Turkish Market Vendor Squeezing Pomegranate Juice

Damp wooden surfaces gleam under the first pale rays of sunrise at a textile trader's stall in Kut. A vendor's hands press firmly into a split pomegranate, extracting deep ruby juice that drips onto a worn metal tray. Wet droplets rest on the rough bark of the fruit and the weathered wood counter beside stacks of folded patterned fabrics. The morning light catches the sheen on the awning above, illuminating the steam rising faintly from the fresh produce. Small glass bowls hold seeds, their crimson skins reflecting the soft dawn glow against the muted earth tones of the market stall.