El Mercado Central

Black and white photo of a street market with a man selling hats.

For six weeks, I wandered the living labyrinth outside San Salvador’s Central Market—a place layered with five centuries of human hustle. The stalls, patched together with tin and tarp, spill into the streets like roots reclaiming a city, offering everything from onions and old shoes to cell phones and live goats. Smoke rises from pupusa griddles, voices tangle in the air—barbers laughing, vendors shouting, children weaving through the crush. Here, the sacred and the ordinary meet: a church tower overlooks the chaos; a cemetery lies just beyond. I shot in black and white to honor the grit and grace of a market on the brink—its soul threatened as bulldozers and boutique dreams move in, scattering lives to make way for something shinier, something less true.

A black and white photo of an outdoor market with people walking and a vendor selling hats. The vendor is holding multiple hats in his hand. Stalls and merchandise are visible on the sides.
Bustling outdoor market scene with vendors selling clothes and food, crowded with people shopping and interacting on a street lined with stalls.
A man wearing a mask playing a guitar at an outdoor market, with various vegetables displayed nearby and people in the background.
Person carrying a large stack of cardboard boxes and a wooden crate in a busy market setting.
Man on a bicycle carrying a large object wrapped in plastic at an outdoor market, with stalls and people in the background.
A black and white street photograph showing a woman in a dress walking while holding a bouquet of flowers. She is in an outdoor market setting with various stalls and vehicles in the background. The mood is casual and lively with market activity.
A person holding a bag of snacks out the window of a vehicle.
Black and white photo of a bustling outdoor market with a man smoking and another walking by, surrounded by various covered stalls and produce.
Outdoor night market scene with a man carrying tires, another man near mannequins, and a woman arranging items on a stall.
Black and white photo of a vegetable vendor talking on a phone, surrounded by crates and baskets of produce, likely squashes or gourds, at a market stall.
Black and white image of a woman standing next to a truck with goats in the back. Another woman sits nearby with avocados and produce. Street market scene.
Person carrying a large container on their head, standing against a stone wall in a dimly lit setting.
Black and white photo of a woman selling avocados at an outdoor market.
Black and white photo of a person wearing an apron and hat, grilling food on a street stand.
Two men outside a store with appliances and fans on display.
Black and white photo of a busy outdoor market with people, including a woman breastfeeding a child, surrounded by vegetables and stacked egg cartons.
Black and white image of an elderly man standing in front of a market stall displaying kitchenware and plastic containers.
Black and white photo of a vendor at a market stall. The vendor is sitting behind bags of goods, including beans and other food items. Various packaged products and hanging goods are visible in the background.
Black and white image of a street vendor seated near a table with tools and bread, holding a beverage and talking on a phone in a market setting.
Black and white photo of an outdoor market with vendors and shoppers. A woman pushes a cart loaded with fruits, passing by people walking and engaged in buying activities. Two men stand to the left, appearing to be security personnel, overseeing the
A crate filled with fluffy chicks, with a hand pointing at them.
Black and white photo of a small barbershop with checkerboard flooring, a woman styling a customer's hair, another person sitting, and various hair products and chairs around.
Black and white photo of a market stall with fruits and vegetables, bags of produce, a person wearing an apron standing behind a scale, and various items on shelves under a tarpaulin.
Black and white photo of a barbershop interior with a man sitting on a barber chair, mirrors, hair products, and a guitar-shaped sign on the wall.
Black and white street scene with a man on a bicycle wearing a helmet and a reflective vest; market stalls and people in the background.
Black and white market scene with a woman selling clothing items like shorts; other people walking in various directions.
Street scene with people walking and carrying a mannequin.
Street vendor selling stuffed animals at night, wearing a large plush toy on their head, with people and a cityscape in the background.
Black and white photo of a street market at night, with a man pushing a wheelbarrow full of leaves. In the background, a man rides a motorcycle, and market stalls with various goods are visible.
Black and white photo of an elderly woman sitting at a market stall. She is drinking from a cup surrounded by baskets of vegetables and bottles. The setting appears cluttered, with various market items and textiles overhead.
A black and white photo of a woman carrying textiles in an outdoor market. She is walking past market stalls with various goods, including bananas and packaged items. Other people are visible in the background.
Black and white photo of a bustling market with a woman holding an umbrella and selling lace garments, standing beside a man carrying a Bud Light bag.
A black and white photo of five people in a busy market, with clothing displayed in the background. Two individuals are holding phones, while an elderly woman carrying a bag and cloth is flanked by people with a backpack and a large shopping bag.
Black and white photo of a woman sitting in a shoe store, surrounded by sandals, with a child standing next to her, holding something.
Black and white photo of a busy market with a woman carrying large packages on her head, surrounded by clothing and a mannequin.
Man pushing wheelbarrow in outdoor market
People walking through a busy outdoor market, with a vendor pushing a cart filled with various goods, surrounded by stalls and shoppers.
Two street musicians playing guitar and accordion in a busy market area, with people walking and shops in the background, black and white.
Black and white photo of a table against a wall. The table has a pump bottle, sauce bottle, and container. On the wall, there's an umbrella, scissors, a hanging plastic bag, and a power outlet.
Group of people playing traditional string instruments and percussion in a crowded outdoor market.
Street market scene with people passing by mirrors and hanging clothes, including t-shirts, camisoles, and bras.
Black and white photograph of people in a crowded market scene. A woman looks at a stall filled with various items. Other people walk through the narrow passage, surrounded by hanging clothes and goods. A man holds a bag and wears a cap. The scene is
Black and white photo of a busy outdoor market street with people shopping and carrying goods. A woman is wearing a dress and apron, carrying a bag, and bubbles are visible in the air.
Black and white photo of a man descending stairs in an urban alley, holding bags, with a woman following behind.
Black and white photo of a man carrying large frames through a busy outdoor market, with people shopping and stalls in the background.
Black and white photo of a street market with people, produce stalls, and a vehicle.
Black and white photo of a market scene with flowers and people shopping
Black and white photo of a street food vendor behind a stall, cooking on a grill with a stack of tortillas, while a young girl stands in the foreground.
Black and white street scene with a man holding a bouquet of flowers, a woman leading a child, and another man with a printed t-shirt.
Street vendor selling watches, wearing a cap and striped shirt, with a display board covered in various watches. Background features people and a mural.
Black and white photo of a woman at a seafood market stall with fishes on display on a table and hanging scales.
Black and white photo of a busy outdoor market with people shopping and carrying goods; a woman in the foreground holds a mannequin with a dress.
Black and white image of assorted beans and fruits in baskets at a market.
Black and white photo of a woman carrying a box of flowers in a busy market with people walking around.
Black and white photo of a bustling outdoor market with a vendor pushing a flower cart filled with flowers in the foreground.
Black and white street scene with a woman holding a floral arrangement, a parked car, and a truck in El Salvador.
Black and white photo of a market stall with bags of potatoes piled on tables, covered by a canopy. Two people can be seen in the background.
Man holding a child at a crowded outdoor market, surrounded by people and vendor stalls, under a cloudy sky.
Black and white photo of people buying poultry at a market stall with a sign that reads 'Venta de Pollos Jacqueline.' The scene is busy with customers gathered around, and there are flowers visible on the stall.
People cooking and preparing food at a busy market stall.
Black and white image of a crowded outdoor market with people walking among vendor stalls.
Black and white photo of a cemetery with various tombstones and grave markers, surrounded by trees and shrubs. Two people are walking among the graves.
Person holding flowers walking in a cemetery, viewed through a cross-shaped window in a wall.
Black and white photo of nuns gathered near a small chapel in a cemetery, with one playing a guitar, surrounded by headstones and crosses.

Daniel LeClair - Photojournalist in Southeast USA/Guatemala