Vendor Frying Tempura in Wok at Guiglo Market

Diffuse gray light from heavy overcast skies fills a covered bazaar aisle in Guiglo. A vendor stands behind a large, darkened wok resting on a metal stand. Golden-brown battered strips fry in vigorously bubbling oil, their crispy edges catching the soft, even illumination. Steam rises visibly from the hot liquid, drifting upward past the vendor's hands. Beside the cooking station, a stack of white ceramic plates waits on a wooden counter, their smooth rims reflecting the dull sky. The scene shows the tactile nature of daily commerce as oil splashes against the darkened rim of the pan.