Brooktaw
Established
It recently dawned on me that I have been photographing the exteriors of barber shops for over 45 years, without deliberately intending this to be a project. Ferreting about in old transparency boxes, negative folders and hard drives I came up with a collection of 35 which I've gathered together into a Blurb book here.
Last night I was looking at the work of a photographer called Ralston Crawford and there, in his pictures of New Orleans in the 50s, are photographs of barber shops.
I'm sure I've seen a few in Walker Evans work and elsewhere.
It set me wondering what attracts me to them. Perhaps the fact that they are often sole proprietor businesses whose idiosyncratic appearance reflect something of the personality of their owners.
Anyway here's a couple of mine and if anyone has any shots of their own or theories about their appeal it would be great to see/hear them.
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Last night I was looking at the work of a photographer called Ralston Crawford and there, in his pictures of New Orleans in the 50s, are photographs of barber shops.
I'm sure I've seen a few in Walker Evans work and elsewhere.
It set me wondering what attracts me to them. Perhaps the fact that they are often sole proprietor businesses whose idiosyncratic appearance reflect something of the personality of their owners.
Anyway here's a couple of mine and if anyone has any shots of their own or theories about their appeal it would be great to see/hear them.
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peterm1
Veteran
Guth
Appreciative User
Barber shops certainly make great subjects for photographs in my opinion. When thinking of this topic, the first thing that comes to mind for me is Fred Herzog's book "Modern Color" — with its cover image shot from the inside of a barber shop.
By the way, I enjoyed the images of these institutions that you shared via the blurb book, thanks for doing so!
By the way, I enjoyed the images of these institutions that you shared via the blurb book, thanks for doing so!
Bob Michaels
nobody special
South Apopka, Florida 2004 - Marcus cutting hair in his one chair barbershop, at the front of his house. This was part of a multi year project documenting this unique community.
RS2
Established
Tuna
Fotoğrafçı
Mackinaw
Think Different
Leica MP, Canon 50/1.4. Forgot the film.
Jim B.
Jim B.
nikon_sam
Shooter of Film...
Sony a6000 w/Vivitar 28mm 2.5 lens
Taipei-metro
Veteran
Gomez Barber shop
El Monte, Los Angeles County
Img by Taipei-metro
Nikon D80,
Nikkor 18-55
El Monte, Los Angeles County
Img by Taipei-metro
Nikon D80,
Nikkor 18-55
maigo
Well-known
Konica Auto S3
JCH StreetCandy 400
Summer 2019
JCH StreetCandy 400
Summer 2019
Out to Lunch
Ventor
Roadside barber, Saigon. Fuji X100.
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peterm1
Veteran
Yokosuka Mike
Abstract Clarity
Peter, you are good! Nuff said!
All the best,
Mike
Erik van Straten
Veteran
gelatin silver print (heliar 50mm f1.5) leica mp
Erik.
Erik.
Erik van Straten
Veteran
gelatin silver print (summicron 50mm f2 rigid) leica mp
Erik.
Erik.
Bob Michaels
nobody special
Sancti Spiritus, Cuba - Barbershop on front porch. A haircut was equivalent of 20 cents and a shave 12 cents.
Glenn2
Well-known
In rural India all you need is a barber chair and scissors to set up shop...
rulnacco
Well-known
peterm1
Veteran
You are too kind. Thanks mate. Peter
Austintatious
Well-known
Pete's Flat Top Shop. I made the image with a Vivitar Ultra Wide & Slim camera.
Flat Top Shop by Carlos Yashinon, on Flickr
Flat Top Shop by Carlos Yashinon, on Flickr