Bob Wins the Christmas Shopping Category

Bob didn’t set out to win anything that day. Bob set out to wander.

Specifically, Bob set out to wander the St. Lawrence Christmas Market on a cold Saturday, hands half-frozen, camera warm, brain thinking mostly about snacks.

But then something happened.

Bob started noticing the vendors.

Not the “buy this now” part.

Not the prices.

Not the shopping bags.

The people.

Behind every counter was a small winter survival operation.

There was the skate-rental guardian, surrounded by rows of boots like a medieval armoury, calmly asking for I.D. while braving the cold like it was a personality trait.

There were food vendors standing under glowing lights, guarding trays of pastries like priceless artifacts, moving with the quiet efficiency of people who have already answered the same question 400 times that day.

There were sellers leaning on counters, watching the crowds roll by, bundled up so tightly only their eyes were doing the talking.

And Bob, looking exactly like a confused tourist, did what Bob does best:

he stood there… and waited.

These weren’t “action shots.”

These weren’t dramatic moments.

These were working people at Christmas.

Hands resting on counters.

Eyes scanning the line.

A pause between customers.

That look that says, “Yes, I am festive, but also please decide quickly.”

Bob wasn’t photographing shopping.

Bob was photographing the infrastructure of Christmas shopping.

When the Bob Camera Club judges later announced that Bob had won the Christmas Shopping category, Bob nodded politely, like this was expected.

But deep down, Bob knew the truth.

This wasn’t about decorations.

It wasn’t about tinsel.

It wasn’t even about churros (although they helped).

It was about the people who make the Christmas market work — the vendors who show up early, stay late, and smile through gloves, scarves, and December wind.

Bob just happened to be there with a camera, pretending to be lost.

So yes, Bob won the Christmas Shopping category.

Not because Bob bought the most things.

Not because Bob captured the busiest crowd.

But because Bob did what Bob always does:

He pointed the camera at the people doing the work —

and let Christmas happen around them.