Clutter of Life Photo

Photographer’s Note

A street scene on the back corner of the old market in Siem Reap. Sittimg there, as well as walking through the market, I was amazed at the variety of items for sale there. A "one stop shop" so to say, with everything from everyday needs including food, drink, clothing and household items to video games, jewelry, shoes, cigarettes and anything else one would want to buy. This shot has a small selection of items that were available, including firewood, baskets, paint, rice, brooms, mops, buckets, bags and even decorative rafia...It was a really amazing site actually. It truly was the non-western version of a Walmart. Just a little more cluttered, with walkways, which were in places, barely wide enough to even fit down between all the items.

This one is for Andre (inasiajones) and Luko (Luko), two of the great photographers on the site, in their own, original ways....just imagine how detailed this would be with a 5D...

Another element I liked about this photo is the third person in it, staring straight at the camera, camouflaged by all the clutter.

For more shots taken inside the Old Market:

Old Market
Old Market II
Old Market III
The Butcher's Daughter
The Butcher's Wife
Thinking...
The Warmth of a Smile

Thanks for any comments or critiques,
John

robertosalguero, indoka28, Floydian, japiey, shevchenko, Dpbours, dareco trouve(nt) cette note utile

Critiques | Translate

robertosalguero (110) 2007-08-31 19:48

Markets are truly great places to find lots of interesting and cheap goods. Nice shot of this place. The atmosphere of the market is well seen in the amount of stuff on sale and the two women. Nice colours and good framing to saturate the imagen with store products. Thanks John.

Roberto
PS. I checked your better half's gallery. She has some nice shots there.

indoka28 (5187) 2007-08-31 20:48

Hello John,

A beautiful depiction of typical market here showing a lot of things packed for sale here..the composition is very good keeping the two men in the corner and the rest of the frame taking care of the thing for sale..good clarity and also I loved their shirts..wonderful informative image..!!

Thanks
Regards,
Indro

ninaL (19550) 2007-08-31 22:49

Hi, John.
I like this place with his "composition" of products to say.
Just pitty the people are not more accentued by their presence, here.
Best regards. Grazyna.

bhardwajkapil78 (486) 2007-09-01 0:06

Nice Picture,

You have very well managed the details and colors..

Its quite a typical shot in indian cities too..
TFS
Regards

Floydian (30970) 2007-09-01 5:21

Hi John,
Well....buy a 5D..!!! ;-)
But....this one looks also very good, not much wrong with it. Detail and colours are very good, just as the sharpness.Compo with the two people on the right gives a nice overview on the store...very nice.
Have a nice weekend, Henk

jwmunro (6373) 2007-09-01 7:23

Hello John -

Interesting market scene but it leaves me a little flat because there is so little life in the image. I see the two people sitting among the wares to be sold but they are almost lost in the scene. IMO, markets are about people, activity, and commerce and your image does not portray that. The exposure is spot on but the image is a bit soft probably due to the shallow DOF.

thank you for sharing.

John

[2] +

batalay (21116) 2007-09-01 8:18

Hi John,

I like this shot very much with the brilliant colors and resolution with the sharpness of obsidean glass. What I particularly like is that, as the photographer, you have not intruded in the photograph, the merchants oblivious to the presence of the camera. Warm regards, and have a good weekend,

Bulent

japiey (9497) 2007-09-01 8:33

Hi John.

A crowded shop, and a well made shot, including the needed elements.
It feels calm, and the varities in the shop gives us a detailed look too.
Good, informative and lovely.
Salutes, dear friend.

jean paul

kensimage (8543) 2007-09-01 9:35

Interesting how it's extremely cluttered, and yet all is organized, everything in its place, in neat stacks and rows. And the shot is as well-organized as its subject matter, with the people placed in just the right spot. Regards, Ken.

shevchenko (10016) 2007-09-02 20:58

Hi John,
Interesting composition of a local sundry shop, good pov to show the variety goods selling here, a very crowd shop, in Malaysia also able to find this kind of shop at suburban, thanks for sharing.
Ally

rbcy1974 (20746) 2007-09-03 14:30

HEllo JOhn:
The idea is great as is teh mixture of colours, I just think that cropping just a bit so that their are only two "windows" instead of three would make it more concise to look at.
Cheers
Daniel

Dpbours (220) 2007-09-03 21:32

Hi John,

Yes, a pleasant out-of-life scene. Off course, a 5D would have given better results. Or even better, buy the new D3 of Nikon :-P. But given the inferior equipment used (hahaha, joking) a good take. There's nothing wrong with the D40! Especially with that lense. A nice combination for sure.
I do agree with the other John that markets are normally bustling busy places and yours is a bit quiet. But still a colourful take!

Greetings, Dennis

plimrn (19688) 2007-09-04 8:58

Hi John,
The tidy detail does remind one a bit of a mini-Walmart. I collect market scenes so I've added this to my collection. if that is a problem, let me know.
Thanks for suggestion to visit Liz's site. Looks like you have wonderful travel plans for the next six months. Happy travels & HLJ, Pat

dareco (17104) 2007-09-05 0:32

I love this 'clutter' showing daily life there. A really good photo! So much to look at, with alot of color. TFS

noborders (14201) 2007-09-14 10:35

This shop is a mine of infos, I like to observe all the things for sale... including above the hat of the lady !
TFS,
Cath.