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Snap Shot Photo Studios
One thing to spare a little time for during user studies is visiting the neighbourhood photo studio. I rarely go to have a photos taken but the space offers insights into local cultural norms and in some areas - adoption of technologies. Some studios, especially those which offer 'print club' photo stickers are adorned with photos of customers and give a pleasant sense of the volume of people, time passing and personal preferences. Most urban spaces have somewhere where locals, with the help of a studio assistant can create then pose for a scene which is then documented. But why pose in front of a painted canvas of the Potala Palace, when the original is just around the corner? Why pose in front of a beach scene?
With the tools to capture rich experiences be they photos, audio, video, location data, whatever, in the hands of more and more individuals what value added do studios offer?
Star Shot photo studios in Seoul are a good example of value added services. Geared up to making the punter look very much the star - the results typically involve over-saturated colours, heavily patterns backdrops, the removal of any blemishes, and a fine haze of soft focus - in other words your typical magazine star treatment.
Photos above from Lhasa whilst photo below is from New Orleans, mostly gay and lesbian night club. For 8 US dollars (6+ Euro) or whatever the clubbers could negociate - and they did try to negociate. Photos printed on a mobile (HP) photo printer. The spray painted sheet includes a tombstone with the engraving 'Chronic - get high, take a ride, then die".
This temporary studio tucked inside the entrance of the club was moderately busy, and run by a real gent.
Photos taken from street and club research during 2005.
Update: You may also enjoy [correction] these photos from a studio in Tibet and others by the same gentleman.
Writing from Ho Chi Minh City | December 28, 2005 | Permalink
Comments
Really interesting blog. You're now in my RSS reader. You might be interested in this collection of pictures of Tibetan photo studios taken by me over the years: http://www.mexicanpictures.com/archives/photostudios/
Posted by: raul gutierrez at December 30, 2005 5:44 AM
Thank you Raul. I like the Mexico pictures.
Posted by: Jan at December 30, 2005 6:17 PM
actually most of these are from Tibet, not mexico. The name of the blog refers to me as I am Mexican.
Posted by: raul at January 10, 2006 3:40 PM