Wednesday 1 September 2010

G is for Godot - waiting at the markets

The setting is Taylor Square markets, one blustery bitter day near the end of winter, our two protagonists shuffle down stage, right and centre. Hush.

She stands in her own space, erect, still, silent, a mill pond of sadness. The market bustles around her: trolleys are towed, parsnips bought, cauliflower traded, tomatoes sorted, money exchanged. She stands there all the while, behind a veil of culture, an Estragon ‘holding the terrible silence at bay’. She watches the crossing, the people crossing, watches them walk into her field of vision. Whomsoever she waits for, would she recognise them, I ponder. Whose face is she searching for, as she waits? Her eyes trace the patterned bricks, until she again hears footsteps.


Yonder, a noisy energy radiates from Vladimiir’s bench in the centre of the market place. Dust motes rise unceasingly into the morning sun, tickled by the late winter chill, exasperated into flight by his constant need to do. To communicate. To talk. To ring. To text. To swivel. He is a whirlwind. He is a maelstrom. He presents an absurd theatre of the now. It is all about him. His tetchiness. All about need. His need to be seen doing. His need to be heard. To command attention. Turn the focus on me. Here I am. You all need me. You must need me – I need you.

The market crowd mills, busy with its own shape and focus. Our two protagonists wait. We cannot tell for what, or for whom.

A participant in the CDPB Theme Day Open Air Markets

A member of the ABC Wednesday community.

37 comments:

Kay L. Davies said...

Beautiful shots, Julie. Brave of you (I think) to photograph people. I have neither the skills nor the equipment with which to attempt portraiture, but you capture so much in a single photo. I guess the only appropriate word now is "bravo"!!
K

Stephanie V said...

Well done. You have captured the flavor of this moment perfectly.

Channal said...

Yes, beautiful shots! / Anna

Gerald (SK14) said...

A very nice way of combining the two themes - I thought about trying a combination post and in the end decided to post my ABC post early for once.

KaHolly said...

These are some pretty powerful shots! Enjoyed your text. You are certainly gifted. I can't believe it's Wed., Sept. first there already! Thanks for visiting my blog. I've certainly enjoyed scrolling through a few of yours. ~karen

Anonymous said...

Words and pictures --- beautiful!

EG CameraGirl said...

Fabulous post! You write so well!

Anonymous said...

What a great mean to measure time and life. Chapeau !


daily athens

Susan Ellis said...

Well done Julie! Lovely play on words in your title. I wouldn't have named him Vladimir though...looks much more like a Marvin or a Dennis!

Jim said...

Great post. I like the combination of the themes.
Sydney - City and Suburbs

Gayle said...

Wonderful photos and observations to match. Poetic.

Kim, USA said...

Magnificent post!

ABC Wednesday

photowannabe said...

Stunning poetry in motion.

Unknown said...

Wonderful post both lyrically and photographically.

Have a great time in France. Looking forward tot he photos!

Thank you for you comments on my blog. I appreciate them very much.

PJ said...

You always pull us right into the story, I wonder what they're like at home? Much different I dare say.

Unknown said...

I'm always a little nervous about taking pictures of strangers in a public place. I stick to children and pets! So I think you are very brave and have done well with your photos.
Very poetic post!

Thank you for visiting my G-post! I would have liked to do something poetic, but it became cut & dry instead. I don't really like using photos from other sources as I did this time, but then I would have had to have to chose another G-word.

The little gold cup is in a museum in Stockholm, where amazing treasures like that one have been dug up out of the ground!

Best wishes,
Anna

For the benefit of other readers:
Anna's G-word

Tumblewords: said...

What a delightful read this is!

Roger Owen Green said...

very clever title and piece

ROG, ABC Wednesday team

Julie ScottsdaleDailyPhoto.com said...

powerful images for theme day. well done as always

Hildred said...

Wonderful literary images. Your photos are so expressive of the 'Waiting'.

VioletSky said...

Your photos are very evocative and the words have captured eactly the right mood for each 'player'.

ChrisJ said...

Fascinating! Each a foil for the other. It is such a talent to be able to find that photo op that would be missed by everyone else around. It's like making something out of nothing -- truly creative.

Annelie said...

Ooooo, I love your shots Julie! They are alive!
Thank´s!

Jazzy said...

great, interesting shots.
happy theme day!

Joan Elizabeth said...

How clever to pull the two themes together. I love the lady at the top, her pensive look captured in image and prose.

I forgot about theme day, might go hunt around the archive to see if I have anything that suits.

brattcat said...

Oh, Julie, what an experience you give us with this post. Beautifully done!

Jilly said...

What a truly marvellous post, Julie. I'm entranced by the lady in the first shots. She is so resigned, just waiting - right ... for Godot.

Anonymous said...

So great text and photos to the two themes ;-)

magicpolaroid said...

wow great blog! like ur eye and im following in love with ur photos!

Francisca said...

Beautiful portraits in images and words, Julie. "His tetchiness" - love it. :-)

jabblog said...

Excellent photographs and a wonderful accompanying text.

Bergson said...

de très beaux personnages pour ce thème

Martha said...

Godot, a new word for me. I enjoyed the pictures and descriptions

Kate said...

Your narrative is as much fun to read as your photos are to view.

Randy said...

What an excellent post. You photos are very thought provoking.

Carolyn Ford said...

Powerful...beautiful...something to think about...

Julie said...

Snowleopard - I use a Canon 450D. In camera, I use the recommended settings for Portrait Style.