Darajani Market in Stone Town, Zanzibar, is a colourful, fragrant, and bustling place. There’s too much going on to pay attention to a mzungu who is just sitting out of the way not doing much of anything. I didn’t have to wait long before the vendors were no longer paying attention to me and went about their business. That’s when I raised my camera. I caught a powerful moment when this fishmonger emerged from the shadows and stood in the light, his hands wet from work.
There’s something in me that loves to work out detail and texture in my artwork. I don’t always care for this demanding tendency, but it’s there so I don’t try to fight it too much. I recall really working at how to paint the chiseled blocks of coral on the right side so they would look and feel like they do on Zanzibar.
