Street Tacos at Santo Domingo Market After Rain

Steam rises in thin, translucent ribbons above a metal tray holding three street tacos nestled in warm corn tortillas. The filling glistens with oil under the first pale rays of nautical dawn, casting soft highlights on the charred edges of the meat. Water droplets rest on the underside of the nearby market canopy, dripping steadily onto the stainless steel counter. The air holds a hazy suspension of sugar dust or moisture from a passing sun shower, catching the golden light. Surrounding the tray is empty, shadowed space that isolates the food against the muted gray of the early morning. one drop of condensation rests on the rim of the tray, reflecting the rising sun.