Cactus Cutter

Our mercado is full of interesting people doing interesting things (at least to a North American). The overall chaos, however, makes it difficult to get decent photos. There always seems to be someone hustling by in front of the camera when you take the photo. The old gentleman cutting cactus nopales was no exception, seated on a busy corner near a main entrance. Stockers were wheeling hand-trucks full of boxes, shoppers were walking by with arm-loads of purchases, and vendors were moving up and down the aisles looking for customers, but I was determined to get a shot of this man trimming off cactus spines so I squatted down next to a bag of oranges and waited for a break in the traffic. That break came, this photo was taken, and chaos returned as I pushed my way through the crowds to the nearest exit.