Instant Inspiration (6) – Storefront Windows

Streets of Nuremberg

7 years ago

It’s finally weekend again and time for another episode of my “Instant Inspirations”. As we approach Christmas these December weekends are usually filled with power shopping. But why not take your camera along and try something creative while your significant other is inside a shop? Also, if you suffer from “Photographer’s Block” or simply want to shoot something that you have never tried or at least not recently, try using storefront windows as a free and ready available prop. For a bit of how-to, a few more exemplary photos and links to episodes 1 through 5 of “Instant Inspirations” continue reading after the jump…..

When shopping in the city with my wife I always bring the camera for some quick shooting even though I really don’t have much dedicated photography time, because, you know, the focus is on making the wife happy 😉 . Still, when in a store or waiting in front there is a free prop that can be used for great creative shooting…the store front window. They can be used in various ways. First, you can capture great reflections, as you can see from the introductory photo above, where I set the camera directly on the window glass to maximize reflections. Sure it helps if you find yourself a store window with interesting decorations inside and some complementary outside scenery, so you get a creative mix of real life outside scenery, its reflection in the window and underneath some real life inside scenery.

Next option is to have an interestingly decorated shop window you like to use as background. Then it’s just a matter of taking a few steps back and waiting for an interesting subject to pass in front of your lease. Depending on what you want to achieve you can play with a longer exposure time to create a motion blur effect.

Another variant is to look for a glass corner window that you can use to shoot through, again creatively mixing outside scenery, inside objects and reflections.

In case your significant other drags you into the store and you need to wait while she’s in the fitting room, you can do some inside out shooting, using props in the window (as dressing dummies) to create interest in your images.

Or you do just the opposite, look for a storefront window with great outside reflections and shoot into the inside, also a great option to come up with interesting photos.

Needless to say you can shoot this images both in color and black&white. Just be ready for some funny looks you draw when leaning against those windows and snapping away.