Olives and Dates and Other Things Photo

Photographer’s Note

The Rabat markets are a warren of little alleys and cubbyholes, shops crammed into any available space and selling just about anything. We were at the back of one of these holes in the wall looking at piles of spices, when I turned around and spotted this scene toward the front. The vendor is selling just about anything related to food; there are piles of olives, dates, nuts, cans of oil and prepared foods. Probably spices, too, but at this distance in space and time I can't be sure.

Technical: Heavy cropping (there was a man in the way). Levels to darken (yes, darken) the midtones. I used Linear Burn to brush out the blown-out lampshade in the center (another technique I have recently discovered).

ilghiz, Photo65Net, jwmunro, zmey, Gerrit has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

ilghiz (470) 2008-04-07 9:10

You have perfectly conveyed the atmosphere of "crammed-into-any-available-space":
a lot of stuff darker to the frame
and lighter to the center.
This picture feels so cosy
and I can almost smell the food ;)

Photo65Net (43084) 2008-04-07 10:35

Daniel,
Nice exposure from this market.
I like a lot your control of light, and how the colors of the olives are enhanced.
Regards,
JB.

danyy (68008) 2008-04-07 11:42

Bonjour Daniel,
une photo qui nous plonge bien dans l'atmosphère des marchés marocains, tu as choisi de nous montrer une seule échoppe plus intimement, c'est un bon choix d'autant qu'il y sont vendues des spécialités de là-bas.
Des lumières difficiles bien gérées.
Regards.
Daniel.

crckt (6965) 2008-04-07 11:48

Hi Daniel,
I like this framing, a nice daily life photo. The atmosphere of this photo is what makes it stands out.
Well done,
shaeri

parbo (10964) 2008-04-07 12:29

Hello Daniel,

An enviable photo you captured. Soft colored, yellow bulb already helped for great illumination there and your shoot is very good. Goods in bags are creates an excellent depth and I like also your photo in natural colors a lot too. Congratulations.

Best Regards,

Ertugrul

jwmunro (6561) 2008-04-08 5:03

Hello Dan -

I think you did a very good job on a really difficult exposure. I know the intent was to capture the ambiance of the market but here I think focusing on the olives and spices would have been a better composition. I just think there are too many distractions in the image from the OE in the extreme BG, the people, and all of the hanging stuff. Sometimes these things don't come to us when we are at the market but it something to think about the next time. Anyway, well done on a difficult subject.

Thank you for Sharing

John

Gerrit (35491) 2008-04-10 11:36

Hi Daniel,
great market scene in fantastic Rembrandtesc light. The sharpness is good enough.
Regards, gerrit

zmey (7242) 2008-04-11 9:35

hello dan

your picture brings back warm memories... :) and the ambery warmth of the scenery you have captured has a lot to do with it. i like your light management here. not sure how much is due to pos-production (that's not important anyway), but i like the detail on the brightly lit produce while the rest of the scenery floats into darkness.

warm regards,
kristaps