China’s Markets

I have always been attracted to photographing Asian public markets. When we walk through we witness how people interact with the producers of their foods, a relationship we’ve lost on a mass scale in North America.There is something very humanistic, and fresh, about shopping and buying from those who are directly associated with your food and community. Such a sharp contrast to the Styrofoam, pre-packed, labeled and marketed products that are distributed here by companies. I traveled to China to buy tea and research the Tea Farms. Thanks to my friends I had the perfect opportunity to travel and photograph both urban and rural outdoor public markets. Here are a few pictures from the trip, including a modern supermarket for contrast. Now if you’re actually shopping in a Chinese Market, and you’re a foreigner, have your Chinese friend do the buying if you want to pay the actual cost. The closer you stand to your Chinese friend the more you pay.