Shutter Sisters

window shopping

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I’m introspective by nature, so on most days you can probably find me doing some kind of soul work and pondering about art + life. On those many days, if you see me out in the streets with my camera, I probably have a faraway contemplating look, I’m starring at the horizon, and I am most desperately looking for something beautiful to catch my eye, just so I can shoot it and find some sort of relief to my longings. I know… Eeek, right?  I am proud of the fact that I try to live my life artfully, and with intention and mindfulness. On the other hand, living life (and shooting) like that can be too intense…

That is why some days are meant for window shopping! 🙂 Shooting fun window displays has become one of my favorite pastimes. There is opportunity to explore composition, color, lighting, patterns, reflections, and the styling is already all done for us! There is no room for heaviness here, because why? Well, it’s shopping, for heaven’s sake! And shopping without the spending (which is even better), with the extra bonus of coming back with lovely photographs to keep. In addition, there is always the possibility to come back for more at the same exact spot, because windows change with the seasons, holidays and collections, offering the chance for a fun documenting project as well.

So who is up for some retail therapy? What do you say if we all lighten up, kick the winter blues, and share some cool window shots today?!

And if window shopping is not your thing (YET!), what do you shoot when you need to lighten up? Show us what you’ve got.

Also, you can probably tell I’m really digging polaroid these days, can’t you? The sx70 has also helped me lighten up on gear and processing. I’m so glad there is a photography toy for every one of our moods out there ;P

Comments

  2. ooooh, where to start!
    shop windows are one of my fave, recurring themes. Like Kat in Italy, here in France we have amazing displays, especially cakeshops! Here's a few:
    my most recent on expired film http://www.flickr.com/photos/ascatteredbrain/5410440397/in/set-72157625896849834/
    Yashica GSN http://www.flickr.com/photos/ascatteredbrain/5410440397/in/set-72157625896849834/
    B&W http://www.flickr.com/photos/ascatteredbrain/5285476808/in/set-72157625896888596/
    and lastly http://www.flickr.com/photos/ascatteredbrain/5144976287/in/set-72157625896888596/

  7. oh this is one of my favourite things to do! actually i have a love hate relationship with shopping. but i love photographing shop windows 🙂 here are a couple of my favourites

    galleries lafayette christmas window, paris
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/agrippinamaior/3174708085/

    shop window + street art by phibs, fitzroy, melbourne, australia
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/agrippinamaior/4081718580/

    harrods, buenos aires, argentina
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/agrippinamaior/4716952958/

  10. yes! those are the things I love about window shooting!! love and I shoot with my phone like a Polaroid and it does make things lighten up and surprises me every time too with what comes out of it!!

  14. I read this and it sounded like such a good idea that I drove down to main street and look for something to photograph. It didn't take long for something to capture my eye. Heavily decorated with Valentine's Day decor, this bridal shop had manequins lined up like models on a runway posing for glamour magazines.

    http://allansanedrinphotography.blogspot.com/2011/02/window-shopping.html#comments
    http://allansanedrinphotography.blogspot.com/2011/02/window-shopping-2.html#comments

  18. I love shooting windows and displays whenever I could! But that's not always the possibility. When I was traveling in China, a lot of the times when I was inside a store wanting to take a picture, I would get told no because the owner is afraid that I might be working for one of his competitors!!! What do you do in those situation? Yes, my initial response was, no big deal, I just shrugged and pass on. But times after times if you get told no, won't you get a little discouraged? Nowadays I'm always a little apprehensive when trying to take a pictures inside a store or restaurant…