The Story Behind the Photograph #10

Mark Coulbourn

The photograph I chose was taken in the Jewish Quarter of Venice, Italy in 2024.  I try to get images of people working, especially doing things that a lot of us take for granted. On this day we got up early to catch the light and to explore a part of the city we had not visited before.  As we were walking in the Jewish Quarter we lucked upon a vegetable vendor who was unloading his boat and moving his stock to the local market.  I was hoping to catch a picture of him with the surrounding architecture, and I set myself up to get this shot.  He never spoke to me, and he didn't seem to mind.

Growing up my step-father was a school teacher and I had the opportunity to observe the working men and women who made the school function but never received the same accolades that the teachers typically get. Because of this I try my best to tell the stories of working people through my photography.  In addition to taking photographs I also work as a Preservation Librarian for a University in the US.