One of Those Moments, a photo from Schleswig-Holstein, West

Photographer's Note

Niederegger - probably the world's best known marzipan shop... and the busiest one as well.

The well-trained and coordinated staff copes professionally with high demand and waves of people almost stampeding through the door during midsummer heat. Staff is busy behind the counter... constant customer requests... little parcels and boxes quickly changing hands... money changing hands...

Suddenly, tills refuse to operate and no one knows how to fix them. A queue is forming and impatient customers start feeling uncomfortable... that makes staff feeling uncomforatable, too...

This time it seems that there's no solution and the supervisor decides to call the store manager who quickly rushes downstairs to give team a hand... but for some it was already too late - having spent the whole day working hard they could not take it any more... and they just snapped from pressure!

burGu, Kielia, Photo65Net, feather, kpav has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

burGu (4840) 2008-08-19 11:24

Hi Robert,
Although I am a little sick today, and have eaten nothing but just potatoes all day long, sound of marzipan makes me feel hungry...
Hurry in the shop is absolutely worth sharing. B&W emphasize on the chaotic atmosphere, it would be distracting in colored version imo.
Best wishes,
Burcu

maria (3288) 2008-08-19 11:24

Hi Robi,
Precious moment you captured! Hierarchy is everywhere as far as I can see! ;-))
By association, marzipan means Christmas to me!
Complex and a place full of activity with remarkable human expressions. Even with no direct eye contact with the viewer the image is still extremely powerful when it comes to transmit that pressure felt on some jobs.
As it is the normal by now, excellency on the conversion.
Regards,
Maria

rossofuoco (7398) 2008-08-19 12:15

Hi Robert.
Ottima foto in movimento ben composta e ben eseguita.
Ciao Renzo

scalerman (26900) 2008-08-19 13:02

Robert: yes, a lucky exposure - at least for the photographer's tale, good choice on BW too. c

Polonaise (5802) 2008-08-19 17:13

Dear Robert...
Once you set your camera...The f-stop, the shutter, the style, the options, the brick a' bracks, it's the time to perform the most important photographer's quality - the skills of finger whistling...!
If everything is ready - whistle the living hell out of them...
There is no way that anyone would ignore it...

Those faces...

All of them would be looking at you and then it's your time...

The military guard on duty...?
Even he would be fully awake, open his eyes and he will produce the most astonishing face on earth...

You ???
You'll just press the bloody shutter button... That's all...!

Love man, love and whistle...

g

..............

Kielia (24077) 2008-08-20 1:39

Hi Robi,
I love the expressions on all faces! This is really a typical situation at Niedereggers, they cannot resist the stress created by some guests. Great work!
Cheers, Harriet

Photo65Net (43144) 2008-08-20 9:12

Hello Robert,
You caught the busy activity here !
I like tpp your choice for BW.
Nice post,
Regards,
JB.

feather (51130) 2008-08-21 8:08

The motion blurred lady seems to be the only one unconcerned about the catastrophe. As for the customers having the right change would be a good idea. As they "snapped from pressure" you snapped the shutter. I love the expression on the manager's face.
Kath

kpav (5031) 2008-08-21 10:27

Hello Robert, great shot that emphasizes on work pressure and activity. The b/w fits very nicely here, and the tow women the one that has her hands on her face and the one moving increases the sense of tension in the scene. I like also the diagonal formed between the man and the three women behind him. Thanks for sharing.
Best regards,
Kostas.