Stories from the Paper Market

Markets are more than places of trade—they are living museums of culture, survival, and resilience. This image was taken at the Paper Market, where sellers sit under the sun with baskets full of smoked fish, vegetables, and everyday essentials.

The Paper Market is not just about buying and selling—it’s about community. Each stall has its own story, each vendor a unique journey of struggle and hope. The woman in this photo, shaded by her straw hat, represents the quiet strength of many market women who provide for their families through hard work and persistence.

What fascinates me most about the Paper Market is the texture of life it holds: the smell of smoked fish, the chatter of bargaining, the rustle of papers used as wrappers, and the rhythm of footsteps moving between stalls. It’s chaotic, but within that chaos lies beauty and resilience.

Through my lens, I want to preserve these stories—because the market is not just a place, it’s a heartbeat of everyday survival and culture.
Photography