Travel Photographers Network

Text and images by Tom Guffey - All rights reserved.

For Travel Photographers, Pike Place Market is a “must see” when you visit Seattle!!!

A LITTLE HISTORY

The Pike Place Market originally opened for business in 1907, as a local farmers market.  At first, it operated out of the farmer’s wagons that were tied up to a series of hitching posts along a boardwalk behind First Avenue.  It got its start when local residents were tired of paying high prices for produce.  Various “middlemen” handled the produce and each took their cut.  This put a toll on the cost of fresh produce being sold to local Seattle residents.   The market’s concept was to allow local produce farmers to sell their goods directly to the consumer. Shoppers would buy directly from producers and thus save on grocery bills.

On the first day of the market, eight farmers brought their wagons to the corner of First Avenue and Pike Street.  They were astonished and overrun when 10,000 shoppers visited on that opening day!  The first building opened in late 1907, with a number of others to follow shortly thereafter.

In the early 1940’s over 2/3 of the various shopping stalls in the Market were owned and operated by Japanese-Americans.  After the start of the Second World War, most of these American’s with Japanese ancestry were interned in camps throughout the west and southwest. The property they owned at the Market was eventually confiscated and sold off.

By the 1960s, the market was no longer the popular shopping and tourist location it had been. The entire area had fallen into disrepair, with many closed and boarded-up buildings.  The market had also attracted an undesirable crowd of transients and homeless, many with drinking and drug related problems. Crime in the neighborhood continued to grow, and the mayor’s office came under pressure to fix the growing problems.

A proposal was initiated by City Hall to demolish the entire area and replace it with a more upscale “Pike Plaza”, as it was going to be called. This would include various shops and hotels, apartment buildings, offices, and even a hockey arena. The Mayor, his city council, and a number of influential landowners almost had the proposal finalized, but… a huge grass roots movement to “SAVE THE MARKET”, along with community opposition to the new “Plaza”, helped defeat theproposal and did indeed save the market in late 1971.  The Pike place Market Public Development Authority was created to insure continued preservation of this historic district for future generations. Most of the market buildings are now under public ownership.

THE CURRENT MARKET

Today the market, located on a steep hill overlooking Elliot bay, is the Number 1 tourist attraction in Seattle. Over 10 million people a year visit the market and its surrounding neighborhood.  On a nice summer day, there can be upwards of 30,000 people making a visit to the market.  Once again it is a thriving business location for locals and tourists alike. The Market covers approximately nine acres, with multiple buildings on the site.  Each building contains various shops and restaurants. The main building has several lower levels with everything from candy stores, to antique dealers, to imports and “treasure” shops. There is something for everyone!  On the main arcade are more than 160 crafts people selling their wares in the booths and outside stalls.

To get a start touring the market, there is an Info Booth at the entrance where you can pick up a free map and guide.  This is located at the original corner: First Avenue and Pike Street.

As you enter the Market, the first area that always draws a crowd is the Pike Place Fish Market, where the fishmongers “throw” your catch to waiting packers behind the counter. On a weekend, the crowd here is huge and the travel photography opportunities are great. Ever take a photo of a “flying Halibut?” Also, at this entrance is the Market Mascot, Rachel the Pig. She has raised in excess of  $100,000 in change from the passing crowds. This money helps operate the market and its preservation efforts.  Rub her nose for good luck and give her your lose change!

As you walk through the market, you can get a fresh espresso at the very first Starbucks coffee house! Yes, this is where the coffee craze started in 1971.  Go just a little south on Pike Place and enter La Panier. This bakery not only smells wonderful, but also has fresh French pastries to go with that coffee.  For you tea drinkers, there is the Perennial Tea Room in the First Avenue building.  As you roam the five main buildings that comprise the Market, you’ll find ethnic dining, antique stores, jewelry shops, card and specialty paper stores, and clothing shops - just to name a few.  You’ll find everything under the sun, almost!

Photographers will want to shoot the colorful Neon signs throughout the market!  Also, make a point to visit the various flower stalls and produce vendors in the main arcade. The colors and the arranged produce make for colorful “postcard” shots.

The bonus of people watching can be enjoyed anywhere in the neighborhood as you’ll see hundreds of interesting faces in the crowds - along with mimes, street performers and the “Balloon Man” working the children in the crowds. Photo opportunities are everywhere.

Victor Steinbrueck Park is located at the north end of the market. It has a wonderful view of Elliot Bay and the Seattle waterfront below, which is also worth a visit, time permitting.   The park is a popular place to eat that lunch you just purchased from the market, or just enjoy a grassy spot in the afternoon sun. If you stay until the sun starts to set, you have an excellent view of the ferries crossing the sound, with the Olympic Mountains as a backdrop.  This sunset shot is quintessential “Seattle”

For lunch, try the “Mac and Cheese” from Beechers Handmade Cheese. You can watch them make all of their delicious local cheeses while you’re there. If you’re into seafood, stop at Emmett Watson’s Oyster bar.  For an elevated lunch up on the veranda, take in the Copacabana, a great spot to watch the crowds below.

Another area, slightly hidden from the crowds is around Post Alley and Lower Post Alley.  The cobblestone road splits First Avenue and Pike Place with many small-specialized shops and booths with local Seattle goods. If you follow the continuation of Post Alley, which is right around the corner from the Info Booth, another cobblestone road will take you down to the Market Theater. The theater patrons have a strange custom of sticking their gum on the outside wall before taking in a movie. You'll find the chewing gum covers the entire infamous “Gum Wall”. Is this art? No one can agree whether it is or if it’s just a disgusting Seattle habit!  You'll have to decide for yourself. The wall is across the street from the Alibi Room - another great little stop for a drink, or complete meal.

After a long day of cruising, there are a number of great dinner restaurants to pick from - about 60 if you count the take-out places. Try any of these: The Pink Door, Kells Irish Pub, Lowell Restaurant (Sleepless in Seattle was filmed here), Chez Shea or Campagne.  The food ranges from Pub style to haute cuisine. Check out the menus posted outside at each of the locations, to find a meal that fits your wallet and your appetite.

Photography Equipment

When shooting a location with which I’m familiar, I usually take two zoom lens to cover the typical working ranges. It is important to be light and mobile to get around effectively in a crowd. I shot this series with a Canon 5D, a 24-105 F/4 IS and a 70-200 F/2.8 IS.  The reason for the IS lens is that there are way too many people around to put up a tripod without someone hitting it during a shot. I’ve found the Canon lenses can be really pushed in low light if one has steady hands.  I would also recommend a circular polarizer and a neutral density filter to help on the light issues.   Also, take these filters for the early and late day lighting that will occur within the market and buildings you’ll be visiting.

Recommendations

Be prepared for large crowds on the weekends, especially in the summer. You may want to get there early, before the crowd, and watch the venders set up their stalls.  The morning light will also be the best for your photography.  Make sure to photograph the main entranceway, and take a shot down Stewart Street, to catch the big Red neon coffee cup and the Public market sign.

If you’re walking, you can reach the Market on First Avenue, where is crosses Pike Street. If you’re down on the Seattle waterfront, take the stairs up to the market that are adjacent to pier 59.  Don’t make the mistake of driving to the market, as all the roads thru the market, and around the market are always crowded. The parking meters on the streets are very limited.  Drive down to Western Avenue, directly behind (west) of the market, and park in one of the convenient garages that line the street.

The market is open 7 days a week, except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years day. There is no admission fee, and you can stay as long as you like.  The vendors set up early and don’t stay late, so it’s best to arrive before the crowds, to pick your locations and get in some photo ops. Anytime is good time to visit, but mid-day, especially in the summer, the crowds get thick.  You should allow at least a half a day to take in the entire experience.  Much longer, if you’re going people watching and photographing all that the market has to offer. It is impossible to see everything in a single visit.

About the Author

Tom is a west coast published photographer whose work includes cards, calendars, and large format landscapes. His work can be seen at the Artist's Gallery of Seattle and in a number of major hospitals and medical centers across the Pacific Northwest. Tom is a member of the Professional Photographers of America (PPA), International Association of Panoramic Photographers (IAPP), North American Nature Photographers Association (NANPA) and the Royal Photographic Society, Great Britain (RPS).

Tom Guffey is a TPN Staff Member . More of Tom's work can be found on his website, and his online portfolio can be viewed at photoportfolios.net.

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