Inspired by a number of projects I’ve seen that focus on
high street shops, I set off with optimism, aiming to photograph shopkeepers
and interview shoppers or begin a journey towards that. The resulting images
with transcribed text I hoped would capture snapshots of life in South West
Burnley.
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| Butchers |
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| Newsagents |
A methodology sometimes used in qualitative research
involves ‘purposive’ or ‘snowball’ sampling whereby one respondent recommends the
next person the researcher should talk to. Taking this approach, I asked Susan
in the Library to suggest the next person I should chat to and she recommended
one specific shopkeeper whose business had thrived for decades. ‘Have you time
for a chat?’ I asked, ‘nah, too busy, too busy’ he replied. ‘Can I take your
photo?’ again no and especially not if it was to be published on a website. I
wondered about trust and openness and the weight of suspicion and how it might
be countered. Who else should I talk to?
‘Try Kathleen the Florist’. And off I went.
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| Kathleen's Florist |
Picture this: a vibrant local florist shop on the Friday
afternoon before Mother’s Day. Workers in high visibility vests contemplated
pots over bouquets, carnations over roses with Kathleen amongst them patiently
giving her advice. This was not a shopkeeper with time on her hands! With
friendly encouragement I snapped away, collecting images of the shop and next
door’s green grocer’s. I’m looking
forward to visiting again.
Steph 09.03.13
