The flower market
A trip to London to stay with my son gave us an opportunity to walk to Columbia Road Flower Market. It’s in Bethnal Green in a fascinating road. I’m an excited puppy whenever I’m surrounded by plants and flowers. Yes, I know they’re incredibly environmentally damaging, what with all that peat, those invasive species and hothouse fossil fuel use. But just look at those leaves!
People are endlessly fascinating. Their faces, mannerisms and clothing tell us so much about ourselves and our attitudes. Here’s an interesting couple at the flower market:
What do you think when you look at them?
There’s a difference to purists between street photography and street portraits. In street photography the subjects are unaware of your presence. In street portraits the subjects are aware they are having their photograph taken. Some of them may even want you to. This kind man had just bought my favourite orchid (a Vanda) and kindly smiled for me.
Here’s someone else who noticed I was taking her photograph. I was wearing a black face mask and had a large camera in front of my eyes. I’m not sure what her plant is.
I particularly liked the men carrying flowers for their partners. This one had two bunches which made interesting angles and his profile and beard is strong.
He found the best way to protect the flowers was to keep the bunches high in the crowd.
We were only at the market for half an hour but the interesting characters kept on coming. I loved this man’s slightly pensive expression as he waited outside a shop.
It’s not just flowers that people are carrying here. This was one exhausted dog and one very proud dog parent:
I think I found the couples the most fascinating. I particularly loved the positioning of this man’s hand:
It’s just a shame that not everyone wants their photograph taken.
What do you think when you look at these photographs? Do you like the eye contact or do you wish I had been candid in taking them, and remained unnoticed? Do you see these people’s stories? Their characters? Do let me know.