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Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery Twenty One: The Marketplace -- crossroads of a community. > Food vendor, Marrakesh, Morocco, 2006
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25-DEC-2006

Food vendor, Marrakesh, Morocco, 2006

This marketplace environmental portrait places the subject within the context of his wares. We see what he sells, how he packages and displays it, and get a glimpse of his personality as well. He responds to us neutrally. He does not smile because he probably is tired of being photographed in Marrakesh’s heavily tourist market. He does not frown or chase me away because he does not want to lose a possible sale. And so he takes the non-committal middle road. His clothing is neutral as well. He does not want to compete with the colors of his wares.

Leica V-Lux 1
1/50s f/3.2 at 13.2mm iso100 hide exif
Full EXIF Info
Date/Time25-Dec-2006 03:56:45
MakeLeica
ModelV-LUX 1
Flash UsedNo
Focal Length13.2 mm
Exposure Time1/50 sec
Aperturef/3.2
ISO Equivalent100
Exposure Bias-0.33
White Balance
Metering Modemulti spot (3)
JPEG Quality
Exposure Programprogram (2)
Focus Distance

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Phil Douglis17-Oct-2007 22:31
Thanks, Rusty, for noticing the difference here between a randomly made snapshot and a carefully thought out photograph. It is important to remember that the camera does not see as the eye sees. We see selectively. A camera must be MADE to see selectively, through our vantage point, framing, exposure, focus, and composition. You are right -- we must make the camera see coherently. And that is what expressive photography is all about.
russellt17-Oct-2007 20:46
I like this one for several reasons, such as his expression, the light, the sculpturing of the face, the palette, the "who he is" as opposed to "what he looks like" aspect of portraiture, the hands... but the main here seems to me to be your eye and the way it organizes everything. reality usually offers nothing but chaos (or a tourist cliche) and that's what you get when you push the button, even if you thought you saw something. here you organize everything into a wonderful something with rhythm, form and wit.
Phil Douglis11-Jan-2007 04:42
Thanks, Suwanee -- it was the color that drew me to him. This place is somewhere in the labyrinth of narrow streets in Marrakesh known as the souks. And thanks, Victoria, for pointing out that there is Indian food here. I am sure some of these foods are popular in India, but this is a Moroccan market, and most of the its customers are Moroccan.
Victoria11-Jan-2007 01:10
Indian food
Guest 11-Jan-2007 00:56
A man in his environment. There are so many shapes and colors in this image, I love how you used all those colorful jars to frame him, how appropriate. Where is this place Phil?
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