Back to market after lockdown

Flea markets are gradually opening up as lockdown eases and my online bookshop business partner and I decided to sell at a monthly market near where I live. This is something of a blast from the past for me as I haven't done flea markets for over 15 years but all in all, it wasn't bad and it gave me an opportunity to photograph people, which I don't often do.

The venue itself is part of a gentrification project, some old warehouses and factory buildings were turned into a hipster paradise with the usual distressed walls and ceiling-free look.

Because mask-wearing is mandatory, there were some interesting looking masked bandits on display

I will admit that I'm having a hard time recognising some familiar faces.

An old friend was playing the accordion in her stall

The people below are distressed snail-farmers, lockdown has almost put them out of business because many restaurants have closed. They were selling snails in garlic and fried cinnamon rolls.

I rather like the lamps they were selling, considering that we are also having regular electrical blackouts, to go with the current economic crisis we are experiencing

Some of the beautiful handmade items on display:

Part of my friend Chevy's lighting and sculpture stall

Watercolours by Thokozani Mathobela, a long-time market friend

Funky caterpillar

and a pair of robot people by metalworker Lisa Martin

Not so sure about the bloomers, though. Different strokes for different folks, I guess

Sales were not bad considering the circumstances, so I guess this will be a part of my life in the coming months as we try to claw our way out of the financial hole caused by lockdown.