Window Shopping

by Jude Maharmah

In another series of photographs taken on the streets of Sharjah, “Window Shopping” unveils the showrunners of the emirate’s local economy, providing insight into the rich character of the city. Each store is a time capsule of an older history in Sharjah’s market, characterized by small, personable shops and more intimate interactions between shop owners and patrons, which were the norm before the rise of massive hypermarkets and shopping malls. Through color and a contrast between the movement of the people and the static storefronts, the series tries to capture the personality of the city streets, which is so well-known by its inhabitants but so rarely captured by photography.

Capturing the circulation of people, both patrons and shopkeepers, through the nighttime setting
creates a stark contrast between the motion of people and the static storefront. This displays the relationship of the store environment with the pedestrian experience.

Layering was used in this photograph to juxtapose two different interior spaces. The shopkeepers, customer, storefronts, sidewalk, and exterior display evoke a sense of depth, which highlights the complexities and variety of narratives that, though in such close proximity, exist in the area.

Capturing color was pivotal to highlighting the store’s character, as the bright colored signage, colorful products, and the uniforms of the shopkeepers attest. The unique color temperatures radiating from the artificial lighting and the reflecting facades speaks to the atmosphere of the night street as well as the shopping culture of the inhabitants of the city.