JPG: Stories: Photo Essay: Colors and Characters

Colors and Characters

By Katrina Brooks

9 Jun 2008

For the past several weeks I have wanted to push myself to try some street photography. I was rather timid to try it because I was afraid of people not wanting their photo taken and being confrontational. After doing some research online, I found a few sites where photographers discussed street photography and methods for going about it. Most websites said that the majority of people will not mind and if you do encounter anyone who does not want to be photographed, just to apologize and walk away. So I finally worked up the nerve and went!

At first I felt really awkward and just strolled around a bit. Then I came across this old man with peaches. He offered one with an outstretched arm. Personally, I'm not a fan of peaches so I asked if he had strawberries instead. He murmured something I couldn't understand and pointed to the strawberries. I then told him that I would come back to buy some when I was ready to leave. At that moment I found the fortitude, flashed a smile and asked him if I could take his picture. He smiled, nodded in agreement and offered me the peach again.

Wow, that was easy.

I still felt a little weird so I thanked the man and wandered around a bit more. I took some pictures of colorful fruit and vegetables and then spotted a man trying a bit of watermelon. As I snapped the shot, a snooty woman shrieked, "Don't take my picture! I don't want any pictures!"

Geeze... did she think I was a paparazzo or something? I wasn't even trying to get a photo of her. "Great," I think to myself "here we go!"

So I turned around and walked away like the advice I read had said to do. She didn't confront me, follow me or even make a further scene. That was it. Conflict over.

Whew!

After that I take some more shots of wares for sale then wander over to an Asian man making flower bouquets. I asked him if I could take a picture of him with his pretty flowers. He looked annoyed that I bothered him, said yes and went back to working. "Okay, still not too bad" I thought. At the booth next to the flower man, I walked up to the vendor and asked him what vegetable he had in his hand. He said that it was "Boilin' Potatoes" and that his name was Earl. I asked permission to snap a picture, which he gladly agreed. When he asked if I lived nearby I worried that he would want to know why I was taking pictures so I offered a yes that I lived close by and was bored and wanted to take some pictures. Earl smiled and said that since I live nearby, he'd love for me to come back so he could see how the photo turned out. "Wow" I thought again, "this street photography isn't so scary". I thanked him and wandered off. Across from Earl, was a kind man who reminded me of a sailor. He greeted me and told me about his "Maters". I talked to 'Mater Man for a few minutes then ducked out.

I shot a few random pictures to look like I had a purpose, even though I didn't. Then I remembered to go buy the strawberries.

There was one last person I wanted to get a photo of and he was rather intimidating. I had driven around the farmer's market the week before with a friend and remembered thinking how frightening this man looked. He was also aware that I was taking photos since his customer was the wanna-be-paparazzo-target from earlier. His booth was busy and had a sign reading Fat Boy's Produce. Since the man had a rather menacing look like a trucker from a scary movie, I decided to find something to buy and use that as my approach to ask him about a photo. As I grabbed a bag of peanuts and made my way over, he gave me an uncomfortable glance. After I made my purchase, I once again asked, he agreed and folded his arms. Great shot! So apparently even the tough guy was flattered to be photographed. Who would have guessed?

Walking back to my car, I was very pleased with myself for getting out of my comfort zone. As I left the farmer's market, I couldn't help but feel like my bag of wonderful fresh produce was nothing compared to the golden images in my camera.