Indian Market Day!

Arriving in India was such a culture shock. What I was expecting is not what I seen at all. It was beautiful in not an ascetic way, the smell, heat, vibe was more than I was anticipating and I was rather over whelmed for a couple of days and needed time to explore and experience without my camera. So the first real day of shooting came when I went to my first market. The colours, scenes and people were not a let-down at all! It was what I was hoping to see all in one place. Really a great place to start my photography explorations. 

I think I gathered up all the skills and experiences that I have gained through my time at CCAD to really get up close and personal to people and get right in for detail (something that I really worked hard to gain in first year street photography) and also depth of field, fill flash that I have recently worked on and expanded my skills with in second year.  

As initially I was focusing on colour and getting patterns and themes I think that most of the images from the first market show this. They have a repetitive theme and are really bright and busy. I am glad I captured this because the rest of my images aren't as vibrant as some of the ones I captured at this market so it helps to bring the colour and vibe to the book that India provides.   

Enlargements: 

Tea and spices are on every row of shops in India. You can literally get them anywhere. Although rather typical I think that they make interesting shots. From the vibrant colours to the range in textures I think that they show the colour and also give a sense of flavor and smell to the place. Makes you think and associate with all the amazing foods that the country has to offer. So although it may be typical, think it’s important to have these. In the tea image especially I have used a shallow depth of field to really focus in on the tea in the front, the texture and also the colour. I did this as the texture of all the tea is the same so you can see what the rest will look like without actually seeing (if that makes sense). I also think it gives the image a softer less over powering feel. 

This may be my favorite image from my whole holiday. It shows something that I witnesses a lot of on my journey. Children working to help there family’s. But what I like about this image is most of the young workers I witnessed really looked sad and really desperate. Now I’m not saying that this young man isn't any of those things (I don’t know the true fact I can just comment on what I see) I think he has an air of cheekiness to him, a lot of the sellers at the market hound you to buy something, he didn't, he just looked and laughed at me when he realized I had taken his picture. He didn't seem bothered and I imagined him thinking of what he would really like to be doing kind of like ‘mam hurry up and get back so I can go play football’. I just like the way he’s sat and his little face. 

A use of a shallow depth of field to really make the subject stand out from the background. What I like about this technique is it gives the image a soft aspect. I think that this is enhanced by the pale colours of the subjects clothing and also the expression on her face. The way that she is looking into the distance almost as if she is in deep though or looking at something.  

Colour, Repetition, Pattern: 

These three things were really important when thinking about my initial ideas for my book in regards to my research that I gained particular influence from – Colourful world – but as my idea began to grow and change throughout my journey I began to capture less images like this. However that being said these images and inarticulacy these two I really like. I think that they show what India is about, the colours that they use and the products that they produce. I personally like these as I don’t feel they are ‘typical’ or ‘tourist’ type images. They almost create a pattern, this is a quality that I really like. If I had of thought about it at the time I would have pursued this theme and maybe could of created a book on repetition or consumerism in India and documented this through photography.