February 2025 - Palanquera Fruit Seller, Cartagena, Colombia
Original
About the Image(s)
I thought this photo of one of Palanquera fruit sellers was a little different than the posed shots that tourist generally take and then tip the women for posing (attached as well). She appears to be studying the bill in her hand. Perhaps it was a very good tip or perhaps it was not?
[Summarized from several online sites:]
Palanquera Fruit Sellers
These women have a much more important place in the city and country’s history than as a mere tourist attraction. They are a symbol of the strength of the human will, of the fight against oppression and the resilience of the human spirit. Tipping them for a photo helps the local economy.
Visiting Cartagena, Colombia, one sight you’re guaranteed to encounter is the Palenquera fruit sellers Cartagena, in brightly colored dresses and balancing bowls of tropical fruits on their heads. These women are an iconic symbol of the city, offering fresh fruits to tourists while posing for photographs. The Palenquera fruit sellers Cartagena are more than street vendors??”they are living symbols of Afro-Colombian history and the strength of the human spirit in the face of oppression.
Olympus OM1 M2; 31mm; f/8.0; 1/100 sec.
4 comments posted
Dr Isaac Vaisman
Bruce, indeed your main image shows a Palenquera in a different state, and not showing off their outfits and colors for the tourist, in Cartagena Colombia. I personally went to the town of Palenque which is about 1 1/2 hour drive away hoping to find a lot of color and more. What a disappointment to say the least. Only found precarious housing, dirt and mud streets, pigs inside the houses and so on. It is important to point out that this town was the first to brake from slavery in the new continent. Posted: 02/07/2025 18:25:23
Kathleen McCrary
Bruce--This lady's dresss certainly deserves to be photographed. I am not familiar with these fruit sellers and their wonderful colorful clothes so this was an interesting introduction. The person on the left provides quite a contrast to the main figure. I get the sense that it is very hot here. Posted: 02/14/2025 17:15:13
Pinaki Sarkar
Love the image. It is superb and colorful. Nice composition. The person on the left act as a support to the main character. I would like to blur the person and see how it looks. POV is great. Great Work. Posted: 02/17/2025 01:58:54
Ed Taje
I like this image, the colours, the contrasting facial expressions of the two persons, and the composition. I do not think I would change anything. On the other hand I really like the original posed image, not so much as a street scene but the colours, of her dress really show up, and her facial expression shows joy.. Also the contrast between the two images , and showing the two make this a pleasing pair to look into. Posted: 02/20/2025 14:40:21
