Sweet apples, a photo from Hamah, North

Photographer's Note

I remain in Hama in north-central Syria in September 1995. On my second day in the city one of the places I visited was the covered bazaar. The light was not always easy to handle among the partly very dark stalls, but I managed a few photos and you can see three of them today.

There is very little to say about these photos. The main one just shows a boy selling candy apples – apples covered in a sugar candy coating with a wooden stick inserted as a handle. A totally crazy way to destroy a good fruit, if you ask me. But children obviously like them. The other boy is holding two of them while his sister seems to be looking for the money.

The photo is slightly cropped to get rid of "disturbing persons" on the left side.

Here is a larger version.

Two more photos in the WS, one from the clothes market, the other from a mixed market just outside the building.

All photos were scanned from Kodachrome slides.

pajaran, Fis2, ikeharel, pierrefonds, jhm, Energysavingelk, PiotrF, papagolf21, COSTANTINO, macjake, clic, PaulVDV, mcmtanyel, alvaraalto, worldcitizen, jean113, ChrisJ, adramad, mehrdad-t, aliabazari has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

pajaran (91512) 2019-10-13 0:38

Pozdrav.
lep pogled i trenutak, dobar tekst ...
lepa poslastica.
Dobar rad skeniranjem slajda, lepo pokazano, dobro uhvacen trenutak.
Zelim vam lep dan za odmor, sve najbolje.
Paja.

Fis2 (141800) 2019-10-13 0:53

Witaj Gert my neighbor tooday!
Another scene from daily life.
Nice work from Your archive.
Good framing, colors and curious light.
Well done.
Nice sunday.
Krzysztof

BennyV (30262) 2019-10-13 1:20

I thought I'd be the first the comment here (as you so often manage to do on my shots, for which so many thanks), but no...some fast people here!

Anyway & nevermind, this IS another great time machine picture, Gert. Good contrasts, great topic and good enough scan quality.

Having read your note, I now wonder who those "disturbing persons" were...:-)

Thanks for your generous participation here, Gert. Enjoy your Sunday.
Benny

lousat (120471) 2019-10-13 2:38

Hi Gert,i remember well the candy apples,but i haven't try. It's a beautiful pic from Hama market,where there were happy days and not like now. 2 nice perspectives in the 2 WS,the quality is still good,i like a lot the lights of the main pic.Have a nice Sunday and thanks,Luciano

pierrefonds (92977) 2019-10-13 4:35

Hi Gert,

You captured well the action of the child selling candy coated apples. The point of view is showing the the details of the child preparing the apple and of his mother watching him. The light has a good effect on the colors. Have a nice day.

Pierre

Silvio1953 (190345) 2019-10-13 4:52

Ciao Gert, nice scene, fantastic light, excellent clarity and wonderful colors, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

jhm (190677) 2019-10-13 5:59

Hello Gert,

Three lovely picture of the daily life 24 year ago.
I learn everyday of your clear reporting.
This cares for beautiful panorama image.
Lovely sharp and clear presentation, for this old scanned pictures.
Composition and presentation are pleasant to look at.
Very well done, TFS.

Have a nice day.
John.

jmdias (91266) 2019-10-13 7:04

gert

curiously these apples are very usual here but I spent many decades to enjoy one and I hated that. I liked the three images. here children are prohibited to work by law but many stay alone in the streets after school and many are caught by drugs, robbery and prostitution. education all day long would be the solution..

take care

jorge

Gerrit (56059) 2019-10-13 7:11

Hello Gert,
I like the colors and the light and the fine scenery while live was still good and peaceful,
Thanks and regards,
Gerrit

Nicou (187654) 2019-10-13 8:53

Hello

le rouge brille sur le uce autour de la pomme et des enfants qui aiment cela quelle scène et vue ce pommes au sucre rouge quel attitude et jeu de lumière fantastique composition
Bravo et amitié
Nciou

everlasting (16634) 2019-10-13 9:54

thanks to your extensive archives we can enjoy (in these days) a photo from syria that show normal life, sweet apples and kids being kids.

Energysavingelk (5091) 2019-10-13 9:54

Hej Gert!

I assume all of us would be grateful if this could be observed as an ordinary daylife scene in present Syria!

Thanks for sharing this gem!
Sven

mesutilgim (115130) 2019-10-13 10:43

Hello dear Gert,
Another topclass capture in your gallery.
It reminded me to my childhood where those sugar coated apples was a great "target" to all of us.
Very good pov and nice sidelight. Perfect sharpness and many interesting notes.
TFS and best regards
MESUT ILGIM

GyurMaster (16482) 2019-10-13 10:56

Dear Gert,

I guess these kids too, didn't read the terms of use just like other Apple users. :) Joking apart, this photo shows the excellence of the Kodachrome. The red of the apples are really amazing, but of course the play with light and shadow, which sells the picture. You left me no chance, I had to fave it.

Best Wishes,
Gy

PiotrF (41794) 2019-10-13 11:27

Hello Gert,
An interesting series of photos from this bazaar in Hama.
An interesting description. Good work, fine presentation.
Regards
Piotr

Miguel82 (35032) 2019-10-13 12:41

Gert, that value archive photo taken near a covered bazaar combines light and shadow. The customer seems to be the kid on the right holding two candy apples where as the vendors are the girl collecting the coins and the little boy with a brown pants. They maybe offer also roasted corns. Fine colors, good image quality, interesting photo note, regards.

Tue (71170) 2019-10-13 13:47

Hej Gert,
Et godt billede med de to drenge med de søde æbler (jeg tror heller ikke at jeg vil være særlig glad for at spise dem). Lyset var svært, men du klarede det godt og personerne står godt frem fra den mørke baggrund.
Lars

emka (138704) 2019-10-13 23:18

Hello gert, On one hand, it is nice to see the quiet scene from the market. But it is sad that children must work to help their parents. Do they go to school? In the main shot, I like the very dark background and the light. I remember the photos of such apples from Italy. I have never seen them. I like corn. The clothes market is like everywhere, I like this market outside the building.
Kind regards

sad MAlgo

ifege (20327) 2019-10-13 23:38

Hi Gert
Another good oldie with good lighting on the parts that matter. The dark surrounds are great.
cheers
Ian

papagolf21 (144558) 2019-10-13 23:51

Bonjour, cher Gert,
Entre ombre et lumière, la mise en image est très réussie.
Très bon sujet fort bien présenté.
Amitiés.
Philippe

ikeharel (98360) 2019-10-14 1:56

All three pictures show daily-life from a lost era, it is no longer such a calm place, Gert.
The boy holding the pan has a nice innocent face expression, but looks as poor young child.
The market pictures are vibrant sceneries.
Good afternoon,
Ike

Ilonka1974 (5263) 2019-10-14 3:16

Hi Gert,
This is another wow! I love the colors and atmosphere of this shot.
It´s nice to see this coloured apples.
The charming kids are caught in a natural attitude and with lovely colour.The whole scene has a beautifully Syriase feel to it.
Best regards
Janusz

COSTANTINO (92812) 2019-10-14 5:38

Hello dear GERT and have a nice time
and a happy new week
I like the dark in which these figures
are almost hidden and their hidden mystery!!!
I like the idea that the little boy is selling candy apples
covered in sugar and color
this sweet reminds of my childhood!!!
nice timing for all of us,you as photographer
us as members of TE and the young company here!!!
welldone
regards
Costantino

gervaso (27253) 2019-10-14 8:29

Hello, Gert!

The strong color of these sweet apples makes them stand out beautifully in this view of the children, captured from an interesting high POV! The light was well managed with interesting shadows that make the composition even more beautiful! Very nice job!

macjake (92293) 2019-10-14 10:53

Hi Gert
knowing now about Syria in the past decade or so, who knows how these boys and the girls lives have evolved. It wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility to say they could even be apart of ISIS...that is a very negative thing to say, but its true. Who knows. What a shame. I'm sure this country and its people are very good, just like most others, but the country has just been torn apart and fractured so badly. Lets hope and pray things turn around over the next decade or two. Syria is in the news again, with ISIS members escaping prison, with Turkey and the US involved...what a mess. Sounds like ISIS members are being freed, and we all know what that means. Sorry, i have taken your photo down a dark path, i guess its because I was just reading on the news only a few minutes ago about such things. you did well with this cropping, its very effective, as is the light. Perhaps we can all return and visit Syria at some point. cheers
Craig

clic (22770) 2019-10-14 14:51

Hallo Gert Please rejoyce for this beam of light right on the trio! I read on Pinterest about Chiaroscuro Photography; it is a technique referred to as 'clair obscur' or 'extreme low key' originating from the Renaissance period and often associated with painting or drawing; it has evolved into the photographic world. I also learned from a TE friend about the number three of a same species or kind as being very satisfying visually, composition wise. So you're in business all right!!
Halsningar

PaulVDV (49014) 2019-10-15 9:53

Hello Gert,
Splendid how the sunlight falls on these three children making them stand out so well against the surrounding darkness.
Very good light management for your pictures of the market in the WS.
I find it always extremely difficult to make good photos in covered markets. You succeeded well.
Best regards, Paul

mcmtanyel (53917) 2019-10-15 22:51

Hello Gert,
Three fine daily life scenes from the Syria of 24 years ago, when the place was relatively peaceful. 👍🏻👍🏻
Regards,
MT

CLODO (42291) 2019-10-15 23:08

Hi Gert

A special "nothing special" with the harsh ray of light illuminating these young people. But the dark area is not black, you can improve your shot (see my WS).
Best regards
CLODO

[workshop] [compare]

alvaraalto (38306) 2019-10-16 5:12

Hello Gert,
An attractive series of photos from the market in Hamah.
The workshop photos beautifully show the lively street scenes while the main photo of course the real crowd puller with the three children and the candy apples.
The beautiful sunlight and the dark background make the bright colours stand out.
Excellent work
Have a nice day, groet Rob

worldcitizen (12698) 2019-10-16 11:52

Hello Gert,
Seeing such a lovely scene from peaceful, daily life in Syria just makes it more heartbreaking to think about everything the Syrian people have recently had to endure. This includes the most recent chaos in northern Syria. The red color of the apples, and the colorful headscarf of the girl, really jump out.

drt100 (3522) 2019-10-16 15:25

A great photo - you photographic skills are excellent. The tools of lighting, placement, composition, point of view, and clarity are all here. Glad to see photos like this. A story is told. Nice drt100 David

jean113 (15811) 2019-10-17 1:02

Hello Gert, the lighting and composition are perfect.
The bright red of the toffee apples makes a wonderful focal point, besides contrasting with the blue and green of the young woman’s clothing.
Interesting extra shots.
Kind regards,
Jean

ChrisJ (151640) 2019-10-17 2:42

Hi Gert

The freshly roasted corn on the cob in the shadows is also a feature of neighboring Turkey. We used to get toffee apples like this at school fetes here in Brisbane in the 1960's & 70's but I haven't seen them around for many years. Good sharpness, graphism and cropping. Tfs!

adramad (62392) 2019-10-22 9:31

Hi Gert.
Superb composition with the portrait of what a mother and her children looks like, to whom she offers a caramel apple, is a lovely scene, of what life was like in those years in this idyllic city of Hama, I love the effect of shadows and lights, which highlight the figures.
Very good color that gives strength to the image.
Well seen and done. I like it.
You have a good day.
Very best regards.
Luis.

mehrdad-t (4606) 2019-10-27 0:40

Hello,
effective shot,
I love Colors in all its tones.
Tanks,
Mehrdad

kasianowak (13811) 2019-11-03 3:57

Hi Gert
Thanks to the difficult light you captured a scene that looks like Baroque chiaroscuro painting. If you cropped just below the tray the boy is holding you could have an image consistently following that technique, but I like the fact we can see the whole boy, complete with his legs and feet. It's a case of two potential images in one. :-)
I always wonder why, in parts of the world where children could do with a little bit more vitamins and healthy food, people use fruit to produce sweets... But maybe it makes their lives a little bit more bearable.
Best wishes
Kasia

aliabazari (17156) 2019-11-12 2:07

Hi dear friend Gert
A good representation of the daily lives of the Syrian people before the war. The resolution and exposure are well done.