With the return of cooler weather, I once again find myself wearing a trench coat during the day. This supports my somewhat odd habit of taking surreptitious pictures of things I come across in stores, because it makes it relatively easy to carry my little digicam in a deep coat pocket without being caught by the grocery store police.
Your turn: I never thought I'd see the day, but I believe I'm starting to run out of things to photograph in supermarkets. Do you have any suggestions regarding other retail environments which might offer interesting photographic fodder? Do tell...
what about odd things at children's playgrounds? Kids are always leaving things, wearing weird things, and then... the parents watching them! There's a lot going on...
ReplyDeletevia Michele, again...
I would think a hardware store would have tons of things to photograph. Parts of things like wheels or gears or fittings. How about a gardening store, with its flowers and bulbs, gardening tools, and greenhouse effects.
ReplyDeleteHome Depot? or what about Arts and Crafts stores like Michael's?
ReplyDeleteI think hardware stores is a good idea. I'd steer clear of photographing kids playgrounds unless you want to spend a lot of time explaining yourself:-)
ReplyDeleteHere from Micheles today
Office supplies...just because I love those places!
ReplyDeletehow about a home depot? lots of interesting and absurd thingamajigs there. :)
ReplyDeleteYou've obviously got a good eye for photography (lots of cool angles and vantage points). I kind of get the feeling you could turn garbage into photographic art (not that I'm recommending you take pictures of discarded egg shells, or anything).
ReplyDeleteAs for onions, they will always remind me of the scene in Shrek when Donkey gets Shrek's onion metaphor, but not quite in the way Shrek intended. Always makes me giggle. Still a cool pic, though.
Maybe perfume bottles? They're very distinctive.
ReplyDeleteHi Carmi..
ReplyDeleteCame by from Michele's!
I haven't seen your other photo's, but how about a chocolate display or two! Maybe in an ice cream store?
If you've already done this, please forgive me!
Carmi, if you start photographing in a children's playground, the parents will think you are a pervert! Don't do it (unless it is your own children). I agree with hardware stores, shopping malls and antique shops. You should check out a blog I see everyday:
ReplyDeletehttp://rickleephhoto.blogspot.com
He lives in my hometown and he does Thursday night produce, photo blogging that you might enjoy. He also has a mystery photo now and then, that people have to guess. Go see rick.
Michele sent me tonight.
JUDY: I've always explicitly stayed away from shooting other people and their children. I'd likely take offense to anyone else waving a lens around my kids, so I extend the same courtesy to others. I even hate taking pictures of my kids' friends at birthday parties...I ask the parents' permission in advance, then e-mail the photos immediately afterward.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link to Rick's site!
Carmi - Sporting goods stores could yield some interesting pictures.
ReplyDeletePhotography, as a powerful medium of expression and communications, offers an infinite variety of perception, interpretation and execution. -Ansel Adams
BTW - Michele sent me.
ReplyDeleteThanks for coming by yesterday. I was behind you at Michele's tonight. She says Hi!! You can never go wrong taking pictures of a cute kitty. How about a pet store?!?!
ReplyDeletewhy not do groupings of photographs that work around a specific theme...say for instance, different cultures? Pick one, India for example, and take pictures that "feel" ethnic. Bit's and pieces of the things that make up India. A bindi on a woman's forehead, spicy food, the colors of the clothing, etc. etc.
ReplyDeleteyeah im in agreement with the thrift store people. check out the flea markets, the photo fodder there, it boggles the mind.
ReplyDeletemichelle sent me today, but i always enjoying visiting you!
have you thought of the nursery and garden centers? a lot of the bigger stores like wal mart and fred meyer type department stores have retail garden centers with plants year round.
ReplyDeletePhotography at the super market? I'd never have thought of that.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to suggest the material store. Just imagine the pools of material you could photograph.
I went to a blog recently and the guy takes pics of Thrift Store oddities. It was pretty cool.
ReplyDelete:-)
I absolutely love these photographs.
ReplyDeleteThe night of my Senior Prom we took a photograph of Ben and Jerry's hiding in Broccoli. And no, we were not drunk. It did make for a fun photo, although not nearly as poetic as what you're showing here.
No useful suggestions, other than to say that you've gotten some great ones already.
Carmi, this is going to sound weird, but I luv to photograph different type of pay phones. They are dissapearing so fast. The other day I told my DD use the pay phone to call Dad. She turns around and say eeeck mom why don't we use the cell phone. Had to explain the battery is dead. Spent 15mtes looking for a pay phone couldn't found one. Ask the store clerk I was informed they took all of them away since no one uses them. here's one I did at disney
ReplyDeletehttp://www.twopeasinabucket.com/pg.asp?cmd=display&layout_id=617193
Maggie
Carmi I belong to several photo challenge that might help. See the blogroll on my blog.
ReplyDeleteMaggie
A liquor store...rows and rows of brightly colored bottles would make an awesome picture!
ReplyDeleteOdd shapes and bright colors are great in pictures--and if you can capture it, textures also. Lisa's suggestion of an antique store would be good in that regard, also fabric stores. A store that sells candy unpackaged would also work since candy is usually in vibrant colors--and affect us since they trigger childhood memories and desires.
ReplyDeleteMichele sent me back to see you, Carmi.
Saw your comment at Surcie's blog and thought I'd stop over. She really resonates with me too.
ReplyDeleteI won't cry at the picture of onions but I did cry once while looking at produce...while pregnant.
I like the thrift store idea or maybe keeping with the food thing, just go to an asian market. So many new and interesting colors and textures to capture.
The dollar store! Loads of weird stuff there!
ReplyDeleteHi, Carmi! Thanks for commenting on my blog. I really like your writing. I'll be visiting often.
ReplyDeleteI think toy stores, even the Disney store, would be a fun place to snap some photos.
I love pictures of architectual (that's a word, right? :) details. Close-ups of nature are nice. And books!
ReplyDeleteWell I don't know what the supermarkets are like there in Canada, but here in the US the ethnic products can be a real treat. I know that sounds horribly stereotypical in the wrong circles but it's really not. Just ask Sylvia of Sylvia's Duck Sauce.:)
ReplyDeleteI always love looking at your images.
ReplyDeleteLet's see...how about libraries and churches. Or mailboxes. Or even address plates on houses?
Carmi, good to be back.
ReplyDeleteOdd things? How about a hardware store? I miss those close-up, "guess what this is!" sorta shots you used to post. There's gotta be some great stuff in a hardware store for those.
Stationery and art supply stores are filled with colors, shapes, and textures.
ReplyDeleteJust saying. :)
I'll never look at an onion the same way again. How about a picture of your trenchcoat?
ReplyDelete