How to photograph a street market

CNN senior writer and globe-trotting shutterbug Nadia Lancy explains the best ways to capture street markets. Plaza de Mercado de Paloquemao in Bogota, Colombia (pictured), isn't found in most guidebooks, but it provides a chance to document Bogota's real flavor.

Flowers and fruit are always beautiful to look at. But sometimes "ugly" subjects make more compelling pictures, says Lancy. She means the gutted fish, not the fish monger.

You might get a little dirty photographing a butcher in a bloody apron, but for real photographers, the results are worth it.

All those exotic fruits and lush flowers make awesome subjects. But don't forget about the men and women selling them.

Subjects are more relaxed and willing to do you a favor (pose nicely) after you've done something for them.

Wide shots can help you set the scene, but at the sacrifice of details.

Getting close to a subject -- from a vividly colored bucket of corn to a group of wooden spoons -- make photographs more interesting.

Markets present real challenges with lighting. You might be shooting outdoors, indoors or both. Lancy's recommendation: choose automatic white balance on your DSLR camera.

The automatic white balance setting allows you to shoot freely without worrying about changing lighting.

Doing some preliminary reconnaissance helps you find the most interesting stalls in sprawling, gigantic markets.

• Automatic white balance helps quickly adjust for mixed lighting of markets


• It helps to ask for permission before snapping a photo


• Turning a color image to black and white can add impact

(CNN) -- Few places provide a condensed, in-your-face snapshot of human life, in all its colors, like a street market.

Istanbul's Grand Bazaar, Seattle's Pike's Place Market, the Granville Island Public Market in Vancouver, the Otavalo Indian Market in Ecuador, Bogota's Paloquemao market -- these are experiences that can define a trip.

Or at least a day out.

I've visited all of them, in some cases skipping monuments and museums to explore them.

I visit them to get a window into the culture, find the perfect souvenir, practice my language skills or have a meal to remember.

And I love to photograph them.

But it's not just a case of seeing something bright and colorful and snapping away.

I've picked up several tips for getting the best results in what are often crowded, hot, uncomfortable places to shoot.

Gutted fish can make for a more interesting photo than flowers.

1. Ugly is interesting

Gorgeous flowers and luscious fruit are always beautiful to look at.

But sometimes "ugly" subjects make more compelling pictures.

A butcher in a bloody apron or a fishmonger gutting a large snapper are examples of scenes you might normally shy away from, but look great in photos. .

A teacher of mine once used the term "ugly beautiful."

I keep that phrase in mind whenever I shoot.

2. Focus on faces

All those exotic fruits and lush flowers make awesome subjects.

But don't forget about the men and women selling their wares.

I encountered some of the most expressive faces in all of Bogota at the Paloquemao market.

It always helps to be friendly and ask permission before snapping a photo -- some people will mug for your camera, though others will quickly wave you away.

And never forget to focus on the eyes of your subject.

The blue of the bucket makes the color of the corn stand out.

3. Get close and fill the frame

Distill a scene to its most basic elements and you end up with more powerful images.

Wide shots can help you set the scene, but at the sacrifice of details.

Getting close to your subject -- from a vividly colored bucket of corn to a group of wooden spoons -- can make your photographs more interesting.

Watch your focus when you're filling the frame, and avoid oversaturation in the post-production process.

Turning a color image into black and white can add impact.

4. Explore and plan

I recently visited the astonishing Plaza de Mercado de Paloquemao in Bogota, Colombia.

Thousands of Bogotanos do their daily shopping here, buying everything from fruit to seafood to other goods.

You won't find the place in most guidebooks, but I recommend a visit.

Doing preliminary reconnaissance allows you to find the most interesting stalls at what is a gigantic market.

Mapping out a route helps you prioritize, so you have more time to shoot.

Mixed lighting is easily managed with automatic white balance.

5. Learn to use automatic white balance

Markets can present real challenges with lighting.

You might be shooting outdoors, indoors or both.

Here's a tip: it's much easier to deal with mixed lighting (tungsten, fluorescent, natural, etc.) on the front end than struggling to edit out those weird pink streaks on your pictures when you get home from your vacation.

My recommendation: choose automatic white balance on your DSLR camera.

Many point-and-shoot cameras also allow you to adjust the white balance manually.

The automatic white balance setting will allow you to shoot freely without worrying about changing lighting.

6. Buy something

A small purchase goes a long way toward making friends with vendors.

Buy something first, establish a rapport, then ask for permission to take a picture.

You'll find subjects are more relaxed and often more willing to do you a favor (pose nicely) after you've done something for them.

Nadia Lancy is a senior writer for CNN International. She also specializes in portraiture and fine art. You can see her portfolio at nadiaslens.com and follow her on Twitter @NadiasLens.