Over the last few months and even previous months we have seen a number of street vendors photos. Usually these people have no objection in being photographed, good for business image and they like being appreciated for what they do. This months photo was taken in the Cairns Night Market in the evening last year 2025. It was a tricky photo to take as I did not want to use a flash and dazzle the glass blower so slow shutter speed was the result. I also wanted to retain the working conditions he was working under, dark and industrial, hence the white dots in the bottom half of the photo.
Pentax K20D Lens Sigma 18-125mm, shot at 117 mm, 25/1, F8, ISO 100. Processing Lightroom Auto. Topaz noise removal. Shadow reduction on the mans face and his glassware in the front of him.
5 comments posted
Richard Goldenberg
Hi Ron - Nice capture! I'm surprised that the subject's face and hands are so sharp with a 1/25 s shutter. The photo shows an almost "red spider web" around the flame. Did you expect to capture that? What is creating that "red spider web" effect? Posted: 01/09/2026 10:01:41
Ron Davis
Good point re spider web effect, unsure of the reason. In this type of activity ok to use slow shutter speed as the glass maker has to work slowly. Posted: 01/09/2026 18:26:43
Leslie Larson
OOH, I like this one. The motion, colors, focus on the glassblower, all very good. With such a shutter speed, I'm impressed that such clarity was achieved. My guess on the spider web effect is a lens issue. Posted: 01/10/2026 10:07:40
Jen Fawkes
I love this image Ron, and I do congratulate you on getting this so sharp with a slower shutter speed. I probably shouldn't be surprised since modern cameras do have good image stability.
What's not to like, the main subject and story is clear and central, and my eye is drawn directly to the area between his hands and the work he is doing. I love the red coloring and the 'spider web' effect. No ideas why, but it really adds to the story. Great choice of aperture to allow the front to be sharp and the back to be obvious but not distracting. This is an image I believe should do well in a PJ, PJ-HI or environmental portrait themed competition. Posted: 01/12/2026 23:08:32
Tom Brott
Ron, I like this image a lot with all the colors of finished pieces in the foreground and background, the concentration of the vendor on his work and the red added by the torch and flames. All added together it makes a great human interest story. Posted: 01/13/2026 09:06:17
