Onder de Markt (Heiligenweg) Verkoopsters van Cassavebrood en Pindakaas 1900 - 1905

This photo was shot by Eugen Klein, probably with a large format camera, capturing the Heiligenweg market scene. What must it have been like for Klein to set up his equipment in the bustling market, surrounded by the vendors of cassavebrood en pindakaas, with all those curious eyes on him. You know he must have been thinking about how to capture the scene's energy and activity, while also paying attention to the light and composition. Look how he’s arranged the vendors in a way that balances the crowd with individual character. How do you decide which figure should be the focal point? The women stand shoulder to shoulder, but each has her own unique expression, clothes and basket. It's like Klein is trying to tell a visual story about the dynamics of the Heiligenweg market, the relationships and negotiations involved in the exchange of goods and ideas. Photography, like painting, involves so many intuitive decisions! How do we translate the world onto a flat surface? What story will the image tell?