Fruit Seller Photo

Photographer’s Note

Here is another shot taken inside the fruit and food market in Stone Town, the capital of Zanzibar. This section was in the meat and fish part of the market, but this elderly man set up his meagre supply of fruit for sale. I don’t think he will get much income from what he has for sale.

Stone Town, known for its narrow streets and Arabic architecture is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. I’m not happy with my shots in the narrow streets, so I will just put one in the WS here for anyone who is interested.

This is the penultimate post in this travelogue; one last one to come.

ISO 500, FL 24mm

dareco, noborders, daddo, snunney, Photo65Net, Royaldevon, Floydian, fabio_ts, Cricri, Wandering_Dan, UlfE, rodgerg, ricochet, sleon, Tue, Philippe, Dyerco, bostankorkulugu, josepmarin, Wanda1, John_F_Kennedy, danos, carper, mark_mk, delic, mydrjoe, gneufeld, zeca, stego, alvaraalto, keribar, Didi, xuaxo, plimrn, abulafia, riclopes has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

dareco (17024) 2008-05-06 1:08

A very interesting place and I have enjoyed both of these pictures. I like the look of the narrow street. Thanks!

noborders (14197) 2008-05-06 1:11

Oh Kath, this one is fantastic too, the composition is perfect with such a good light and super colours, I love all the details and the reflections in the glasses of the vendor - just splendid ! The BG included... Don't tell me that you don't enjoy taking those photos !!!
Congratulations,
Cath.

holmertz (9328) 2008-05-06 1:18

Hello Kath,
Another fine shot with lots of interesting details. Somehow the motive and the soft colours remind me of some slightly faded picture from a travel magazine, or the National Geographic, from the 1950's or 60's.
Regards,
Gert

daddo (11283) 2008-05-06 1:25

Hi Kath. a most interesting scene filled with innumerable details.the light is wonderful, not harsh and intrusive, but just right to illuminate everything beautifully. I love the light on the lenses of this patient man. Regards. Klaudio.

gilou530 (34755) 2008-05-06 2:18

salut kath
une échope bien typique d'afrique avec ces couleurs et ces vieilles maisons, le vendeur a un air bien pensif, bien capturé
amitiés
gilbert

tober (3902) 2008-05-06 2:21

Hi Kath, that's an excellent daily life photo from beautiful Zanzibar. I have never been there but your photo is quite inviting. Everything is natural in the photo. Not only the expression of the seller on the face and the walking lady at the background, but also the fruits and vegetables, even the texture of the wall are very very exotic. The overall quality of the photo is also top class. Well done !

snunney (34186) 2008-05-06 2:48

Hello Kath,
A nice capture of this fruit seller posing quite nonchalantly and seemingly in a world of his won. He doesn't seem to have much to sell though no doubt he scrapes a living. I like the framing and the backdrop of one of the competing stalls. Very good light, colours and clarity.

Photo65Net (43084) 2008-05-06 2:49

Kath,
Very nice market scene.
You caught it with a perfect exposure, and superb cnatural colors.
Regards,
JB.

zeynepe (9340) 2008-05-06 3:34

Dear Kath,
An excellent shot. I really like the moment you've captured.I wondered that what he was thinking about.
A splendid scene from market life :)
Have a nice week,
Best regards,
Zeynep

Royaldevon (5824) 2008-05-06 3:48

Oh, Kath, is this all he had for sale?
His shirt is torn and he looks far away in his thoughts! Your photographs tell wonderful, sometimes sad and moving, stories without words!
I love the way you have focused on this man but, after we have absorbed his condition, there is a wider background giving a good context for the shot. Good detailed images and perfect exposure.

Kind regards,
Bev :-)

[2] +

mesutilgim (36337) 2008-05-06 3:49

Hi Kath,
Very nice scene from Tanzania.
Perfect pov and very good compo with the fruit seller. Amazing how those two sellers are displaying their products to two diefferent directions.
TFS and best regards
MESUT ILGIM

kschanna (2604) 2008-05-06 4:35

Hello Kath,

Excellent composition, what a beautiful everyday scene from a country which I would like to visit one day.

Love the shot.

Well done
Kamran

Floydian (30970) 2008-05-06 4:45

Hello Kath,
A place like all in the none-western world. I have seen this places many times, visit them time after time and always was impressed how people live and how they try to make a living from the small things they have and trying to sell. The smell on most markets is most of the time dusgusting, but i like to stroll around there. Great shot, really shows the daily life of the man trying to sell his fruits...very good.
Regards, Henk

delkoo (33988) 2008-05-06 7:14

hi kath,
what a moment you caught there ! only few fruits to cell , what i like the most, is the disorder that surrounds this poor little shop.
A nice, spontaneous portrait with documentary value.

didier

fabio_ts (13672) 2008-05-06 7:16

Ciao Kath, once again you have done a great work, all works well, composition is superb, light/shade perfect and the mix of colors are really attractive, all my compliments!!

have a nice evening,
Fabio.

Cricri (42894) 2008-05-06 8:21

Hi Kath,
Un coin du marché plus façile a regarder...
Beaucoup de détails et de jolies couleurs, j'aime la façon trés relax du vendeur, belle image complémentaire en WS
Have a nice evening
cricri

dvlazar (6468) 2008-05-06 8:28

Hey,
Another good stone town shot. The lighting is very well handled - and youve represented it well. And youre right about the man not having anything half as impressive as what most sellers have to offer!
Cheers

Wandering_Dan (3191) 2008-05-06 9:34

Hi, Kath -

Boy, does this scene look familiar! Like any number of markets I've been to in east Africa. Good capture, though I wish you'd been able to get the guy's body away from the frame edge. The colors are true, and the girl in the back adds a nice touch (the boy is harder to see behind the bars).

And in answer to the point raised by other comments here: Yes, in all probability that was all he had to sell.

I also share your frustration with the lighting in Stone Town streets; I'm still going through my collection trying to find something suitable (or that can be PP'd into a useful image).

Best,
Dan

UlfE (8863) 2008-05-06 11:03

Hi Kath,

Another excellent picture from Zanzibar. I love the light, the perfect sharpness and all the details you could see here. TFS!

Cheers,

Ulf

pboehringer (770) 2008-05-06 11:43

Kath,
it is rather shocking to see what a meagre supply there is. That is probably as much as I personally would neeed in 2-3 days of eating. That means 4-5 people buying his offers and than he is done for the day or even the week? his whole face and posture gives the impression of melancholy and there might be a godd explanation for that.
Not quit sure why you're not satisfied with your street shots. Both are good and deserve a main post.
Peter

rodgerg (23207) 2008-05-06 11:51

Hello Kath,

A very beautiful everyday life scene. I like especially the colors, the nice composition and the expression of this man. An another very good job.
Have a good evening,
Roger

ricochet (4670) 2008-05-06 12:35

Bonjour Kath
Une scène de la vie quotidienne superbement saisie avec une très belle netteté et le fouilli colle bien à l'ambiance des marchés, bravo à toi c'est encore une très belle réussite!
Eric

derek3755 (2341) 2008-05-06 12:49

Hi Kath

an excellent shot of daily life, and a lovely natural feel to the image too,

Regards
Derek

sleon (9350) 2008-05-06 13:15

Hi Kath
Already nearly the end of your travelogue? I'm sorry I haven't had time to look at all your pics properly. I love markets and this is a really fine portrait of this seller in his surroundings. The colour of the fruit is so vivid and the lighting and details are really excellent. I had to look for a while to notice the many things going on in the scene.
Regards, Susanna

Tue (25608) 2008-05-06 13:28

Hi Kath,
This photo, along with the one in the WS, gives a very nice impression of Stone Town. A very good capture of this fruit seller in a splendid, vertical composition. The colours are fine and I find the light management really good too.
Regards,
Lars

maximage (13263) 2008-05-06 13:54

Bonjour Kath.
Très belle scène de vie. Image d'une grande pureté et belles couleurs naturelles et agréables.
Une merveilleuse compo.
Amitiés.
max

Philippe (11687) 2008-05-06 13:59

Hi, Kath. A nice triangle composition with the fruit seller, the boy behind him and the woman on the other side of the picture. The vivid colours of the fruit stand well out against the rather neutral colours of the surroundings. The tight vertical format focuses on the three people in the image.

danyy (68088) 2008-05-06 14:30

Bonjour Kath,
je pense que c'est la capture parfaite des lumières de cette scène qui fait la grande qualité de cette photo où la netteté est aussi un élément de réussite.
Les couleurs sont très naturelles, le portrait sans doute typique.
Merci de nous faire découvrir ces terres de si loin de chez nous.
Regards.
Daniel.

skippy007 (6829) 2008-05-06 15:33

Hi Kath, A very natural looking market scene. I like the detail, colour & textures in this excellent daily life capture. The narrow street scene was also worth looking at.
You have posted some pretty amazing & interesting shots from this part of the world.
Thanks
Santo

tcht (7280) 2008-05-06 18:14

Hi Kath
this is really good...first theres the warm light and fine positioning of the people. and the details and colours of the fruits are very good. beautiful documentary pic.
Cheers
Cheuk Hin

Dyerco (8908) 2008-05-06 20:17

Hi Kath
Good slice of life shot. I think between the meagre amount of produce and the sad look on his face you have captured the mood well.
Phil

wolf38 (12549) 2008-05-06 20:19

Hello Kath. My acknowledgment for this skillful photo. It is perfect. Informative text. Very beautifully. Best regards, Wolfgang.

bostankorkulugu (33372) 2008-05-06 21:35

definitely one of the best of your tanzania series kath... the colourful fruits in front of the guy is "the killer" in this composition... superb one indeed...

all the best

korkut

TopGeo (21449) 2008-05-06 23:24

Hi Kath interesting point, this picture of internal space here you have. The wit of descriptive scene of trade. Level first and second have the diversity and in subject and in lighting. Good total and recording of atmosphere.
Georgios

Graal (57312) 2008-05-07 0:29

Hi Kath,
fine reportage, good shot. Amazing seller and market. Excellent colours and composition. Well done picture.
Gr., Aleksander

sacavem (8102) 2008-05-07 2:03

Olá Kath,

I like market scenes and in here we can see a colourful one with lots diversity of veg/fruits. Beautiful image of this traditional market and beautiful image of daily life indeed. TSF
Well done.

Regards,
Filipe

marietom (31782) 2008-05-07 5:47

hello Kath,

très jolie, cette scène de vie quotidienne très vivante ! Les couleurs sont superbes.
Bonne journée
Marie

Paolo (40655) 2008-05-07 7:47

Hi Kath, beautiful portrait of the fruti seller.
a colorful composition, excellent quality, POV and a good daily life view.
thanks, ciao

josepmarin (33611) 2008-05-07 9:14

Hello Kath,
You have caught a very interesting scene in your composition. It is not the habitual image of a market for us, it is another kind of market, simple, primary and well integrated in the streets.
This contrast between the culture, the traditions and the daily life of this country, compared with our more comfortable life of developed and rich countries, is strong and has very much symbolism.
The photo is taken with a great exposure and an excellent light. The soft color is splendid.
Best wishes,
Josep

mark_mk (246) 2008-05-07 9:51

Hi Kath,
nice scene, it really shows us something about the world and the way the people live there, great colors and POV, the whole shot is great! I haven`t seen such a market before, nice one!

Best regards
Mark

Wanda1 (10905) 2008-05-07 23:12

Hi Kath,
Stonetown is one of my favourite place s that I have visited and I loved the market it has that arabic mixed with african flair. You have captured the people unawares and I like the lovely natural light that is flooding the image and the shot is well composed with plenty to look at.
Regards
Wanda

vincz (19039) 2008-05-08 1:53

Great daily life scene, so exotic, from such a remote place both in location and in time it seems. Great composition in this narrow space. Very well done.

John_F_Kennedy (30723) 2008-05-08 4:40

Public markets are indeed colourful places to shoot. You did it well with the composition here.
Best wishes,
Achim

danos (31796) 2008-05-08 5:19

Hello Kath,
nice presentation of this old vendor with his meagre supply of fruit for sale.The income of this man must be very low as in all of these countries.I like the redish hue of the colors as the expression of his face.Seems not to be so glad about the sales of the day.Excellent the sharpness and the clarity as the part of the road that we can see in the workshop.

Regards,Danos

delic (6735) 2008-05-08 13:20

This one looks like a painting, Kath. It's a timeless composition. Really great photo. Regards,
Hakan

mydrjoe (1240) 2008-05-08 13:57

Hello Kath,

To me, in this photo work everything is perfect. No other word. Congratulations!

Regards,
JR

gneufeld (15055) 2008-05-08 18:16

Hi Kath,
A very interesting daily life shot with lots of details and warm natural colors in good light. Very well seen and TFS. GERald

zeca (20026) 2008-05-08 20:26

Very nice capture, Kath! I like the softness of all tones, and the colours of that fruits broken it all. A composition rich of nice details! Great one!
Regards,
Zeca

albertz (2310) 2008-05-09 0:32

The clarity of your shots are superb. This one is outstanding. I hope you could read minds and tell us what the fruit seller is thinking. The DOF is great and sharp. Excellent shot.
Regards
Albert

carper (64194) 2008-05-09 11:27

another good one out your Africa serie Kath,
good composition, fine light and well handled the camera settings, very good photojob, have a nice day.
regard. Jaap

batalay (20712) 2008-05-09 13:28

Hello Kath,

This is a superb shot, with surpassing composition, colors and resolution, among the best of the fruits of your excursion to Africa. As for the social commentary that your photojournalism represents, what a miserable life these poor souls have to do just to survive. You had the "film speed" ISO cranked up to 500, but what a super exposure you've achieved.

Warm regards and best wishes for the weekend,

Bulent

stego (22340) 2008-05-10 14:10

Hi Kath,
Decidedly, you are as good with people's shots as you are with landscapes and nature. It's a very interesting capture of the ambiance of that market, amazingly achieved technically. I am amazed by the quality of the exposure. I wonder how you managed to have so much detail in every little corner. Was there any big white canvas covering the place that made the light perfect?
I also like the WS, showing the street; the only thing less great is the slight inclination to the right. It reminds me Aswan, in Egypt.
Regards, José.

alvaraalto (5227) 2008-05-10 15:31

Hi Kath,

The merchant isn’t looking if he is very satisfied about the sales of this day.
But I think that this expression is good for the expression of this picture.

Groet Rob

keribar (42726) 2008-05-11 0:23

Hello Kath,

Good to find this picture of Stone Town in Zanzibar, never heard of this name
( Stonetown)before, so it was high time to do so. But your picture is extremely well balanced with the two characters facing each other placed ideally. The light is also perfect. A winner !

Best - Izzet

Didi (35782) 2008-05-12 0:29

Hi Kath
Very interesting local scene with good lights management.
If there is not enough fruits perhaps you came later after crowd ?
Anyway I like your composition.
Cheers.

faubry (32197) 2008-05-13 10:32

hello kath; very nice vertical composition, we can see environement, its important;very good details
francine

Gerrit (35499) 2008-05-13 14:08

Hi Kath,
excellent marketscene. Beautiful colours and composition.
Regards, Gerrit

tomorrow

xuaxo (5649) 2008-05-13 14:28

Hi Kath
Very interesing colours, despite not much fruit. I like to see also the woman in background. Maybe a little "too cropped" at left.
F

lopshang (628) 2008-05-13 18:50

Hi Kath

Amazing detail and very good capture of daily life of that place. You seems to be good in taking all sort of photo. Love the sharpness too. Good composition.

Regards,

Lopshang.

Angshu (33346) 2008-05-13 20:42

Hello Kath
For my eyes, this is a fairly common scene of the markets..this can easily be a picture from India! Well framed & composed in the vertical format (not so common for these shots) & in good light. All your market shots had been good & this is no exception. The meager wares he has to sell coupled with his high powered glasses are things which caught my attention. Good work!
Best Regards
Angshu

plimrn (19558) 2008-05-25 16:51

Hi Kath,
In both the PP & the WS, your usual outstanding light management and well-defined sharpness, make for exquisite compositions. In both, the inclusion of people give a better feel for the area. Interesting that, in spite of his meagre stock, he has spectacles and looks to be quite comfortable.
HLJ, Pat

coco (27612) 2008-05-25 23:51

Hi Kath.

Good work where the technical matters and the subject of the photo look very good.

Regards.

abulafia (4802) 2008-08-11 2:51

Hi Kath
I had a look at a couple of your Zanzibar pictures, I have never been there myself, but have always been told about the colorful markets and the mix of culture.
The WS is pretty good as well, I don't know why you are not happy with it, good colors and light.
Harry

riclopes (32869) 2008-11-21 7:39

Olá Kath, I love this kind of market scenes and you should post more of it. I mean, I wish you should have more like this to post ;-) (but I know what that involves - I read you're reply to Cath). They really show us well the culture of a country. Although it's not so 'spectacular' as the 'meat' picture it has many details to discover has we move the eyes through the scene. The vendor with just a few pieces of diferent vegetables indicates how undeveloped the country is. Actually, the whole scenery indicates how poor the country is. I like the street mood felt in the WS too.
ric