused.

16 Mar 2008 10:49am

Lorraine from Gatineau, Canada

It is beautiful e. lovely moment to have captured..,

16 Mar 2008 10:59am

Craig from Vacaville, California, United States

Your portrait does him justice!

16 Mar 2008 11:03am

Teresa Durães from Montijo, Portugal

nice capture

16 Mar 2008 11:03am

Illuci from Hurdegaryp, Netherlands

Thanks very much for this picture, e.! Did you read the story by Japanalia about Yoroboshi, a Japanese legend performed in plays in Japan? Please read it, because the man reminds me to that story. It's not a sad story but encouraging. I find this one of your best pictures!

16 Mar 2008 11:20am

@Illuci: I just read it. Thank you so much for telling me to! It's a beautiful story.

adlibitumphotos from Lyon, France

Très belle photo prise au bon moment, celui ou ce musicien est très concentré, bravo. Pascal

Very nice photograph appraise at good instant, that or this musician is very concentrated, bravo. Pascal

16 Mar 2008 5:09pm

Michael from Wuppertal, Germany

A touching shot!

16 Mar 2008 6:31pm

MJ from Delaware, United States

great composition.... great shot

16 Mar 2008 7:35pm

standley from brou-sur-chantereine, France

Wonderful portrait. He seems to really live his music!

16 Mar 2008 9:09pm

Richard_Irwin from Belper, United Kingdom

You can tell that he is at one with his music. Super capture.

16 Mar 2008 9:18pm

bronzebilly u.k. from Barry,Vale of Glamorgan, United Kingdom

Luvs this "home" series.e.,...excellent family and surroundings shots...great work..
Billy..

16 Mar 2008 11:37pm

Elisa from Massachusetts, United States

great capture!!

17 Mar 2008 1:06am

Japanalia from Yokohama, Japan

Of course, it is sad that he does this for a living....but, I believe he loves playing, as his concentartion tells us,and as such his is an act of love and passion! A very good capture, too!

17 Mar 2008 1:36am

tyan from Singapore, Singapore

hi e.!We actually have a lot of such people busking at train stations and such.About a decade ago,it was a novelty and many people donated.After a while,these busking thing proliferated and many are actually conmen.I once saw a old woman who pled for money in a sorrowful voice,then the next moment,i saw her having lunch at an expensive resturant and cursing someone while trying to hail for a cab,which is VERY expensive to sit on nowadays...
but yes,i still enjoy watching and donating to guys like u mention today,people with real handicap and still persevering to make a living,thats admirable!:)

17 Mar 2008 2:15am