Flooding the Flea Market
An unusual tale in Negreni, Romania
Camera: Panasonic DMC-GH4
Lenses: Olympus Zuiko 100mm, f/2.8
There is a small village in Romania, where the country's biggest flea market is held twice a year. Sellers flood the countryside with their horses and chariots, minivans and cars. This year, a storm greeted the arrivals, giving them a hard time setting up. Still, thousands came, not just for buying stuff, but for the community.
In this report, I tried my best to give everyone a sneak peek into this unusual, but authentic world, in Negreni, Cluj, Romania.
Rainwater filled antiques - no one bothered to empty them.
The art of doing nothing.
'Allow me to organize my precious lamps' - no buyers yet.
'Daddy, I want that Kerosene lamp, that the man is carrying... I also want some ice cream'
Most people sat under tents, waiting the rain to pass, while trying to appreciate the home brewed Pálinka, the Mititei, and cheap beer.
What else to do?
The mix-up of centuries.
Sellers desperately trying to lead the rainwater away from unoriginal Renaissance paintings, bijou, and bohemian antique chairs.
The art of negotiation.
Someone's whole life on sale, right here.
'Still organizing my precious lamps'.
It is a lonely job, sitting here for four days, while family awaits you back home.
'This must be real and authentic, right?'.
After the rain went away, buyers started to appear, slowly but sureley.
The rain pissed off most of the sellers, so negotiation was harder than usual.
Another life.
The day is over, everybody goes home. The sellers sleep in their cars or tents, waiting the next day, hoping for a better weather.
