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Product Description
Product Description
Shot over a fifteen-year period beginning in the early 1970s, "Shutting Up Shop" is a tribute to an era that has all but disappeared: the traditional small shops that feature have now almost all gone. In all there are 60 shops. Each one is unique, and their range diverse: from flowers to condoms, from tea to tobacco. As well as shops from London the series covers many regions of the UK, everywhere from the Isle of Harris to the Isle of Wight. As well as the photographs of the shops are their stories, vividly told through anecdote and interviews with the staff; for just as important as the shops were the shopkeepers, people who were cherished and seen as important members of their community. And how proud they were to be serving it! In 2004, Londei began the task of updating what had become of the shopkeepers and shops he'd photographed so long ago. His findings are included in the fascinating 'afterword' section of the book. Many had closed not long after the pictures were taken, others struggled on until the death or retirement of their owners; almost every single one had changed beyond recognition.
About the Author
John Londei is an award-winning advertising and editorial photographer. He has a London studio and lives in Guildford.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
John Londei presents a wonderful and loving photo tribute to what Napoleon rightly said in 1776: 'England is a nation of shopkeepers'. The sixty shops featured were photographed mainly in the 1980s and mostly show the front of the premises with the owners standing proudly in the entrance. What struck me about these photos is the richness of color (the 200dpi printing obviously helps) depth and their simplicity. The contents of the photos are so fascinating that there was no need to do anything more photographically to tell the story.
There is a story to tell though about each of these shops and what I like about the book is the trouble John Lonei has gone to. As well as the lovely photos he interviewed the shop owners and staff, this text is on the left hand page facing each photo. All this was done more than a decade ago so Londei, in 2007, returned to each place to see what had happened to the shop. This Afterword fills seventeen pages at the back of the book mixing text with a thumbnail of the original and 2007 photos. Predictably many of the original shops had changed hands or gone completely.
I've looked through the book several times and it is obvious, as Londei says in his intro, that many of the shops are past their prime, they have a faded beauty and it shows but why should the owners, mostly elderly, spend money to keep up with merchandising trends when the investment would probably not increase their business. The 2007 Afterword photos reveal the results.
Shutting Up Shop is the perfect photobook and a heartwarming tribute to the nation of shopkeepers where service came first.
***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover.
There is a story to tell though about each of these shops and what I like about the book is the trouble John Lonei has gone to. As well as the lovely photos he interviewed the shop owners and staff, this text is on the left hand page facing each photo. All this was done more than a decade ago so Londei, in 2007, returned to each place to see what had happened to the shop. This Afterword fills seventeen pages at the back of the book mixing text with a thumbnail of the original and 2007 photos. Predictably many of the original shops had changed hands or gone completely.
I've looked through the book several times and it is obvious, as Londei says in his intro, that many of the shops are past their prime, they have a faded beauty and it shows but why should the owners, mostly elderly, spend money to keep up with merchandising trends when the investment would probably not increase their business. The 2007 Afterword photos reveal the results.
Shutting Up Shop is the perfect photobook and a heartwarming tribute to the nation of shopkeepers where service came first.
***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is an utterly wonderful book. The sixty 10x8 colour photographs are beautifully composed and, thankfully, show an immense respect for their subject. Too many times a photographic essay of this kind seems to be half-mocking their subjects. Londei's photographs and unpretentiously tender text have none of that undertone. And why not. The shops are so delightful. The brilliant little empires created by these small businessmen and women are worthy of such loving photographic tribute. My only wish was that the touching afterword where Londei tells us what came of these shops thirty years later was more extensively incorporated into the main body of work. The thumbnail photograph of the shops thirty years on were frustratingly small. But it's a tiny rerservation to an otherwise gem of a book. There will be no great fanfares for this book, as it's not fashionable in either method or subject matter. But that is its strength. Reminds me of David Isay's Flophouse book. This is such a bargain for its price. Sell your dreary Thomas Struths and William Egglestons. Buy ten of these.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This a beautiful journey back to the past revisiting what once was. Photographer John Londei has captured the reality that these shops were the shop keepers lives and the accompanying text gives an insight into their stories which are often as fascinating as the photos themselves. The sad fact that only a few of these shops exist makes this book even more special. Thank goodness John Londei had the vision to all those years ago to pick up his camera and give us this gem of a book. A real one of it's kind, thank you.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Shutting up Shop
Its a great book with a good balance between excellent images and just the right amount of text. The comparison between the original photos and the current position is especially... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Giles
Treat yourself and indulge in some 1980's nostalgia.
A wonderful book that you are able to lose yourself in, transporting you to the 1980's. The subjects are sensitively framed leaving one feeling more of a friend than a voyeur. Read more
Published on 28 Oct 2009 by J. Fordyce
Shutting Up Shop, John Londei
This beautifully presented book is a first for John Londei. The intimate stories of the decline of the traditional shops and their staff is a wonderful snapshot of history. Read more
Published on 17 Feb 2009 by Peter Gatford
Disappointing layout spoils otherwise interesting book
Interesting social history book which is unfortunately let down by the "modern day" information on each shop being hidden at the back of the book, making constant back-and-forth... Read more
Published on 28 Jan 2009 by Steve Winters
Why not buy this from an actual bookstore
A wonderful book, but best bought from your local bookstore, as the book hopes you will become more aware of and not just use whats "convenient" and fast and soulless.
Published on 29 Nov 2008 by Anders Talleraas
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