Camera Walking Tips at Farmers Markets
Soon farmers markets will be a regular fixture around the country, offering delicious locally grown food and rich Camera Walking opportunities. To find out when your local market will be opening, check out USDA's Local Food Directory. We are fortunate in Seattle to have the Pike Place Market, a year-round public market that brings tourists, residents, and vendors together for a special experience.
Pike Place Market is one of the oldest markets in the country. It was started in 1907 and is home to a wide range of businesses, restaurants, farmers, and artists. It is also the birth place of Starbucks coffee.
I decided to walk to the Pike Place Market this weekend, and although I have been going for years it never disappoints. I walked five miles to, through, and from the market, so I got a great workout and some fun photos. To get the most out of your trip to the market, here a few tips to consider.
Plan your visit and time. Go as early as possible to have fewer people around, unless of course you want to take photos of people. Most neighborhood markets have websites where you can easily check their hours. The Pike Place Market is open at 9 am, a perfect time for my daily morning walk. You can catch the vendors setting up their tables and will have better access to take photos.
Look for moments: One of the pleasures of going to a public market is to catch the stories as they unfold. This requires patience and a willingness to engage the vendors. Ask if you can take a photo and most will be happy to oblige.
Check your settings: I usually take photos in AV or aperture mode, which requires me to set my ISO and F-stop; however, I learned a trick from another photographer, Mark Toal, a trainer for Panasonic. He shared in a blog that he sets his camera to the Program mode, so he doesn't have to worry about his settings when out walking. I tried that on my recent trip to the market and found it very helpful. You do need to set your ISO, and it is a good idea to boost it to ensure that you have enough light.
Look for patterns and colors: As the season unfolds, there will be more vegetables and fruits that are alive with color. Use your composition techniques to capture patterns, lines, and different colors to create an interesting shot.
Look for variety: It can be easy to just focus on the food and flowers, so step back and look for scenes that have variety and tell a different story. I tend to focus in on subjects when I am out, so this tip has been useful for me to remember - to back up and get the broader picture. This is a shot of the famous fish market that is know for its great fish and for the team's athletic ability to throw and catch fish for customers. In fact this business was the basis for a very well known business book, Fish: A Proven Way to Boost Morale and Improve Results. This is a rare shot of the guys waiting for action.
Take a look at this quick video to get a sense of their business philosophy and approach to customers.
Always be ready: Have your camera out and the setting in place, so that you can capture whatever comes up at the market. You never know what might transpire, so be prepared. Your photos will be happy you did. While walking along the market I stepped out and was able to capture this shot of our working waterfront.
Take advantage of the months ahead to explore your local public markets. They are fun places that will give you great produce and terrific photos as well. As always, in between the stops you make to take photos, walk briskly!
