Consumerism

Destination shopping has been a thing for so long now. Crowds are drawn to certain areas in the knowledge that they will find many things that they may want but not always need. Oxford Street in London is one of those areas. Packed with people and most of the time a disappointing experience. The skill in making this picture is seeing this amazing composition then having the timing to get it just right. The four mannequins work perfectly in relation to the four girls sat in front of the window almost been looked down at. The light difference between the daylight on the girls and the neon in the shop is really well balanced by the photographer and the tight crop works very well. The unique individual poses and expressions on the faces really adds drama and intrigue to the image. A great capture. Well done.

Do we but the watch because it is good or because it has associations? I'm sure we are all guilty at some point in making a purchase for the wrong reasons. This well seen and captured image asks these questions whilst accepting that Omega make great but expensive watches and that the actor or the persona is what draws us in? If a picture is worth a thousand words then this is worth more. Lovely.

I love the idea of the faceless society, how we buy things without really understanding why or if we actually need them. Everything looks great on everybody. This really well framed image speaks to me of that concept. The faceless consumer. The tight crop and bland colored background really allow the mannequin to stand out and the lights which are placed around the image are well controlled which is not easy given the different directions they are coming from. Great exposure adds to the control the photographer has shown in making this lovely photograph.

Consumerism is in this image all around us and for many of us it is. We are told what we should desire when we look on our phones, when we walk on a street, we are surrounded by advertisements all wanting us to spend our money. This intriguing and unique image really captures the essence of how advertising works. We are bombarded with information. The use of black and white plays against how companies generally entice us with color and the metering is perfect which given the highlights and different light sources within the frame that is not easy. The complexities of the mirrors and people looking in all directions only adds to the chaos and sums up the modern world very well. Great image. Well done.

The juxtaposition between the the giant advertising board and statue are really well composed and seen by the photographer. The tight crop gives us the viewer enough information without offering too much. I love the quality of the gestures within the hands of the statue and the models hand holding the phone. Before we had to travel to see a sculpture, now we can download them. What would Cesar make of all this? A wonderful photograph that has been made by the photographer. Really well done.

Advertising draws us in and nothing does this much better than the golden arches. This image uses a tight crop to really get close to the action and draws all the attention to this not so subtle symbol of consumerism. the inclusion of the building in the background only makes the picture stronger as it grounds the space in which the burger chain is based. Always in large centers or on a highway. Great capture and looking at this picture I feel hungry so the arch must be doing its job. Well done.

A beautifully weighted and waited for image. When best to make the picture. Great timing waiting for the ship to almost go around the corner allows us the viewer to see more of the stunning surrounds. Yes these lucky holiday makers get to see this incredible view but at what cost to the environment? A tricky balancing act. The image though is beautiful. The quality of light, timing and subtle use of color really work to make this image really stand out whilst also discussing the complexities of tourism and how best to enjoy ourselves responsibly. Not easy. Well done.

So close to my top 10. This is an image that shows us how we consume in this digital age. Never really present and always mindful of an opportunity to record a visual for use on other platforms and a reminder that "we were there' but in that we lose the emotion of being present in the moment and this stunning and unique capture shows us that. Really well done.

We live in a world where even a cup of coffee is elevated to high status. This wonderful capture is all about timing. Without the man in the suit looking back at us the viewer, we would only be enjoying the staircase and decoration and advertising but the inclusion adds weight to the image and a level of status to what in fact could be just a posh coffee shop. He also gives us a sense of scale to the surroundings. The light and colors which add that sense of money are well balanced and the composition could not be bettered. Really well done. Great capture.

The colors really leap out at us and the wonderful composition really add to the intrigue in this image. As children sometimes what we want are simple things and they remind us as adults if only we could go back in time. I love how the light really hits the girls faces and elevates the entire frame against the darker background. With one girl peering into the the small hatch and the other looking carefully what she may want on the poster in front really adds to the charm of this image. Its a classic and also timeless. It reminds me of the great color work by William Eggleston. It's that good. I could see this easily on a gallery wall.

What happens if what you offer nobody wants at a moment in time. This wonderful capture shows us the other side of consumerism. The boredom of having to wait around for customers then putting on a show face to serve when they do finally arrive. Wonderful technique and use of color really elevates this image as does the pose and facial expression. Great capture.

Actual money, physical cash. For so many now a thing of the past as we move into a cashless society leaving many behind and bewildered. This great capture of an unknown transaction is beautifully captured. The unique camera angle, the lovely colors and grain structure in the picture really add to a sense of nostalgia. I really enjoy the blue tiles in the background and the tight crop means we really concentrate on the hands coming together, again a thing of the past. It remind me of Friday evenings at the fish and chip counter . A ritual that we did not need but enjoyed for enjoyments sake. Great capture. Well done.

Classic elevated composition gives us the viewer a reminder of the role cars play in society either as a means of needed transport or a desirable luxury that we could live without. The photographers tight composition works really well as does the black and white as no one element or car stands out. This allows us to focus on the entire image and what it represents to us as viewers. The formal arrangement made by the subject is mirrored photographically very well by the photographer and the depth of field used is perfect so that we focus on all areas equally within the frame. Great image.

The photographer playfully works on the project brief in a fun and unique way. The lady in the frame becomes the consumed and we the viewers become the consumer. Every element is controlled from the composition, to the color palate, the pose and the waiting for the yellow cab to appear reflected within the window. All very clever. What is she looking at? herself? or something else we will never know but what i do know is that this is perfectly controlled and a great photograph. I could live with this on my wall. Lovely.

These stores are not just about opulence and the goods they sell inside if you can even make it through the door they are about aspirations and have also become attractions within cities like museums. The photographer has not only controlled the setting very well but has also wonderfully included the couple to the left taking a picture in front of the store. To be seen in close proximity is enough and some of the gold may just rub off. The exposure is perfect, not easy with the different lights and the decision to take a few steps back means we get to see the entire splendor of the shop. Wow is this decadent and the photographer captures this perfectly. Well done.