Fruit and Curlers and Potato Chips

by | Sep 26, 2017 | Featured, Happy Accidents

Fruit and Curlers and Potato Chips
What do we see differently when travelling that we don’t notice at home?  Do you see laundry flapping or notice farm workers in the field when driving to drop kids off at school or to the grocery store?  Maybe it’s actually in our neighborhoods and backyards but I find myself more aware when in a different location than home.

It was early morning in the old city of Cartegena, Columbia.   As a lover of early light, I am often up to see the day begin and this day was shaping up beautifully.   The sky was a soft blue, no humidity this early in the day  and a light breeze staved off what could be a sticky summer morning.   I was checking out angles and alleys in the ancient streets off a market square and she came around a corner.

The farthest north border in the hemisphere – population 2.
Fruit Seller in Cartegena

A moment in time captured

She was dressed festively in bright traditional flounces.   But her shoulders dragged and a tired look was across her face as she tugged her skirt up at the waistband with an aluminum pan lazily hanging at her side.  At first I thought I would capture exactly that – tired and walking away in a bit of a slump.   She didn’t see me but hurriedly dodged a passing car to cross the street and knock on an unassuming door.   A man answered, curtly said something to her which seemed to discourage her more as he grabbed the pan.

A moment later he handed the pan back to her loaded with cut fruit and with a wave of his hand shut the door in her face.   I saw her, from the back, lift the pan upwards and decided to snap the pic as she was facing away from me.   As she turned around and placed the fruit on her head, her entire expression altered and I caught the exact moment she put on her work face.   For the tourists.   She never saw me.

The farthest north border in the hemisphere – population 2.
Morning in Mykonos

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It was like a scene from another era in America – Mom in curlers hanging up the laundry to dry.   Reminds me of movies and tv shows from the 50s and 60s. But it was 21st century in an exotic location.

When wandering around any Greek island, in this case Mykonos, one is likely to see everyday life.   I’m not sure how they do it:  maybe it’s the gorgeous weather and water that helps them ignore the ogling hoards.   I had ditched the trinket shops and beaten path to the windmills and went left instead of right in search of interesting angles of white houses against both blue skies and the lovely only-in-Greece blue color.

And there she was. In all her glory.  Completely unimpressed with thousands of tourists wandering around.   Using the front porch to catch the available breezes.  Nothing could be more natural.

The farthest north border in the hemisphere – population 2.
Traditional Bishnoi Dinner Cooking
While in Jodhpur, India, we had arranged for a desert safari to visit a traditional nomadic Bishnoi encampment.   We were delighted to be invited into one family’s circle for tea and to learn about various cooking processes and ceremonies.  While there, and with permission, I was welcomed to photograph the camp and around a corner, tucked out of view of our more elaborate accomodations, I found dinner being prepared on an open fire.   Various vegetables were being chopped by young girls under the supervision of an older woman and added into this large pot.   While I did capture many images of the women and children in the area, this one simple shot is one of my all-time favorites.   I especially like the Lays Potato Chip bag in the corner as contrasted against the ancient method of cooking.   Everyday life.   How many of us have some chips stashed nearby the stove?

What do YOU see?    Send us a note or comment on FB and we’ll feature some of your captures.   Better yet – post a pic!

Sue Henderson - Henderson Productions