Will Korn
May 2023 - Mercado de la Boqueria
About the Image(s)
I took this photo at the Mercado de la Boqueria, a large and famous market in Barcelona. There are lots of tourists there, but also many locals shopping and dining. The fish merchant was completing a transaction and I focused on the hands making the transaction.
Does the image tell a story ?
Is it wonderfully colorful or too busy?
This round’s discussion is now closed!
9 comments posted
Good day, Will.
Let us speak a moment about how we "appreciate" art ... something I may have talked about in the past, but these topics often come up and there is no harm in speaking about them again:
1. even with the title, the (single) image lacks a connection to a potential story ... outside of knowing its a famous market, in my opinion, the narrow (small) field-of-view limits deeper contemplation.
2. Alternatively, if part of a Photo Essay, for example, and presented in a series of images (or photographs) at a gallery exhibition, we can surmise this image would likely fill a necessary piece in the essay's overall narrative.
As such, as a single visual entity, spectator "appreciation" is different, perhaps not as engaging if enjoyed within a series I speak about ....
I like the image for its Commercial appeal .. aesthetically, but without some kind of artist commentary I suggest we may ponder the art in the abstract. Of course, you have baited the group with the question of narrative, so indeed, we can imagine deeper into the image then initially meets the eye.
For one example in narrative direction, and similar to Jennifer's image last month, we see the juxtaposition of the old (the traditional market) but touched by modern technology where swiping a card replaces the exchange of paper money or perhaps some other reciprocal exchange between buyer and seller. Posted: 05/03/2023 16:40:16
Let us speak a moment about how we "appreciate" art ... something I may have talked about in the past, but these topics often come up and there is no harm in speaking about them again:
1. even with the title, the (single) image lacks a connection to a potential story ... outside of knowing its a famous market, in my opinion, the narrow (small) field-of-view limits deeper contemplation.
2. Alternatively, if part of a Photo Essay, for example, and presented in a series of images (or photographs) at a gallery exhibition, we can surmise this image would likely fill a necessary piece in the essay's overall narrative.
As such, as a single visual entity, spectator "appreciation" is different, perhaps not as engaging if enjoyed within a series I speak about ....
I like the image for its Commercial appeal .. aesthetically, but without some kind of artist commentary I suggest we may ponder the art in the abstract. Of course, you have baited the group with the question of narrative, so indeed, we can imagine deeper into the image then initially meets the eye.
For one example in narrative direction, and similar to Jennifer's image last month, we see the juxtaposition of the old (the traditional market) but touched by modern technology where swiping a card replaces the exchange of paper money or perhaps some other reciprocal exchange between buyer and seller. Posted: 05/03/2023 16:40:16
It took me a minute to realize what I was looking at. The colors are bright and vivid, and I noticed the hair on the buyer's arms almost immediately, and how well they showed up. Leading lines...but I also thought about the fact that I would bet the buyer was glad the seller had a touchless card reader so his credit card wasn't "slimed!" I agree with Lance about the old vs the new. I do like the color, but it was almost too busy. Posted: 05/05/2023 14:01:03
Hi Will,
I think the hands and arms of the buyer and seller are well separated from the wares on sale. The language on the price markers gives the sense of a foreign market. I think the image tells a story of traditional with a contemporary touch. The color is a bit distracting. You could darken the background a bit, and perhaps desaturate it some or even make the whole image B&W. I do think it tells a story. Posted: 05/05/2023 14:56:03
I think the hands and arms of the buyer and seller are well separated from the wares on sale. The language on the price markers gives the sense of a foreign market. I think the image tells a story of traditional with a contemporary touch. The color is a bit distracting. You could darken the background a bit, and perhaps desaturate it some or even make the whole image B&W. I do think it tells a story. Posted: 05/05/2023 14:56:03
Kudos to you for taking a "different" picture in a fish market! It does have a sense of old alongside modern. Agree the foreground fish are distracting - between their brightness and color - my eye keeps getting pulled to them. Might try either darkening that area or reducing the saturation - to help focus the viewer on the transaction. I have two non-photographic comments:
1) Why haven't these wireless devices that have been required in Europe for two decades made their way to the US? Always makes me nervous when a server takes my credit card into some back room to process a transaction. Much safer for customer to do it himself at the table.
2). What is the purpose of the glove? If it's to keep the food "clean" - why is he doing the transaction with the same hand?
Posted: 05/06/2023 03:52:01
1) Why haven't these wireless devices that have been required in Europe for two decades made their way to the US? Always makes me nervous when a server takes my credit card into some back room to process a transaction. Much safer for customer to do it himself at the table.
2). What is the purpose of the glove? If it's to keep the food "clean" - why is he doing the transaction with the same hand?
Posted: 05/06/2023 03:52:01
.... I believe I often see these types of gloves used when cutting up fish .... Posted: 05/06/2023 05:26:05
I like the concept of the image, but without your explanation I am not sure I would have understood what story you are trying to tell. I remember advice I heard many years ago that said, "If your photographs are not good enough, you are probably not close enough." You may have, in this instance, overdone it. I feel a shot showing the two men involved, along with more of the market would better tell the story. Posted: 05/06/2023 13:46:49
... and for the record ... any artist photographer will tell you, mostly those who work outside the borders of camera clubs and like institutions, that is the worse advice ever. Posted: 05/06/2023 18:39:22
So true. Posted: 05/06/2023 21:28:34
Good image and very interesting! I do believe it tells a story of old vs. new and is handled very well. The close up of the hands with the wireless device (new) compared with the market wares (old) tells me the story. Also, the shallow DOF of the market wares enhances this story. I agree with the above comments about the fish in the foreground and the possibility of experimenting with a little desaturation. Thanks for sharing this! Posted: 05/08/2023 10:51:23