Scenes from Mopti market, a photo from Mopti, South

Photographer's Note

One of the most interesting places I saw during my journey of West Africa in 1981-82 was Mopti, a fairly large town in south central Mali at the confluence of the Niger and Bani rivers. It was a great place for watching people and interesting mud architecture.

This is from one section of the market where decorated jars, gourds, clothes and firewood could be found. I have added two workshops from other parts of the great Mopti market, one in black & white, the other one in colour.

This photo was scanned from a Kodachrome slide. Here is a larger version.

John_F_Kennedy, jhm, mirosu, danos, ourania, PaulVDV, cornejo, Graal, adores, COSTANTINO, SnapRJW, worldcitizen, ChrisJ, saxo042, mohammad_H, annjackman, nikkitta, fabbs99, imageme, CLODO, Angshu, Periko, mcmtanyel, ikeharel has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

John_F_Kennedy (43797) 2015-03-04 1:48

Hello Gert,
Amazing colours in this great daily life picture. I like how you framed it. Excellent sharpness and light of this perfect scan
best wishes,
Achim

Royaldevon (85638) 2015-03-04 2:02

Hello Gert,

We had a lovely Nigerian lady, who came to school to teach the children African music and dance; she was dressed just like the lady in grey.
It is a beautiful photograph, so full of interesting details of the people, their dress and their way of life. It is well composed with a sense of depth across the frame and the colours are good.
I, like the lady in your photograph, would love to select one of those shiny pots!

Have a lovely day,
Bev :-)

emka (157280) 2015-03-04 2:21

Hi Gert, it seemed to me that we would be neighbors, but I was slow with my note (you in turn were too fast with critique to read it :)). I have read about your problems with uploading photos, but today it works.
Another great shot from Africa. It is something that I also would like to see - local markets, with Africans in traditional cloths. In my trip in Southern Africa I saw mainly nature - wild animals and stunning landscape, less of the people. And in Namibia and South Africa many white people. Not so interesting. Beautiful items. What is in the back? they look like pumpkins. Nice kids.
WArm regard s Malgo

jhm (211734) 2015-03-04 3:24

Hello Gert,

All three your pictures are pleasant to look at.
Almost all women that work on the market.
Wonderful scanned work of your pictures.
Nice daily life pictures.
Colours and sharpness are perfect.
Very well done, TFS.

Best regards,
John.

pajaran (114971) 2015-03-04 3:37

Dobar dan.
Lep pogled i trenutak, dobar tekst o gradu i vasem putovanju ...
Dobar rad skeniranjem slajda, lepo pokazano mesto i trenutak sa lepim fotografijama u radionici.
Imajte lep i uspesan dan, sve najbolje.
Paja.

Good afternoon.
Beautiful view of the moment, a good article about the town and your journey ...
Good work by scanning the slide, shown nice place and moment with beautiful photographs of the workshop.
Have a nice and successful day, all the best.
Paja.

Gerrit (62042) 2015-03-04 4:43

Hello Gert,
Well, if a woman wants to buy a jar overthere, she knows where to get it.
Great shot in beautiful deep tones.
thanks and regards,
Gerrit

Fis2 (169791) 2015-03-04 4:57

Witaj Gert!
Curious scene from daily life.
Good frame and nice colors.
I like your archive!
Nice afternoon
Krzysztof

Nicou (193806) 2015-03-04 5:03

Hlelo

Encore une mervielleuse iamge quelle scÃ¨ne toutes ces jarres de couleur rouge rondes avec les deux dames qui choisisent laquelle elle veulent acheter ces tons au vif ans le mouvement et cette animation partout splendide.
Bravo et belle journÃ©e
Nicou

Sergiom (117241) 2015-03-04 5:32

Bonjour Gert,

J'aime beaucoup cette composition sortie tout droit de tes archives. La numérisation est superbe. Une très belle scène de la vie quotidienne dans cette partie du monde. Ces cruches sont de toute beauté.

Amicalement

Serge

mirosu (16313) 2015-03-04 6:17

Hi Gert,
Excellent daily life photo from Africa, superb view to small local market stand.
You have created a really strong composition with great light, excellently framed in landscape format.
Very well done.
Greetings,
MIRO
.

danos (110407) 2015-03-04 7:00

Hello Girt,
very interesting your photos from Mali the early '80's.In all of the shots the natives are the main elements making the scenes even more attractive.I like this colourful one with the lot of jars,to dominating on the foreground of the image with the vendor to show one of the lot to the other woman.Excellent presentation.

Regards,Danos

carlo62 (81265) 2015-03-04 7:06

Ciao Gert
tre foto molto belle, preferisco le due a colori perché mi piace molto vedere i colori di questa terra e dei loro abitanti.
Quella che hai scelto per la prima pagina è senza dubbio la migliore.
Saluti
Carlo

rychem (72187) 2015-03-04 9:04

I find this scene fantastic, beautiful and exotic to me, I like the pottery and colorful clothes, very well done
regards Ryszard

ourania (51103) 2015-03-04 9:54

Hello Gert,
I like very much how the different people are dispersed within the frame and how the repeating patterns of the pots fill half of the available space. In between, we can get a glimpse of details and textures that complement the scenery and our information. I like how the sunshine and your creative contrast management have pushed the colours to their richest quality, but it's also interesting to see how very different the atmosphere of the b&w picture is. We can feel the uniqueness of this little market, which seems to rely a lot on improvisation. Congratulations and thank you!
All the best, have a lovely evening,
Ourania

rbassin (27472) 2015-03-04 9:57

bonsoir Gert
très belle composition, une scène bien saisie et animée autour des cruches.
Très intéressant aussi de voir les vêtements richement décorés.
Amicalement
Roland

PaulVDV (62804) 2015-03-04 10:19

Hello Gert,
Aren't these colourful jars a great gift you could take back home to Sweden ? The gourds are less colourful but I have always considered them as a fantastic product of nature.
Fortunately in Mali there was no wish to change the traditional attire into western clothes.
An attractive market scene and no problems to take pictures of women. Aren't the residents of Mopti Muslim?
Best regards, Paul

cornejo (61504) 2015-03-04 10:30

Hello Gert, good photo of this interesting scene of daily life in the market, very well captured in this interesting image with good sharpness, depth, light and color. Very good and nice job perfectly done, congratulations my friend. Thanks for sharing this interesting work.

Good night and happy rest of the week.
All the best from southern Spain.
Angel.

Graal (103040) 2015-03-04 10:53

Hi Gert,
nice reportage from your archive. Fine theme about the daily life. Interesting scened from market in Mali. Good shots and presentation here and in WS.
Have a nice evening.
Aleksander

adores (46979) 2015-03-04 15:39

Hi Gert!
I really like this. Looks a very interesting place with all those ceramics, the kids running and the adults with their beautiful African clothes. A very good daily scene.

PiotrF (54246) 2015-03-04 17:07

Hello Gert,
Nice daily life scene from this market.
I like it very black and white photo of the workshop.
Nicely captured with good lighting control. Well done.
Regards
Piotr

Matyas (0) 2015-03-05 4:04

Hello Gert! Another wonderful take from 1982! Amazing market. Fantastic pottery. Nice women. Good colours. Superb work. Regards!

mesutilgim (0) 2015-03-05 4:29

Hello dear Gert,
Very nice capture from Mali ! Those artisanal jars would sell for unbelievable amounts of Money in any European giftshop but they don't know it.
Very good scan.
TFS and best regards
MESUT ILGIM

kasianowak (17672) 2015-03-05 6:14

Hi Gert
Glad to see another image from Mopti!
Just like in your last post almost everything in the photo seems traditional except a few hints in the background to indicate that the "modern" and "western" style is creeping in. Makes me wonder what the place looks like now.
Two very interesting photos in the background too. One black and white and one colour - did you travel with two cameras or shot in b&w from time to time?
Best wishes
Kasia

COSTANTINO (115583) 2015-03-05 6:16

Hello dear Gert and have a nice evening
every shot of yours is a real book of traditional
details and great civilazation culture
here we can see a section of an open air market
where decorated jars clothes and pottery items
can be found
I love photos of this kind
nice close up
regards
Costantino

eldancer1 (36343) 2015-03-05 7:13

When I was growing up in the Philippines we used pots made of mud and they worked very well. Those are very colorful jars and they look like they are well made. Good details and wonderful colors. Well done, tfs.

SnapRJW (31631) 2015-03-05 8:38

I love scenes like this one Gert, there is no chasing after the tourist buck with souvenirs. Rather we see items for sale, made locally and made to be used. I imagine that these big pots are for water or perhaps for the local homemade beer. The two ladies appear to be discussing the merits of the pots... which to buy? The largest one would be a good choice.

Love the spice lady too, her clothing is a perfect colour match for the turmeric(?)she sells. Difficult to imagine that she can make a business out of her meager selection of goods.

A fine selection of photographs.

warm regards

Rosemary

worldcitizen (15960) 2015-03-05 10:38

Hello Gert,
These pots are beautiful. I like all the earthy colors in this scene, and the different designs on the side of the pots. They are all similar, but still have a bit of individuality. Did you buy anything at this market? You must have lots of interesting items from around the world.

berek (50518) 2015-03-05 22:38

Dear Gert,
Another scene mervielleuse iamge what these round red jars with two ladies who choisisent which it want to buy these tones to bright age movement and all this animation gorgeous.Good morning.
all the best
Burak Erek

Silvio1953 (220665) 2015-03-06 11:37

Ciao Gert, lovely daily life composition with nice couple in FG, nice scene, excellent clarity, splendid light and wonderful colors, very well done, my friend, have a good week end, ciao Silvio

lousat (138655) 2015-03-06 11:51

Hi Gert,3 beautiful pics from this important and curious market,i like your choice for the main post,so rich and colorful,but the ws are very interesting too,excellent the black and white! have a nice weekend and thanks,Luciano

Cricri (176) 2015-03-06 23:54

Hi Gert
Une presntation vraiment belle, tant pour sa composition, ces couleurs et la lumiere, tres jolie
Belle journee
cricri

ChrisJ (171280) 2015-03-07 6:09

Hello Gert,

A wonderful daily life scene from this interesting market in Mali, Africa, with vibrant colour and good repetition of the pots. Excellent density levels with punchy light contrasts and perfect saturation. Well framed and composed and the womens attire is no less remarkable. Tfs.

saxo042 (38078) 2015-03-07 8:58

Hej Gert,
An väldigt fin färgharmoni i bilden. Många intressanta föremål till salu. Också två mycket fina extrabilder, den med kryddflickan är kanske den bästa i hela samlingen.
Hälsningar
Gunnar

mohammad_H (10178) 2015-03-07 21:21

Hi
Beautiful views, daily life in an African country, year round and lifestyle, and have more fun in photography, fine resolution Have a nice day

annjackman (23019) 2015-03-08 6:28

Hello Gert,
I learn so much from your pictures and this is a good scan of a slide that records this lovely market over 30 years ago. Not sure it will have changed much. The people are getting on with their lives apparently not distracted by you. The children seem to be having fun.
Kind Regards, Ann

serp2000 (47063) 2015-03-08 11:46

Hi, Gert,
This scene on the village market reminds me some old books about the first worldwide navigators and their discoveries of the far lands. But this is very picturesque photo with a lot of interesting details.
Best wishes,
Serghei

nikkitta (17070) 2015-03-12 12:27

Hola Gert

Just saw the color WS, a pity is not shown as a main post
Great scene and colors from Mali, this is special because women are not conscious of your presence
Enjoy color of dresses and good pottery
Excellent work, kind regards
Maria

fabbs99 (17179) 2015-03-12 23:39

Hello Gert,

This is a great shot from Mali.The ladies are on the lookout for suitable earthen pot.The image speaks volumes about the local culture.Excellent colors and sharpness.Very well captured.TFS.

Regards,
Farhat

imageme (1790) 2015-03-14 13:12

Hi Gert, Another open market scene from West Africa. The red tops of the jars are quite appealing. The patterns on the women' dresses mingled well with the patterns on the jars. The gourds in the BG give a nice color balance in the composition.
Best regards
Anna

abmdsudi (95869) 2015-03-17 4:46

Hi Gert
A great natural capture of another life style! The people all seem very natural unposed dominated by the earthenware which makes the image really interesting and the background gives the context of the environment. Love all the detail in this, yet it doesn't distract from the main subject - well framed. Congrats
Best regards

CLODO (45116) 2015-03-22 7:12

Hi Gert

this is Africa! good colored street scene full of life
Cheers
CLODO

Angshu (56760) 2015-03-26 23:01

Hello Gert
Wonderful picture of the market...I liked especially the colourful storage jars which have been painted with local motifs...also interesting are the dried gourds in the BG, which are used for multiple purposes. I don't know if the scene there has changed today now..maybe not!
Best Regards
Angshu

tatadalou (7459) 2015-04-10 16:06

Hello Gert,
A beautiful scene captured on the market that day. The photo is very well made with these two women ideally placed. The jars nicely adorn the composition by bringing beautiful round shapes.
Regards,
Delphine

Periko (9105) 2015-04-11 18:14

Hi Gert
Valuable testimony of those years, showing interesting elements like the clothes of the two ladies and the goods in the background. I like the natural attitude of the people.

TFS & regards
Pedro

mcmtanyel (67709) 2015-04-12 18:22

Hello Gert,
The colors and the repeated patterns are beautiful. It certainly is an authentic African market.
Regards,
MT

jmdias (114318) 2017-08-28 1:52

gert

I like a lot pottery and sometimes I buy something. these pieces are very interesting and I liked the way these women are deciding about the quality of the product while we can see other typical products ahead and even children playing in the area. very nice view.

hugs

jorge

Ilonka1974 (10289) 2020-01-22 15:11

Hi Gert,
Very nice daily life scene from Mopti.
This is really nice shot.
Well done.
Best regards
Janusz

Miguel82 (47110) 2020-03-21 13:13

Gert, the two ladies wear traditional clothes. This stall illustrates the craftsmen skills in this region. The jars in clay are superbly decorated manually. I see bowls probably made with a big fruit dried in the bg. Fine colors, good sharpness, interesting photo note, regards.

ikeharel (112475) 2021-07-14 2:12

Hello Gert,
Found a wonderful picture with a daily-life scenery from a very remote place.
Superbly scanned photo in the outcome, vivid and beautifully enliven.
Good afternoon,
Ike