The Butcher's Wife Photo

Photographer’s Note

Continuing my little series on Siem Reap's great old market (Phsar Chas) I figured I would follow up my "The Butcher's Daughter" photo with this one. Unfortunately I was beaten to the punch by Gert Holmertz's version of the same subject. I do think I have a better reason why I know this is the butcher's wife though - she's counting the butcher's money. Haha, sorry girls.

As a few members of TE who have seen some of my portfolio already know, I love wandering around markets and am just fascinated by them. Now, with the invention of vibration reduction and some good high ISO capable cameras I can finally take some pictures. I guess this started with the souks in Morocco. There is just nothing like them in the western world. Phsar Chas was a pleasant surprise, as was the whole town of Siem Reap, as I had no idea a market of that type was there and I thought I was just there to visit the nearby temples of Angkor. It looks like it will and has been changing very quickly though. Both for the good and bad. For now though, it is still a pleasant surprise (just not a pleasant smell).

Thanks for any comments or critiques.
John

siolaw, japiey, rjb874, mphotographies, InasiaJones, chicken, linask trouve(nt) cette note utile

Critiques | Translate

bhuniatrekearth (764) 2007-07-11 19:53

Dear John,
A life style reflected in your picture. The colour effect is dramatic.

Best wishes.
Dr. J.

dvlazar (6488) 2007-07-11 20:51

John - here's one way to make the color red look less attractive. A nice market scene which is real and in your face. I think the lady deserves all the money shes counting for working there!
Thanks,
David.

shevchenko (9986) 2007-07-11 21:04

Hi John,
Good composition of a meat/pork stall in market, I just hate the smell of the raw meat, the meat very fresh with blood/red color, a lots of cash hold by the lady boss, she is busy in counting her money, lively shoot, well done.
Ally

Dpbours (220) 2007-07-11 23:26

Hi John,

Hahaha, your family is as much fiction as the family ties I assumed in my Batak series. For one thing, it's not the same stall you're at than the one in your previous shot. The scale plate here is white, where it was yellow in your other shot ;-). Also a diagonal line of tiles in the distance assuming a path which was not there in your previous post :-).

I love markets as well, great atmosphere, nice substling business. Also nice to be at the quiet before the storm when they are building up in the morning. And you captured great colours here, which is not always easy since markets can be a bit dark.
I have add that with my length it's a challenge here in Indonesia to go to markets - with tarpaulins / plastic sheets hanging at 1m50 against the rain and me being 1m92.

Greetings! Dennis

ohe (2332) 2007-07-11 23:52

Dear John,
I saw approximately the same thing in Viet Nam.
We are far away from Europe and the cold chain.
Thanks for sharing,
- Olivier -

siolaw (25794) 2007-07-12 0:44

Hi John,
It is my type of market compo! lots of red meat framing the seller with a 'kind of matching' shirt.... Good POV, colors and sharpness.
Laurent
brb

japiey (9493) 2007-07-12 2:21

Hi John.

It's a live moment that has been frozen with your click !! The colours around creates a symphony...and adding to it, her curious look at the money !! I loved the way you presented the note also...especially the point where you say that you know that is the butcher's wife.. :) You create a symphony and add a humour touch too..

Have a nice day, dear John.

j e a n p a u l

holmertz (9805) 2007-07-12 2:35

Hello John,
Sorry for stealing your idea, but since there are lots of butchers in Cambodia, there's bound to be a lot of wives. Nevertheless, this is a very good picture with all the meat and sausages providing a nice frame. And selling meat seems to be a profitable business.
All the best,
Gert

mphotographies (1976) 2007-07-12 20:39

Hey John,

The daughter, the wife , how about the 'other' woman can you spot (maybe she's the one). Counting what the day has been for her, smell of money and lives of people seen in 'RAW'!

All the best!

Jom

InasiaJones (20599) 2007-07-12 21:14

Hi John!

Even if you would telling me you’re a vegetarian, I wouldn’t believe you...

You’ve made me laugh with your wife/money joke... I like her position in your image and the fact she barely noticed your presence; it’s all too normal, cash is getting all her attention.

A bloody good photo.

André

chicken (1781) 2007-07-15 5:54

Great work of colors, even her shirt has a red, fleshy tone, only the scale and the money and some stuff in the background are different. IMO, the background is also the weakness of this nicely composed image. Personally I would have prefered if it were a bit more out-of-focus. Still a wonderful image of this market stand, I can smell the fresh meat :-)

woladorsky (804) 2007-07-21 6:14

Hi John!!

What a great shot!! I like the woman counting the money sourranded by the red meat!!

great shot

cheers

Rolando

LamCam (3603) 2007-07-24 14:31

Hello John
This could also be titled 'Blood Money'
I have seen this after viewing 'Butchers Son'and find this one perhaps even more striking in its colours with that hot-pink shirt drawing attention to the woman.
These markets must be a treat for the eyes, if not always for the nose. Squeamishness has no place here.This is indeed 'Real Food'