Leicester Market

I remember being out on the lash in Leicester and running across the market stall table tops, jumping from one pitch to the next, being careful not to bang my head on the wrought iron overhead. The most distinctive part of Leicester city centre, not least because all the cultures literally rub up against each other. Special place. Lovely camera work, love the hip height angles. I reckon some hand held shots once trading starts would suggest the change of pace when the punters arrive.

favourite shots at 0:06 and 0:26.

Absolutely brilliant. It captures the very essence of what street markets are all about. Ordinary people communicating, buying and selling, just passing the time of day. It’s where civilization was born. Street markets. Long may they continue.

Hi Nick! I very much enjoyed your video on Leicester market – so much so, I’ve featured it on my website:
http://www.uselessdesires.co.uk/in-film-leicester-market-winter-2010
Thanks!
Ryan
@uselessdesires on Twitter
http://www.uselessdesires.co.uk

Hey Nick, great work – the 5d really picks up the details and colours and you’ve got some super sharp images there. In fact, that’s it I’m going out to buy one TODAY!!!

This is a really evocative film of market life. I stood the market for seven years and this brought all the feelings back. The cold, the anticipation of a good days trading ect. You have done really well here, thankyou.

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Peter Chandler, Nick Hamer. Nick Hamer said: Check out my new film! A short observational film of one of my favorite places #LeicesterMarket – on a very cold day! http://bit.ly/eVLcAh [...]

Somehow it cheers you up. How about markets as a lens into different cultures? I was thinking about the one in Arusha, for example, or the Masai market in Kiteto, or others I’ve wandered around in Africa or Italy or Germany – markets show how people live, people going about their daily business. I’ve been draped with necklaces and greeted as a friend in markets, I’ve begged outer leaves of cabbages for our rabbit, I’ve bought bags and scarves and the weekly veg. Students go to markets, old ladies go to markets. So much of what you have filmed could be anywhere, it’s just about people; and yet so much would different in different places – different ways of being human in different cultures. Markets both unite and differentiate. Maybe they are as good a place as any to film just ordinary, human, frosty, laughing life? I suppose you have captured moments; markets bustle with moments.

I love this film! really well shot and put together.

It does seem like the starting point for so much more! Just a few suggestions would be to look more closely at the interactions between traders:traders or traders:customers; I love the way the interactions are so clear even though their speech is inaudible, how about looking into the body language of the traders (including facial), especially towards the end of the day when they are all calling out to sell their wares.

I think the starting of them setting up if particularly good you have really captured the colours but how about looking at the movement involved in setting up? repetitive or otherwise? are there any emerging patterns to how different traders/types of traders set up their space? is there a connection between these setting up times and the putting away? could you draw the film to more of a close, starting in the dark, emerging though the busy day and ending back in the dark ready for it all to start again the following day? Equally how about the night time? there could be an antithesis to this film: one of the quiet and solitude (?) of the night.

How about looking into the individuals visiting the market; who are they? where have they come from? could you document their journeys? all converging on the market? what modes of transport do they use? what receptacles do they bring? do they eat whole they are there? do they re-visit the same stalls over a period of time? are they alone or with someone? did they meet anyone they knew? was it a planned encounter?

also could you look more at what is being sold? perhaps draw parallels between traders and their wares? or chart the journey of their wares? not necessarily literally.

I really love this film and I am looking forward to seeing more!

Thank you.

Wow I really love it Nick, great use of the depth of field – the lens looks great! You seem to have captured a certain ambiance – peoples interactions with each other seem to give it a warm feeling. I especially like the opening sequence – snow falling and traders wrapped up unloading. Well done.

very nice, I dont think the market has ever looked so warm and inviting, not even in summer.

Hi Nick
The colours and really vibrant, captures the early morning light well.

Great film Nick, beatufully sharp! Will ask around family to see if they know any market workers.

Fabulous. You are a magician Nick. Footage, mood, tempo, sounds… So right. Really captures what was going on that morning. A great piece of work. I love it

Very timely just as I was getting hacked off with boring admin – I nice interlude. I will never moan about how cold this office is again. Love Leicester Market. In the Summer I get the bus into town and walk down past the cathedral and through the lanes and then through the market. Although it takes a bit longer I really love that end of town and like to see the city waking up. Nice film (as usual x)

Seriously – it makes me proud to live in Leicester with such a fantastic local market, and such cheerful traders! Didn’t realise how early they start – hats off!

Next time you’re loitering at a flower shop, can you pick me up some roses? Ta.

Waaaw, this is REALLY well done, professionally made, IMPRESSIVE.

I am subscribing to this blog now.

I like the new Logo Nick.

I like, very relaxing to watch, thank you

Really nice mate a different look on a community in the City centre I like it.

excellent mate looks like a tv advert

Looks good Nick, so sharp it’s surreal! Can I still have a look at it soon? Smooth edit, nice!

It’d be great to hear responses from anyone featured in this film. What do you think?