A project documenting some of the characters that work and shop in Watford Indoor Market.
Over the course of 12 months starting Novemeber 2009 on and off I have tried to capture a flavour of the market. With some having worked there for over 30 years, they have seen much change and will no doubt see more change to come.
The market is suffering from lack of trade and customers in a time of austerity, and some of those I have photographed have alreay moved on. Early images were taken with my canon Eos 5D Mk2, however something more discreet was needed and most of the images are shot on the Panasonic Lumix GF1 with the 20mm pancake lens. I have found the people of the market to be incredibly friendly and welcoming and it is this which has made the project easier. Once I became almost a part of the market I could move around with less suspicion and wonder as to my intentions. Once conversations and friendships were struck images seem to captured with much more ease and the true character and personalities started to come through.
The future of the market is unsure, however Watford must have a market due to an age old charter dating back to 1100 when Henry I granted a Royal charter for a market to be held in the town.
Hopefully my images will show a snapshot of a short period of time of uncertainty and looming change for future generations to see.