As I traveled to other places, I began noticing street vendors in those locations as well. Street vendors are not common in my hometown, so there was a sense of novelty for me whenever I saw them, which led me to start photographing them. Initially, my focus was on New York City because that is where it started and because they are so common there. So common, in fact, that I noticed most people simply passed by the vendors without any thought, as if they were just part of the urban landscape. However, many of these street vendor carts are colorful and brightly lit trying to attract attention, which I find to be a fascinating contrast.

As I continued photographing these vendors, I also noticed that they are often located in prime areas. It was commonplace to find these carts in major tourist areas, close to major monuments, nearby to high end retail stores, or in the highest rent neighborhoods. I began photographing the carts within their larger physical space, hoping to emphasize the contrast between their humble operations and their environment.

As I tried to fully develop this project, I realized it was incomplete without considering the vendor - the person tending the cart. What I found most interesting about the vendors was the contrast between their emotions. On the one hand, their phots show joy and satisfaction from providing something valued by their customer. However, I also found their faces and body language demonstrating the toil involved with long hours and the physically demanding tasks of operating the cart.

So, what started as a nice photograph evolved into my first project and my attempt to explore broader contrasts represented by the street cart vendors.