Over the weekend I was able to slip in a little trip down to the market. I brought my camera, and my buddy M. She and I had taken a similar trip to the market at the beginning of my photog journey. So we planned for a series that was meant to demonstrate (to myself) how I had changed in terms of style. and camera knowledge. While there, I took in much of the rich scenery. From produce to people to famously large wall with gum stuck to it. It’s all photo-worthy here. The trick is capturing it in a way that people don’t always see.
Right as you enter the market there are a series of produce stands. The weather was freezing so the colors of the fruit stood out in the otherwise grayish-blue setting. It felt odd to see so many tropical fruits in a “local market’ with such a wintery climate. Hmmmmmmm.
M is always to patient and willing with these impromptu photo sessions. There are almost always a dozen or so that stand out. This shoot was no exception. This particular shot appealed to me because of the lighting on her face, the colors (of the windows pane, the scarft, and the door across the alley), and the enigmatic backdrop through the window.
Lately I’ve been working with tilt shifts, selective blurring, etc. This was the latest experiment. Using a blurred layer with a mask, I sharpened the subject and used a gradient to fill the layer mask. This created a tapering blur from front to back. Poor M was holing herself up. She makes it look effortless, but she’s laughing at how hard it is (and the fact that there was a used/dropped ice cream cone next to her… gross. She would’ve likely reacted more dramatically if I hadn’t just exposed her to the Pike Place Gum Wall… read on for more.
This is just a rare photo of me. I enjoy taking photos so much that I seldom give the honor to other people. Well, with M there and dying to try her hand, I turned the camera over for a couple clicks of the shutter. Here’s one of the results. Nice work, M.
For a brief moment, as we walked through the market, the sun began to show through the clouds. It was streaking down along a particular wall, and as M passed the spot, I saw the opportunity for this type of shot. M is so good with facial expression, and this shot makes you want to know what she’s thinking. The placement of the subject around the corner makes you wonder what’s about to happen.
The Market is always such a great character in photos. Pair that with M, and it’s a winner. These two photos below seemed like a natural fit.
Behold, the infamous Pike Place Gum Wall. Positioned adjacent to the Post Alley Theater, this was the logical location for theater goers to place their ABC gum. The result is a disgusting and riveting scene. One Holiday patron decided to leave a holiday message, and I had to capture it.
This one is among my new desktop wallpapers… gross, I know.
-Elldub
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