Breakfast at Tsukiji!

My Photo scholarship 2011 entry

Worldwide | Saturday, November 5, 2011 | flickr photos

I consider myself a beginner-amateur photographer. I first bought a DSLR three years ago. I adored it instantly and pursued my new fascination of capturing moments in time. After trying to take leaps before I could crawl, I realised I should buy an old film camera and learn from the start. These images are from approximately roll 13 of my Minolta SRT-102. I have recently fell in love with film and feel it is a more realistic and honest medium. I would love the opportunity to study alongside Jason as I feel I have so much more to learn.

The following shots attempt to portray the day to day lives of the people who keep an economy thriving. The four shots are from the Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo. It is one of the largest whole sale food markets in the world, handling 5 billion dollars annually. Mongers dodge forklifts, lift large heavy boxes of fresh seafood while slicing and dicing produce for the seafood capital of the world.
1:
This shot is of one of hundreds of small 'stores' in the vast Tsukiji market. Taken around 9am after the morning rush we observe a seller laughing with a colleague amongst his muddled surroundings.
2:
The tuna auction is the highlight of the early morning schedule at Tsukiji. Each 'store' ferociously bids on expensive tuna fish for future sale to their valued clientèle. I caught this young apprentice yielding immeasurable focus as he delicately sliced slivers of edible gold.
3:
Five million pounds of seafood, worth $28 million, is sold in the market every day. On the ground staff huddle in bright lit cabins stooped over calculators offering punters the best available price in this vast bustling seafood economy.
4:
I was able to unobtrusively capture this worker taking a minute out of his busy day to plant himself in a damp cloth.