Located in Tel Aviv, the Carmel Market is a very central market in Israel. The busy city is home to a similarly busy market, always full of life and all sorts of interesting people and stories.

Sellers offer a range of goods from delicious food, which is the main thing you can find at the marketplace, to clothing, t-shirts, accessories such as hats and jewellery, and all sorts of trinkets and knick-knacks. People in the market range from buyers bargaining with the sellers, to someone in search of a good Knafeh, Baklava, or a fruit shake, to tourists and passers-by who are just there to soak in the colourful atmosphere.

The market is always bustling with people, some hurried and some walking leisurely, mixing together into creating an intricate swirl of the marketplace crowd. But there's no time in which the market is busier than on Fridays. Just before the beginning of the weekend, and the Sabbath especially, dozens fill the market in search of food for the evening's meal, or a nice present to bring home for their loved ones.

This photo set was taken on a Friday, and it aims to capture the truly magnetic atmosphere that resides in the market. The long week of work is over, and everyone is making their last errands before they get to go home and unwind with the people they care about. Spirits are high, colours are everywhere, and the chatter is abundant, never overwhelming, but comforting instead, making you feel as if you are a part of something bigger, of this little community of people, most of whom might never see each other again.

The little moments and interactions, even the most mundane ones, have a certain magic to them, especially in light of the pandemic. When people were cooped up in their homes, unable to provide for themselves and their families, the marketplace stood lonely, barren without the constant swarms of people. Now, things are starting to look up, and, just like the colours of the market, the future is once again looking brighter.

Sharon Eilon is an Israeli based photographer and an electrical engineer by profession. Following a health crisis, she found herself seeking treatment in India and went through a life-changing journey. After returning home healthy she decided to realize her dream and learn photography. She is fascinated by the world of photography ever since, and she is especially keen about people photography of any kind, whether it is portraiture, street photography or culture photography – anything reflecting the humanity that we all share. For her, the act of photography has a meditative quality, feeling unified with the world around her at the present moment.

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