San Lorenzo Street Market

Assignment Two: 

The first day I went to the market, I went in the morning and then again in the afternoon to experience it at different times of days. I got to the market early when it was just opening; there were few shoppers and the shopkeepers were still prepping for the day ahead. At first I was cautious and a bit awkward taking pictures, but I soon realized that I could attempt to converse with the shopkeepers with my little background in Spanish. A big smile and a “Bonjourno,” seemed to be my way to initiate conversation with the shopkeepers. I would then tell them in Spanish/ Italian that I am studying photography in Florence. Making a small connection with the subject made it a lot easier to motion to my camera and ask to take a photo of them. Some of the subjects loved it, some didn’t mind, and a couple said no to a photo. It was interesting to compare the peaceful morning of the shopkeepers prepping, to the tourist chaos that ensued later on in the day. Unfortunately I was shooting in JPEG, so those images (except for one) are not seen in my chosen sequence.

The third time I went back to the market, I went in the morning since that is when I liked it best. Many of the shopkeepers recognized me, two even remembered where I was from, what I was studying and where!

My photos focus on the different people that I either met or saw while at the San Lorenzo Marketplace. From my experience, the tourists seemed very disconnected from the market and guarded, while the shopkeepers were very inviting and friendly when conversation was initiated with them.

My first image shows the outside of both the tented area and the façade of the inside market. In the left corner is an older tourist looking a bit confused and uncomfortable with the marketplace. The rest of the marketplace is fairly quiet with a couple of tourists heading out of the tent in the background.

My second photo is of two men quietly working together to prep vegetables for sale. I took this my first morning at the market and both remembered me later when I returned. This image illustrates the sense of simple happiness that all the shopkeepers seemed to exude. All the shopkeepers that I met seemed perfectly content and happy with their lives and were friendly with one another. This image can be compared to the following, third image, of an interaction of a tourist buying vegetables. The subjects look away from one another, even though they are participating in the same act together. The shopkeeper seems uninterested in the tourist purchasing the items and the tourist is giving no attention to the shopkeeper that is helping her out.

My fourth image is of a shopkeeper that has taken a second to have a piece of fruit for breakfast. The woman is calm, but intently aware of her surroundings. I love how the morning light highlights her hair and forehead. Unlike the tourists, this woman appears involved with the market, even when she is taking a personal moment.

The next two photos are of butchers in the inside marketplace. In the first of the two photos, the older man gives off the vibe of experience. He looks down through his glasses at me, while at the same time remaining friendly and approachable, willing to help. The second man is one whom I talked with for a while. He was younger and got closer to my level to talk with me. He introduced himself as Sam and encouraging me to try to learn Italian. Both were friendly and nice, just as I experienced with all the other shopkeepers in the marketplace.

The second to last photo is of a shopkeeper I had previously met and was excited to pose as he made his way down the stairs. This photo shows the liveliness of the shopkeepers and the excitement that they have in life. 

The last photo shows a man hosing off the walkway. While he was doing this at the beginning of the day to prepare, this task is also completed at the end of each as well, showing the full circle that the marketplace goes through each day.

Some Other Photos:

I made bruchetta! best tomatoes I have ever had...