Around the wet markets

If you have been following my articles for a while now you may have noticed that I shoot a lot in local Malaysian wet markets. Even my mum finds it hard to believe that I spend so much time in actual markets though I go not with the intention to buy fresh meat and vegetables but to hunt for photography opportunities. Almost every new camera or lens review has featured a few sample photographs taken at various wet market locations in Kuala Lumpur. I want to explain my fascination with the wet market and why I keep returning to the similar spots early in the mornings.

The abundance of photography subjects is the main reason that draws me to wet markets. There are so many things happening that are worth shooting: from the slaughtering of chicken, old folks doing their morning market shopping to general market workers going about their daily routine. The variety of subjects available and photography opportunities are practically endless. This creates an ideal shooting ground for me to test new cameras and lenses. I can shoot portraits of strangers, fresh colorful vegetables under golden morning glow and a man cutting the head off a baby shark.

People in the wet market are generally friendly and approachable. The logic is simple, a market place is where people crowd at such close proximity with each other. The comfort zone is smaller and people are less likely to reject having their photographs taken. Some of my portraits of stranger shots are taken at wet markets but I generally do not like shooting portraits here due to the inability to control what happens in the background and also poor lighting conditions. Nonetheless, with the right planning and timing, some interesting environmental portraits can be achieved and keeping an open mind is the key to getting successful keepers. I particularly like the natural facial expression on the wet market folks being completely themselves, beaming with genuine smiles and not being too self-conscious on how they look in front of the camera, because let’s face it, you are in a market, not at a hipster cafe or a luxury shopping mall.

It is not easy shooting in a wet market, and the challenges I face are the motivations for me to keep trying and to improve myself. First timers to wet markets will be overwhelmed with overpowering pungent smell, overbearingly loud human shouting, the difficulty moving around the congested crowd and generally unpleasant splashy wet floor. The generally poor lighting (under canopies) and messy condition are not easy to work with. It takes time to acclimatize to the surrounding conditions and once you are used to the discomfort to the senses, you will start to notice the numerous photography opportunities happening at every corner you turn to! It is so hard to put the camera down because there are just too many subjects to photograph.

I generally work with wider focal lengths for wet market shooting. My usual lenses are either Olympus M.Zuiko 17mm F1.8 or 25mm F1.8, providing just enough coverage without being too wide to include unnecessary and unwanted clutters in the framing. I do sometimes use the Olympus M.Zuiko 45mm F1.8 but that is specifically for close up portraits only. Wider lenses are favored here for environmental portraits, being more inclusive of the wet market surrounding to support the main portrait. Working with a wide lens like 17mm also means the images are susceptible to unwanted perspective distortion. In order to prevent that, I normally would center my human subjects and not go too close to maintain a natural proportions (head not looking larger than the body, no elongated hands, etc). I admit sometimes perspective exaggeration may create interesting effects but I personally prefer a more natural looking outcome.

Here are some tips I can give for those who want to explore wet market photography. Wear simple, plain cloths (T-shirt and shorts would be ideal) to blend into the crowd. Always be polite and be generous with your smile, and people will be more likely to respond positively to you. Do not carry large bags, a backpack will hinder movement in a congested narrow walkway. Instead, carry a small shoulder bag or pouch. Having said that, your choice of gear should be minimal and small in footprint. Carrying a gigantic DSLR with a 70-200mm f2.8 sized lens will have you constantly accidentally knocking and bumping into people unnecessarily. Choose a smaller lens and learn to work with wider lenses. It is perfectly ok not to have good shots in your first few sessions at a wet market, get yourself familiarized with the environment and you can always come back to the same spot for better shots. Always be respectful to others, never obstruct the on-going business or disturb the workers doing their chores. Be mindful of your surroundings, dirty water may splash onto your hair and shirt anytime, and it is perfectly fine. You won’t get far in any kind of photography if you are not willing to get yourself submerged fully into the real life scenario.

If you are visiting Kuala Lumpur, I highly recommend that you spend one morning at a local wet market and you might just have some interesting shots to add to your travel photo series. These locations are void of tourists and you will not find them in guides or travel websites. From one photographer to another, I welcome your emails asking me for locations and I am willing to share them with you. Let’s just hope the local authorities won’t be shutting these locations down anytime soon due to hygiene and health related issues.

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