Another sunny autumn day here; and I decided to challenge my "crowd phobia" by going back to the market (cf yesterday's post) and try to snap some more photos. This time bringing my separate Sony camera - as I found it difficult to take photos with my phone in the crowd yesterday.
It wasn't really much easier today, though. Besides probably even more people today than yesterday, there were such sharp contrasts between the bright sky and the deep shadows down among the market stalls that my camera had serious difficulties handling that. I had to do a lot of editing on most of the photos when I got back home, to get them to show anything but silhouettes! But hopefully they'll give you a somewhat better idea of the market street life - which in itself is very different compared to an "ordinary" day in our city centre...
Photos in the order that I took them:
Approaching the city centre - not yet having reached the market area around the square.
Those who had dared drive their cars into the very heart of the city centre on this day probably regretted it ... But once there, they would have no choice but to continue (very slowly...) along the few narrow one-way streets still open for traffic!
Entering the area arond the square, surrounded by market stalls. I'd say probably at least 1/3 of all the stalls were aimed at children, selling colourful toys, sweets, balloons, caps etc.
I think this stall was selling strawberries, but they can hardly have been Swedish ones, as that season must be over since quite a while back.
Various food trucks in the square - but I had had lunch before going into town...
No child should have had to go home from the market balloon-less!
... or at least not from lack of balloons for sale ...
No lack of cuddly toys either... As I'm not a grandparent, I haven't got a clue what any of these are, or what's a "must have" or not at the moment!
I could happily have bought any one of these baskets, though - if not for for the fact that I already have quite enough baskets of various kinds and sizes around my flat for covenient storing of this, that and whatever...
Not part of the market as such, but I loved the sunflower decorations put up in the window of my favourite tea shop by the square.
There were "hats" (??) like these hanging from any number of market stalls, but I did not see any children wearing any... (Nor any grown-ups, for that matter!)
I did not buy anythng today either - except an ice cream to eat on my way home, but that was not from a market stall!
It certainly looks busy! I am pleased to see the basket stall - at least there there are still places where not just cheaply produced plastic items are for sale. Still, as a child I loved the tacky plastic toys, too, and sometimes wasted my precious pocket money on some thing or other which I later regretted. I wonder if kids still do that today.
ReplyDeleteMeike, I was glad to see the baskets, too. (Didn't see those the day before - must have missed that corner then.) I have one big basket of similar technique, without lid, that I did buy at a market many years ago. It sits in my hall and collects newspaper and magazines etc to take to recycling... No doubt kids still do collect toys that we as grown-ups shake our heads about. The latest example here that I've read about is a creature called Labubu, and the "thing" about those seems to be that one has to buy them in a box not revealing the colour of the one inside (which increases the desire to "collect") - but there are also pirate copies in circulation... Etc etc...
DeleteI enjoyed the people watching, great shots like I would take, when they had their backs to me. I can't make myself take front views of people. I also can tell how sharp the shadows were, but you did great with your camera. some things just require a camera not a cell phone
ReplyDeleteSandra, what I primarily try to avoid is making people *feel* uncomfortable. As long as the photographer is some distance away, I don't think most people are all that bothered. There's a difference between the possibility of maybe ending up in someone's "background" vs feeling "targeted"...
DeleteO.K. Monica, HOW did I miss your first market post? I almost never miss a post from you, and yet I had not seen one of my favorites of yours each year! Anyway, I went back to read your first one below this. We both posted fall festivals today! The balloon pics are so colorful. And I would love to buy one of the baskets, too. How did you manage to avoid a donut? There were donuts at our festival as well.
ReplyDeleteGinny, I'm not really all that much of a fan of donuts in the first place - and I was't hungry!
DeleteHey again! I am thinking there would be no parking anywhere especially in the busiest times? So to get there, people would have to walk? Or take a bus?
ReplyDeleteGinny, there are a parking houses and also some parking on the ground in places not a very long walk awa. And if you live within the city, taking the bus may of course be an even better alternative on such a day!
DeleteThe baskets would tempt me too. As you said, lots of things for children so a nice family outing.
ReplyDeleteTerra, I imagine that for some families (with persuasive children) it might become a rather costly outing!
DeleteDespite the crowds and tricky lighting, you captured both the bustle and charm of the market, making the effort worthwhile
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ro! :)
DeleteI see the sign for Churros - they are a sweet Spanish treat at any event here!
ReplyDeleteCarol, I don't think I've ever even tried churros? Not all that crazy about deep-fried food in general...
DeleteLots of people - too many for my liking. Colourful and busy and thankfully dry!
ReplyDeleteToo many for my liking too, Janice. Photography and blogging combines with the right,kind of weather somtimes takes me places I might not otherwise have bothered about, though! ;)
DeleteI wish we had something like that. I used to love markets.
ReplyDeleteGraham, I'm not a fan of big crowds, but as these big markets only take place twice a year, I usually do end up going to have "a look" anyway... ;)
DeleteLooks like fun! Best thing, you were able to walk there and back.
ReplyDelete