German photographer Tom Hagen is known for his impressive aerial photography projects. One of our favorite recent projects is the Floating Market series, an exciting visual story that brings to life the unique and traditional methods of food trading at the floating market in Banjarmasin, Borneo (Kalimantan in a modern way).
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On the island of Borneo, trade is often conducted directly from boats. Locals use this method to sell their goods to tourists and residents of neighboring islands at the same time. Such a “floating” market allows not only to bring any goods quickly, simply and almost free of charge, but also to respond promptly to customer demand.
In most compositions, Tom presents one boat at a time, allowing the audience to focus their attention on the intricate details of each floating kiosk and its merchant. However, some other images depict two boats standing side by side and engaged in trading goods. These moments are depicted with a sense of calm and serenity, which provides an opportunity to get to know the age-old exchange system that forms the basis of this community.
