Art Deco in Phnom Penh, a photo from Phnum Penh, West

Photographer's Note

Cambodia is on the move- foreign investment is pouring in and so are the tourists. The Cambodians are a most friendly and handsome people. Considering what they had been through, their friendly smiles and gentle voices are even more precious.

Unfortunately what spoils one's experience of Cambodia are the ever present mounds of putrefying rubbish in plastic bags encountered along footpaths and nature strips in the cities and in ditches and edges of fields in the countryside. One of the greatest curses is the plastic bag as it pollutes any country that has not the infrastructure and wealth to provide regular and effective collection and disposal of waste.

WIKIPEDIA: The Central Market (Khmer: ផ្សារធំថ្មី, "Psah Thom Thmey", "New Grand Market"), is a large market constructed in 1937 in the shape of a dome with four arms branching out into vast hallways with countless stalls of goods. It is located in Cambodia's capital city, Phnom Penh. When it first opened in 1937, it was said to be the biggest market in Asia; today it still operates as a market. From 2009 to 2011, it underwent a US$4.2 million renovation funded by the French Development Agency.
The market opens from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. It is, for tourists, a 'must see' stop. Most tourists visit this market because they want to see the extensive amount of products that are offered for bargain. The four wings of this gigantic yellow dome are teeming with stalls that sell goods ranging from gold and silver, antique coins, money exchange, men's and women's apparel, clocks, books, flowers, food, fabrics, shoes, souvenirs, fish, seafood, dessert, luggage, and countless other products.
The unique Art Deco building is a Phnom Penh landmark. Before 1935, the area was a lake that received runoff during the rainy season. The lake was drained and construction began in 1935. Since its completion in 1937, wet season flooding around the market has remained a problem and is vestigial evidence of the old lake. The entrance to the market is lined with souvenir merchants hawking everything from T-shirts and postcards to silver curios and kramas. Inside is a dazzling display of jewels and gold. Electronic goods, stationery, secondhand clothes and flowers are also sold. During Franco-Thai war the market was bombed heavily by Thais aircraft that cause heavily damaged and had to be temporarily closed. After the end of World War II the market was rebuilt in to the modern style.

Please have a look at the workshop for an interior shot.

holmertz, dta, SnapRJW, jhm, kato has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

holmertz (26958) 2012-10-18 1:23

Hello Klaudio,
Plastic bags polluting the environment is unfortunately a global curse. Only a few countries (I think mainly in Africa) have banned them. Now to this picture, which is well composed with a good symmetry but a variety of colours. I am amazed to see it, also the workshop. I was here in 2006 and this fascinating market seems to have received a complete facelift since then. It is one of the most remarkable civilian buildings in Phnom Penh and now it once again lives up to its reputation. Very interesting.
Kind regards,
Gert

siolaw (37568) 2012-10-18 1:31

Hi Klaudio
A place I know well (have a theme for it too!) I was actually in Phnom Penh at the time and still there now... ! Good treatment of the shadows with visible detail despite the strong light contrasts in Cambodia!
Regards
Laurent
Are you still in PP?

dta (51454) 2012-10-18 2:29

Hello Klaudio ,
This is both an interesting daily life scene , and an excellent composition , with an effective symetry , and a stunning building in the BG .
Regards

dkmurphys (36819) 2012-10-18 3:54

Hi Klaudio,
Very interesting everyday life capture. A place where not many can arrive so I guess you're very lucky to visit it. Well seen!

Daniel

SnapRJW (18752) 2012-10-18 7:40

Hello Klaudio - A fabulous country and I agree with you, the people are so kind and warm-hearted, its hard to understand how they can be so positive when they have suffered such atrocities. WRT the rubbish, I agree with what you say here too. My theory is that in days gone by food was wrapped in leaves and goods carried in bamboo baskets, these could be tossed away with no ill effects on the environment. Enter the plastic bag and with it no education. Toss it away still applies but the bags do not decay like the leaves and bamboo baskets did.

To your shot, I remember the Central Market and here in your shot you show the Art Deco design off well with the alley of stalls leading up to the distinctive structure. Your WS shot shows off the roof interior detail very well. It look quiet in there, both times I visited it has been heaving with people!

Warm regards rosemary

jhm (122458) 2012-10-19 2:40

Hello Klaudio,

A very busy activity on these market, you choice a very well angle with a view on the building in background.
Depth and perspective be excellent.
Excellent composition, nice presentation,
Very well done, TFS.

Have a nice weekend,
John.

abmdsudi (26281) 2012-10-19 21:25

Salam Klaudio
This 'Russian Market' with the new make-up look so appetizing now as compared to seven years ago, at least we can witness the changes that is taking place and this shows signs of the on-going economic development which ultimately will benefit the general population in particular those millions of lower-rung Khmers. As to your note about plastic garbage, needless to mention that this sad episode is truly an eye-sore which is common in many third-developing countries in Asia.
Just fyi, my ph no is not listed in the ph book, sorry for that and your note is noted. I am sure you must have taken lots of inspiring pictures there.
Kind regards

kato (6777) 2012-10-20 1:23

Hi dear Klaudio,

You're capturing well this central market by a good composition and excellent tone/clarity, so it's interesting and impressive to see shops of the clothing and miscellaneous goods which stand in a row on both sides of a passage and a central splendid building with yellow wall and dome shape. It is visible to an active place here. When it says in Tokyo, it is atmosphere like Asakusa.
Have a nice weekend,

Kind regards,
mikio

Juzo (4240) 2013-03-09 6:18

Hi Klaudio,
I remember as kid that Cambodia was regarded by many as the most dangerous country in the world - how times have changed, there is a sense of the old days coming back when Cambodia was a popular place and booming. I simply loved the place when I visited, the amazing scenes and people. This structure is quite striking and also the markets show the new feel to the country, which still battles with poverty, but I sense a great hope and change too. I like the geometry of this shot.
Cheers
Justin