High Street Sales

I jumped at this shot because, at first, I though that it was of a queue of people waiting to be allowed into a “Sale” and that would have been a wonderful story-telling image for this contest. It’s still a provoking image, however, and remained in my Top Ten as I wondered about what they may have been waiting for. Queuing is an essential part of a good sale and this was a fine reminder of those days when it was worth your time to wait and grab an opportunity.

This is what Sales are about: plenty of product at reduced prices. I picked this particular image for its attractive colour combinations and balance (and I’m not referring to the hats here). The centre-piece is the eye-catching discount label, making it clear that this is Sales time. I doff my hat to you. This one is a winner!

The title says it all. A window dressed to attract and invite you in. My only concern would be whether I could afford what’s on offer, even if reduced by 50%. Maybe it’s better to remain this side of the window and enjoy the scene? Good photographers have an eye for this sort of thing (and a camera with them). You are one of them, well done!

I like this shop front image. It has been raining and you have benefitted from interesting reflections off the pavement. The image is crisp and the verticals, upright. I even liked the pedestrian walking out of shot – as if to suggest that the sale was not worth a visit…

What an inviting scene! You have captured this well. It’s a very large store, piled with goods as far as the eye can see. I would have waited for a customer to appear and ideally inspect some of these wares in the foreground. Better still, two or more wrestling over the same item but I guess that was unlikely to happen here (and a companion may have been keen to do more shopping).

This image is typical of a large store, inviting you to come in and part with money. Large placards proclaiming even larger savings, but cleverly worded to avoid being taken to task. The sceptic in me wonders whether everything will have gone by the end. There seems to be plenty of stock but not much of a rush to take it away! A great documentary image.

This is a well-composed shot and I’m so glad that you waited for someone to get into the scene because I feel that empty streets are unrepresentative of their purpose. Your patience has been rewarded by raising a good composition an extra notch and into my Top Ten. The two people are captured perfectly, both walking into the frame with eyes fixed straight ahead. They don’t interfere with the main subject, although I have to confess to having studied these two characters rather more than the contents of the shop window. The symmetry is remarkable. Well done!

Most of the shots I selected in this contest contained images of items for sale, but this one is just of some “Sale” signs themselves. In spite of that it has been composed well and been perfectly cropped to include some interesting reflections. It’s simple and attractive and gains a position in my Top Ten. Well done!

I was struck by the person in the middle of this ‘sandwich’ more than the message they were there to promote. Passing the time with a mobile phone (and inadvertently blocking the important part of their communication) I’m wondering if they are a student and what the daily rate might be. Never-the-less, she caught your eye, so was probably doing her job adequately. This is a fascinating street shot and clearly about “Sales”. Well done!

What else is a Sale about? I love the sentiment behind this window message. It was headed for my Top Ten, but then I started to doubt it’s authenticity as a true “Sale” opportunity. Carpet showrooms are typically closing down or imploring us to buy quickly for one reason or another, so I consider this to be more of a regular situation rather than a special occasion. The image is nicely centered and the window allows us to explore inside a little, as well as providing information about the surroundings in its reflections. It’s a good ‘un.

I like the mystery captured by this shot of a store’s “Sale” window. I assume that it has been set up to intrigue and draw customers in to buy clothing of some sort, but it could equally be at the end of a very successful sale. It caught my attention and got me thinking, and that’s exactly what a good image should do.

This is a great shot. I like the way the perspective draws your eye ‘into’ the shop. The darkness behind may have been lifted a little, but not too much. I think it is better to allow some mystery behind, rather than pick out all the detail, because it leaves the viewer to imagine whatever they want and that is likely to be more pleasing than the actual truth.

This is a very attractive image and, for that reason I have commended it. If I had been convinced that it was of a Sale, rather than a delightfully presented every-day shop window, I would have graded it higher. Many thanks, anyway, for submitting this colourful and well composed shot. It has the potential to do much better in other contests.

If a Sales window isn’t filled with large posters, fill it with many smaller ones instead! This one is attracting attention with many (carefully worded) bright posters, but allowing potential customers to see the stock available and be tempted in. The internal lighting allows us to see that this is a men’s outfitters and a fairly posh one at that. Let’s not be fooled by the promising discount, however, it’s only “UP TO” 50% off “SELECTED ITEMS” if you stop to read the small print. For me, this captures the essence of modern day “Sales” and advertising. A great documentary photograph, describing “sales” for what they are.

I found this image very appealing, so felt that I had to be lenient about the brief, as I have also done for a few other submissions. I commend it for its artistic qualities. This should do well in a “Distressed” contest as the boards have clearly been a permanent installation (- since 1890 ?-) rather than a seasonal event. Never-the-less credit should be given for capturing some interesting signage that does suggest a “Sale” (- twice !-).

This is a lovely image of a carefully dressed shop window display. The simple contrasts between the two colours and the elegant flow of the signage are extremely pleasing. It’s no wonder you snapped this up! Neatly cropped and balanced – just as a ballerina would want!

I had to take a second look at this photo. You need to be eagle-eyed and quick to capture shots like this. I commend it for that reason and also the humorous element. Street photography can be most rewarding, especially if you can be inconspicuous and patient. Well done!

I love hardware shops, so my attention was drawn to this image immediately. There is interest in the wares on display, both outside and in. I anticipate bare floorboards within with shelves crammed with fascinating solutions for all manner of DIY problem. The aroma of paraffin will have long gone but the memories are still there. I’m glad that the verticals are upright. It would have been so easy to get them ‘out of plonk’ when giddied by such reminiscences and the slope of a hill.

This image is of some wonderful architecture and captured beautifully. No longer a Post Office, the building oozes history and tales of times gone by. It can be difficult to avoid reflections when photographing face-on but these are minimal and we are able to admire an undistorted view of the proud statement presented by this façade. Thanks for sharing.

I commend this piece of street photography. Streets are for people, so it’s good to have shots with people in them. I like that the subjects are unaware of the photographer’s presence and that everything is neatly cropped and square. The focus on their faces could have been better but this remains a picture with plenty of interest.

This abstract would have scored more highly, had it been given a title. Never-the-less, I liked it so much that it gains one of my commendations because it portrays what “Sales” are about. In this case there is added interest in that some boots seem to be in pairs, whereas the bottom rail contains only singles. What persuaded you to take this shot? The answer might help you to give this image a name.