John Londei Research.

John Londei 

''His Words''

This project shot over a fifteen year period as my photographic tribute to an era that is fast disappearing all the photographs were captured on a 10 x 8 plate camera.

It began in the 1970's when i came across an old chemist shop near to my first studio in leather lane, there were something about the shop that fascinated me. It was more than a shop it was a place were people went for advice for there aliments were the owner had time for the customers as a photographer i just had to capture it on film i knew its days were numbered in all there is 60 shops each one is unique and each has its own field speculation. The range is from diverse from flowers to condoms from ballet shoes and to umbrella's aswell as london shops the scence covers many parts of the country from the isle of harris to the isle of wite customers were never included. just as important as the shopkeepers.

they were integrate to the photographs and as such i approached the project as a portrait to these people running the shop meant so much more than a business some how it felt as if they turned the premisies into living in titles and them self

 were cherished and long serving memebers of the community. And how proud they were to still be serving it. I was constantly surprised at the coporation they gave me dispite the time taken with setting up, composing and lighting. I cant tell you how many times i have had to wait patiently for customers to leave or the number of blown fuses due to antiquate  electrical system.

I think the timing was spot on visually the shops were at there peak they had a faded beauty a pertain the only the passing years could bestow and like there shops the owners were mostly elderly way past retirement i admired there stubborn refusal to submit to the relentless march of time. In the end for so many of the traditional small shopkeepers represented had, it would be ill health that brought down the shutters on there cherished shops forever.


Corner Shop 1982, 78 Chapel Green Road, Hindley Wigan Lancashire.
''This Shop Doesn't Need A Need.''

 

Chemist 1973, Morrisons Chemist 101 Leather Lane London ECI
''We  Took A Load Off The Doctor''

Barber, 1981 High Street Prestwood Great Missenden Buckinghamshire
''I Guess I'm Part Of The Scenery'' 

FishMonger, 1984, Geo Tallet & Son 22 Broadway market, Hackney London E2 
''Soon as they throw us out, we're finished''

Butcher, 1978 Fred Butler & Sons 2 Fagley Terraced, Bradford Yorkshire.
''Now and then it feels as though its all been a bloody waste of time.''   

Green Grocer 1983, C.Powell 15 Brockley Rise Forest Hill London SE 23 
'' Keeping Us honest and growing up strong.''

Jewish Deli, 1983, Rog's 137 Cannon Street London E1 

''I've done a double life sentence.'' 

John Londei Evaluation.

When you look closely in to Londei's work, you can automatically see he captured all the images on film, ''10x8'' plated camera which has gave each individual photograph a vignetted effect around the corners some being more defined than others.
John Londei when photographing must of built up a relationship with all these shop owners which has helped contribute to these photographs composition. I like how he has not just captured the outsides of each shops, but ventured into the shops and captured them working and it all shows how traditional shops would of looked and functioned. 
You can see that each of these photographs which John Londei has captured has great composition and can speak a million words, which help to bring photographs like these come alive. He hasn't just focused on the type of local shop he has took all different types of local shops into consideration such as barbers, butchers, fishmongers, and many more. I have chose to use these 7 photographs which i photo copied out of the book shutters down as these are the main ones that stood out from the rest and have a very traditional look to them.
This is a great series of photographs that John Londei captured over the fifteen year period. and still play a major part in the way today's corner shops are run in Blackburn.