Winston Hughes from Alicante Presents a Black and White Photo Chronicle of Market Life
For about four years, a photographer has walked through vibrant state markets, not just with a camera in hand but with words, careful observations, and conversations that reveal what lies beyond the surface. The result is a photography book from Alicante that shines a light on the people who animate these street stalls. He speaks of the emotions living in these markets as diverse as the protagonists themselves, offering a conscious gaze at the rough and human side of these spaces from a daily and personal angle.
The book centers on Alicante locations like San Faz, San Juan, and La Nucia, recurring settings that helped shape a collection of 102 black-and-white photographs.
This photobook highlights the less polished aspects of markets, as the photographer researches and documents people and their culture from an everyday, personal viewpoint. He notes the harshness of this lifestyle, explaining that it is not a choice but an imprint of life.
The aim is not only to assemble a visual file of markets and their people but also to use photography as a metaphorical tool to generate discourse about a world increasingly governed by technology and yet still rooted in close human contact and cultural habits.
In this sense, Hughes invites reflection on how humanity has changed under the weight of technological imposition and the rapid pace of life, and how those shifts affect social behavior, communication habits, and personal relationships.
Winston Hughes from Alicante Wins the CENIE Photography Award
He notes that in a world where online shopping keeps growing, markets remain places for face-to-face dialogue and the most human connections to surface.
The standout quality of these images lies in their authenticity: they depict real people as they are, without pretension. Although many photos are candid or taken without staging, their human value remains the strongest evidence of their significance. Conversations during shoots added depth that the image alone could not provide, and the two elements together created something meaningful.
He explains that behind many scenes lie remarkable stories, and many cultures coexist peacefully. There is a sense of equality and absence of conflict, a reminder that diverse communities can share a space without hostility.
There is a desire to broaden the project to other markets in Spain and perhaps beyond, expanding the visual narrative to new settings and communities.
Prize and Refugees
Hughes, son of a painter who passed away in 2019, has long explored multiple creative disciplines, including painting, illustration, sculpture, and ceramics, while also working in advertising and creative roles across Spain and the United States. Photography has always accompanied him and remains a powerful medium for connection and emotional resonance.
He recently won the Grand Prize at the International Center on Aging photography contest with a work titled Vitamin D, underscoring a commitment to personal, human-centered storytelling.
His portfolio also includes a cookbook project created for the Spanish Commission for Refugee Assistance, which documents the foods of people living in Spain who have fled difficult circumstances. Gastronomy becomes a bridge to raise awareness and empathy.
Today, he is pursuing a new project focused on pottery traditions in Agost, driven by a love for ceramics and a fascination with the potter’s wheel.