Someone asked me what is a wet market...its just as the name describes. A market with with wet floors...but seriously, these are more like traditional farmer's or fishermen' markets. Similar to Tsujiki Fish Market when it was still operating in the old premises. Here are some photographs to show the mood, feel in one of these markets.
This wet market houses a market with fresh produce, meats and fish on one side, and the ubiquitious hawker centre for cooked food on the other. By now, you would have probably noticed that in Singapore, we are rather obsessed with eating. Its one of the two national passions, the other being shopping. We do love to eat. Here is the Food Centre side entrance to the building at Beo Crescent.
A vegetable vendor. The way the produce is laid out is typical, many times seems to be quite haphazard, though there is a system in the madness.
A fishmonger with fresh fish on one side of the corridoor. The wet floors is visible. It used to be totally wet, almost covered with water, but these days, hygienic concerns force the stallholders to keep it relatively dry.
Another fishmonger. Housewifes and domestic helpers pick out the fish they want, either by putting them in a basket, or point to to their selection to the fishmonger. Who will then weigh, and clean the fish (guts, scales, and sometimes even fillet and cut to pieces) for them.
Of course eating is never far away. A kopi tiam nearby:
And in many of these heartland markets, the mostly elderly gentlemen will pitch their singing birds to each other. A veritable competition. Perhaps worthy of a single post all on its own, but for now, one picture.
All photographed with the Hasselblad H3D-39 with HCD 4/28mm lens, hand held. BW and raw conversion in Phocus and final touchups in Photoshop.
I was worried it would be too slow to shoot with, since I normally use 35mm for this kind of stuff, but it worked out pretty well.
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