Market day Photo | TrekEarth

Photographer’s Note

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One of the more interesting and enjoyable markets in Belgium takes place every sunday from 8am till 2pm on the west bank of the river Meuse in Liège. It is of course not a joy for everyone, many wait till closing time for the best deals, or something for free...always more...in need.

La Batte, as it is called - the name is derived from a local dialect, meaning embankment or wharf - stretches from the Quai Roosevelt to the Quai de Maestricht and takes over a few side streets along the way.
You will find everything from clothes to antiques, fruit and vegetables, fish and meat, to pastries and cheeses.
Afterwards you can grab a drink or a bite to eat at one of the many café's near the market.

La Batte gets extremely crowded in summer, especially after 11am. Because of its success, it has become a bit of a tourist attraction. Best thing is to get there as early as possible.

roges, ymrk, Wahclellaspirit, casperduppy, Dyerco, polter has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

roges (1204) 2009-04-30 11:34

Bonjour Michele !

Daily superbe image.
Un joueur exceptionnel de B & W.
Félicitations.
Une bonne nuit,
Adrian

ymrk (8281) 2009-04-30 11:58

Beautiful portrait,and very lovely faces..Original frame,good BW version.
Take care Michele!

Yağmur

Wahclellaspirit (3017) 2009-04-30 12:59

Bravo Michele,
One of your best images to date in my eyes. The B/W dark image is perfect to show the hard life of this woman as she strolls along the avenue at the marketplace.
The image is very expressive with the crowd in the rear and the lone, tired woman as the main subject.
Out of favorites, but this is sure to be one...
Steve

faubry (32191) 2009-04-30 13:12

Bonsoir Michèle, une scène de vie de tous les jours pour cette femme, une vie difficile semble t il par son allure, ses vêtements, bon choix du noir et blanc;
bonne soirée
amitiés
francine

casperduppy (1460) 2009-04-30 13:48

Hello Michele,
What a gem of a photograph! There is so much expression radiating from her face and heat-retaining attire, and I like how you caught her balancing her stride, looking to the side, oblivious of you. I can imagine this lady has walked that path many many times, to and from the market, to stock up on vegetables and fruits and such forth to see her through the week ahead. I bet she goes round every store checking the prices to get a bargain. That said, the composition is excellent, and it is a most fine b&w. The inclusion of the black gentleman walking hand in pocket off of the path and along the road makes this even better. A subtle feeling of duel isolation emanates.
Great shot Michele! All the best, Casper

bantonbuju (48334) 2009-05-01 0:24

although i'm far away from the "red flag" ideology, i do appreciate you posted this one, today...
the woman looks as if she arrived from some small town in eastern europe... daily - you may find such scenes along the whole eastern border of poland: what we call "borderland" nations trading across the easter border of the EU...

bw, j.

jasmis (49559) 2009-05-01 1:49

It simply reminds me my town - Slawkow in Saturday morning. I could take almost the same photo... :)
Regards.

vincz (19037) 2009-05-01 3:12

Great one. I love the scene, so oldish, the rendering, the black and white choice. Excellent.

Dyerco (8828) 2009-05-01 8:03

Hi Michele
Your image has a gritty feel to it that echoes the sentiments on the elderly lady's face. Nicely done.
Phil

michelloupis (0) 2009-05-02 6:39

Michèle,

This is an incredible shot!

You mean... date taken: 1933 perhaps? :-)

Fascinating the way you present it. It remembers me of those documentary shots about depression times or the war.

Have definitely to try to do one of those.

A++++ Thanks!

Have a fabulous weekend.

n.

sayeed_rahman (2185) 2009-05-02 6:44

Hey Michele

Right out of the 40's..the vintage effect..stands out cinematically...like in a war movie..an exodus..an old woman catching up !!

Fantastic stuff dear friend

How about a little more definition in the BG..with f11 maybe..could open up..could distract maybe...

This is good....

Have a great WE

Cheers
sayeed

CatherineD (4827) 2009-05-05 12:27

Salut Michèle,
Superbe portrait, avec une atmosphère hors du temps, un très bon relief noir et blanc, des détails excellents. Une photo qui aurait pu être prise dans les années soixante, avec les vieux pavés qui ont tant à raconter... Bravo! Amicalement,
Catherine

amazon (10373) 2009-05-07 10:02

bonsoie michele,
good atmosphere,i like yours old mdel deep looks...i want to learn her idea...
iffet

polter (6026) 2009-05-07 15:11

Markets are really interesting places. Feel a bit like nearby my favourite one in Oliwa. Characters looks kind of similar.
Well captured. Like it very much.
Best wishes T.

Clementi (42759) 2009-05-17 12:45

Ciao Michele,
ultimamente non ho molto visitato la tua galleria ma vedo che hai pubblicato delle foto eccezionali, mi complimento per i passi avanti che fai ogni giorno sia nella composizione che nella realizzazione,
ti verro' a trovare piu spesso credimi.
Giorgio

ghilain (1714) 2009-05-27 8:22

Bonjour Michèle,

D'une autre époque!
...prise sur le vif, dans toutes les difficultés de la vie. Ce sont des scènes que j'apprécie.

merci pour cette capture partagée

brigitte

Polonaise (5625) 2009-06-07 11:10

Going back to the roots of street photography, huh ?
The most simplistic... The most natural...
THE MOST DIFFICULT TO CAPTURE !

How easy it is for us to play an artist when we have no concept or no skills needed for producing something extremely normal and very common yet, it seems almost impossible to catch ?
Totally wonderful scene of such situation de4scribed above...

Beautiful by its non-pretentious simplicity... By its flawless composition.
This is something your eyes relax in a while look upon.
Precious Michele.. Very, very precious.

rikko77 (5444) 2009-06-11 6:59

Hi Merline
daily life in monochrome...I really like this shot, the old lady seems to come out from another year, from the past, despite life goes on in the background.
Well caught, well seen.
Regards,
Rikk