the old vegetable market, Peshawar Photo

Photographer’s Note

Now feeling like butterflying and moving from one country to another (but will come back to India and Turkey very regularly) : did more scanning these last days, and this market…

There is in Peshawar an old, splendid, friendly vegetable market, where I loved to return to buy some fresh carrots etc – called « sabzi mandi », if I remember well…

The buyers and sellers agreed for the photo without really posing, I think their hands have interesting movements here, so it is in a way a "decisive moment"...

One of the places where I was feeling at ease in this city, where not many women are wandering in the streets - and if they are, it is often escorted and in groups, often wearing a burqa.

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There are so many guns in that area : mostly, to protect the honour of our women, I was told, "so it is a safe place, as everyone is on his guard : no banditry in Peshawar" (note, this was the year when the Taliban in Afghanistan were raising to power) ;

... still about this subject : wanting to meet people who spoke languages related to Turkish - I had met some of them in Quetta and I found it magic to be able to communicate with those Turkomen traders who looked so beautiful and exotic, and buy a very small kilim, ... I entered into a large Afghan refugee camp built with mud bricks in the outskirts of Peshawar, hoping to meet again such interesting persons, but the refugees there were mostly Pushtuns -

... anyway, here is the story : the manager of the camp, to whom a visit was necessary told me that not only had he a gun, but also his own « gun carrier » (who had just entered the room - a sort of armed body guard), who was the son of his father’s « gun carrier », and the trade is like this transmitted from father to son and to grandson ! (He belonged to a sort of elite class in his tribal community, he had a big stomach and piercing blue eyes)...

In the first place he wanted to sound very liberal, telling me that of course, he was drinking whisky etc, but suddenly, he talked fondly of his 2 daughters and his wife and his mood suddenly shifted from frivolous to serious, to my great relief :) (nothing dangerous, anyway, but a bit unpleasant, he had perceived me wrongly as an easy woman, probably drinking alcohol and ready for some adventure that he had imagined I guess...)

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This is getting too long, sorry, I enjoy writing and this process of looking back at old photos is healing for me ; more such souvenirs in other posts from Pakistan (I'll add them under ***) - Need to tell about my frustration sometimes, thinking that I was very appropriatly dressed - often, veiled, and never smiling during the first contacts ; but still, sometimes difficult !

(One of a few countries where I wished many times to be a man instead of a woman !...)

mugush, kiwi_explorer, japiey, snunney, siolaw, isabela_sor, mamcg, Partha_c, riclopes, sabyasachi1212, manatee, pebbles, Angshu, giorgimer, ifege, mikeyeats has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

mugush (2088) 2007-06-27 3:53

yes you are right vegetable market is called 'Sabzi Mandi' in Urdu language.
it is typical daily life's scene from Pakistan's market... your note is impressive i mean you have very deep study on Pakistan..
You menssioned you have been to Quetta, can you share those pics then?? I am also from Quetta,tell me how do you found Quetta?? what do you like there and what not?
thanks for sharing
mugush

kiwi_explorer (12195) 2007-06-27 5:00

Hi Catherine,
This vendor knows how to sell his goods ... nicely presented fresh vegetables. Well captured and good balanced lighting. Well done! tfs
Cheers,
Renier

snunney (35464) 2007-06-27 5:47

Hello Catherine,
A very atmospheric shot of this busy market and, in particular, the nicely presented stall in the foreground. The stallholder seems a little self conscious but not overly so and is obviously very proud of his stall. Good work.

cengiz (3581) 2007-06-27 7:59

well captured Cath. but light balance is ehh..
selamlar
cengiz

siolaw (25830) 2007-06-27 8:05

Salut Catherine
Une bonne exposition (petit coup de chaud sur les légumes au premier plan ;D)dans des conditions difficiles et bonne netteté des détails, de cette scène de marche, tranquille en apparence....
La dernière fois que j'y étais, juillet 76... ;D

Laurent

isabela_sor (42455) 2007-06-27 9:17

I love this kind of photos!!!I like the way you've managed this market scene including the seller man,all those people and so many vegetables !

japiey (9521) 2007-06-27 9:25

Hi Cath.

Very energetic is this frame, full of colours, actions, lights...

Lovely image from Peshawar..and now you have started to take us on a journey around the world...thank you..

Have a great day, dear friend.

jean paul

Partha_c (1985) 2007-06-27 14:54

Hi Cath. History never ceases to stop while tracing back to the origin of this city located in the silk route. Gandharas, Kushans, Kanishka, Alexander -- endless. But your travail in this corner brings out the inner pulse in your unique style. Great. To deal with frustration and anger, first set the kitchen timer for twety minutes -- cry, rant and rave -- and at the sound of the bell, simmer down and go about business as usual! Try and let me know. Cheers.
Partha

riclopes (33131) 2007-06-28 4:46

Another wonderful one from you, Cath. The lighting here is very well managed and making a very attractive atmosphere - it reminds me the light that we see inside churches. Again, so many nice details to observe. I love the scene on the right with the seller sat bettween all the vegetables, but also some perspective seen at some distance bettween those two men in the background. If you were alone, yes, I imagine how dificult it must be for you traveling in this country. Even my wife felt unconfortable in India, while walking with with me in some streets...
Ricardo

efi (4359) 2007-06-28 6:51

hi cath;
like our pazar ..renkli ve bol pazarlıklı.çok hoş bir fotoğraf..
bazen erkeklere verilen öncelik ters teper..kıyı köylerde iyi topraklardır diye denizden uzak yerler oğullara,kıyılar kızlara verilmiş..şimdi damatlar yaşıyor yalılarda :)
sevgilerle cathy..

anesugur (16998) 2007-06-28 16:42

Hi Catherine,
Very nice shot.
I like this composition and POV.
The colors are also wonderful.
Thanks and best wishes. Uğur

Stepan (27175) 2007-06-28 17:23

Belle lumière, belle ambiance et un endroit attirant... La note est pleine de souvenirs et de nostalgie... On te suit par là-bas...
Stéphane

manatee (4297) 2007-06-29 2:04

Exelent you are the only person I read entirely the note, even your notes are long, but in each picture you have something interesting to tell us and this is the magic of you. I told you before and i'l keep telling you you should writte a boook about your life and pictures.

Take care and have a nice day

Elias

sabyasachi1212 (19546) 2007-06-29 5:42

Hi Cath,
Pakistan and India (Bangladesh too for that matter) are so similar. The only distinguishable mark here are those Pathan suits. Sabzi mandi, if i am not mistaken is a hindi word now accepted universally in the subcontinent.
With Greetings from India
Sabyasachi

Angshu (34093) 2007-07-03 0:55

Hi Cath
Indeed this scene is so similar to what we see in India...I had taken an almost identical shot in Bangalore's Russel Market & difference is only in the dresses. Sabzi Mandi is a term which is now used so commonly even in India, especially in the Hindi speaking belt. Like the play of light & the real life mood which you're able to bring to us of the market. Wonderful & an excllently written note!
Best Regards
Angshu

brevbrev14 (372) 2007-07-18 2:30

Hi Catherine!
first of all congrats for you gallery!
i like a lot this market image...i full of life, with a great light and tones too..
i like a lot the expressions of the people and you great composition!
bravo!
ciao!
Valeria

giorgimer (21478) 2007-08-14 10:04

Hi Cath,

very nice market scene. A lot of interesting details and very good light.

TFS

Gio

happypoppeye (4064) 2007-09-13 16:40

Well, I love markets and I have always wanted to go to Peshawar, so this is a good one for me. A real interesting shot, very "street shot" looking and spur of the moment. The boy's expression is perfect, looking a little apprehensive but not "posed" or surprised. His surroundings remind me of the souq in Fes, full of life and color. Narrow twisting alleyways jammed with any kind of product that can be bought and miving with a sea of humanity going about their normal daily lives. Lots of great looking details in this one - the boy sitting amid his fruit & vegetables on the right is my favorite...

Great work.
John

ifege (1979) 2008-05-22 18:22

These old scanned slides of yours are great Catherine - the range of your travel in Asia puts mine to shame. What have you tried with photoshop with your PP editing. A few of mine (especially from when I lived in Papua new Guinea and they were stored in hot seaty conditions) have a heavy blue tinge. I haven't tried to fully get rid of the tinge but have mainly reduced the saturation to stop it being too distracting. I then find a bit of adjustements with brightness/contrast is also necessary. You've inspired me to put up more of my old slides, especially Indian ones.
cheers
Ian