Travel Journals

Storefronts
by David J. McLaughlin

Key West
by Sandy Summers

That Smile
by Claire Rogers

Prague: Pivo, Prosm!
by Ellen Kamilakis

From Umbria to Le Marche
by Jackie Goyette

Zuppi Santi (Soggy Saints)
by Corrie Cook

Observations of Those On the Road
by Matt Superfisky

Avoiding Travel Scams
by Julie Vick

A Hunger in Berlin
by Abha Iyengar

Isadora—Street Queen of Yogyakarta
by Barrie Lie-Birchall

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Storefronts
by David J. McLaughlin

This photo journal contains both photos and prose. All photography was taken by the author, and all prose was written by the author. Click on the images directly following to open David's photo journal in a new window.

I have done my share of adventure travel: White-water rafting on the North Fork of the Salmon River, hiking the Milford Track in New Zealand, scaling Sedona's heights. But a favorite current adventure is to seek out an endangered species: the distinctive individual storefront. I love to discover and photograph colorful clever displays which stand out among the thousands of banal storefronts cluttering the civilized, chain dominant world. Storefront hunting has become an essential part of my travel adventures. My favorite destinations are the Greek Islands, and Italy - where perfect light combines with passion, good taste and imagination to reveal the best of the breed. There are five compelling reasons why you should set aside some time during your next travel adventure to seek out storefronts. 1) The vibrant colors and forms in storefront displays can make great photographs; 2) Storefronts can reveal much of a country's culture and traditions, often more so than famous monuments created by earlier civilizations can; 3) Stores-particularly those off the tourist streets which focus on the necessities of life-will enable you to meet and mingle with the natives in a country; 4) You can buy a local, genuine souvenir that will expand your experiences and memory of a notable trip; 5) You can pacify those members of your party who are tired of sightseeing and eager to shop, since you should have ample time to take photographs while they spend money. Storefronts offer three opportunities for distinctive photographs: the colorful presentation of a store's basic business; the special display; and the unusual object.

The Total Storefront

It is hard to surpass a women's clothing store for color and excitement in a storefront, and in the Mediterranean, the display often starts in the street, giving added depth and dimension to thepicture. Picture 1 is one of my favorite storefront photographs. It was taken in Chania on the island of Crete in the old Venetian section of town. The light is special in Chania, and the colors in this display pop out at the viewer. The red door doesn't hurt either. Almost every type of store can provide a colorful photo opportunity if the owners create a compelling display. The principal pottery store in Chania (see Picture 2) has a large open exterior display areawhere merchandise is tastefully arranged on marble tops which sit on large urns. Great storefronts don't require handsome (and expensive) merchandice, although the big cities of the world seem to favor jewelry, women's clothing, and cars. Any type of store can produce a great display that communicates the nature of its business and makes its very ordinary wares seem special. I found this small hardware store on a back street of the Cyclades island of Paros. (Picture 3) I tried hard to buy something that would fit in my suitcase.

The Special Display

Often a sale or other special event will spark a creative display. The SALE sign in a women's clothing store in Rome illustrates the effectiveness of creative signage. The owners darkened the storefront and spotlighted four old mannequins for a simple, yet compelling, statement (Picture 4). Since the founding of Il Carnevale di Venezio in the 11th century, Venice has been famous for its carnival masks. This art has been revived in recent years. The storefront collections of the best workshops make a colorful display by themselves, of course, but if you happen to have a model handy you can create a unique storefront moment. (Picture 5) Sometimes the entry or location background will create a special opportunity. In Fira, on the Greek Island of Santorini, dozens of stores perch on the spectacular rim of the caldera which was created by volcanic eruptions starting in 15th c BC. Most of the stores along the rim maximize their interior space, but one clothing store created an outside deck where tastefully clad mannequins line the entrance. (Picture 6)

The Unusual Object

Much of the fun wandering the streets of European cities, towns and villages lies in spotting unusual objects. For example, in Naousa, a charming fishing port on the Island of Paros, I found this display of drying Octopus (Picture 7) outside a restaurant / fish store. During a recent trip to Amsterdam, one of the windows in an otherwise drab building had a statue that caught my attention (Picture 8). In the more authentic villages on a Greek Island like Naxos, there are ample opportunities to see and photograph village life, Cyclades architecture, and breath taking vistas of the countryside. One can also encounter special objects. As I wandered down a side street in Naxos last year I found three old wooden donkey saddles perched on a wall outside a small shop (Picture 9). They made a great picture.

Notes about the Photography

Most of the pictures shown in this article were taken with a medium format camera, a Mamiya 645AF, using a 45mm wide-angle lens (equivalent to 28mm in the more popular 35mm format) or a 105-210mm zoom (equal to 70-150 in a 35mm SLR camera. I use Kodak 100 VS slide film, noted for its rich color, then scan the slides to create a digital image. Like most photographers I am rapidly transitioning to digital. A few of these pictures were taken with a Nikon D1 (recently replaced with a Nikon D1X) a high-resolution professional digital camera that utilizes the full range of Nikon glass. Two types of lenses are essential for storefront photography: a wide angle (I use the Nikkor 17-35mm f2.8) and a medium telephoto zoom (the Nikkor 28-70mm f2.8 AF-S is fast and "covers" the range you need). For close-up shots and some "objects" a longer telephoto is advantageous. I usually carry the new Nikkor 80-400mm Vibration Reduction lens.

Ten Guidelines to Storefront Photography

1. Scout locations for a day before you begin serious shooting. Buy a good map and highlight the best streets and special stores. Keep a journal noting the address, store hours, the direction of the sun, and your initial ideas. If you prefer to just wander and shoot upon arrival, be sure to take notes about unusually appealing stores and neighborhoods that are worth a second visit.

2. Visit local neighborhoods. While upscale shopping areas often provide well designed, colorful storefronts (women's clothing stores, for example), stores where local residents buy everyday necessities are a must. Groceries, produce markets, bakeries and other neighborhood stores often provide the best local color. They also offer a chance to photograph locals shopping for tonight's dinner rather than some visiting tourists ordering junk food.

3. Shoot at the right time of day. Early morning can be appealing, just as the store opens for business, but the sun may not be ideal. Discover when the sun illuminates the storefront. As always, the hours just before sunset can be magical.

4. Be conscious of the surrounding area. Avoid "busy" backgrounds that will distract from the focus of the photograph. Look around you and see if there are any places where you can get elevation. Some of the best photographs are shot down from a nearby balcony or restaurant.

5. If possible, bring a camera with interchangeable lenses. I have found that a wide-angle lens (in the 20mm range) can be useful on narrow streets in the picturesque old quarters. If you dislike hauling several lenses, a versatile zoom lens like the Nikkor 24-120mm can be used to photograph the storefront and details.

6. Be patient. Give yourself time to observe the traffic flow. Study the storefront from several angles and at all doors. If you plan to include people, wait for someone with character, dressed in colorful clothing who actually looks like they are a native of the country you are visiting. One of the biggest mistakes amateurs make is to snap one or two shots and then hurry to the next location.

7. Compose your shots. A zoom lens lets you do this without moving, but even with a point and shoot camera you can vary the perspective by moving. Where possible frame the center of interest with a doorway or surrounding merchandise. Pay attention to angles and lines that carry the direction of the viewer's interest. The railing in the SALE photograph helps punctuate the picture.

8. Focus close on interesting subjects. Most photographs are too busy. Seek out unique objects. The photographs of donkey saddles in a village on Naxos illustrates the beauty of simple objects isolated from clutter.

9. Act like a pro. Use a tripod if at all possible. Improvise by leaning against a tree or steadying the camera on a nearby table. Bracket important shots. When you encounter something truly inspiring don't stint on film.

10. Be opportunistic. You will stumble on some your best shots. Always carry a camera. If you don't want to haul your "real" camera with you everywhere, carry a point and shoot. Be particularly alert when an area seems devoid of anything interesting—that often means you are not paying attention. Combine storefront photography with other sightseeing. Be prepared to stop when you see something of interest.

David J. McLaughlin, a Phoenix, Arizona based professional director, writer and photographer, has traveled extensively in Europe. He has published two books and several dozen articles on subjects ranging from motivation to the castles of the crusades. He is currently working on an e*book, Greek Island Images.