Photo Diary

Photo Diary: shop fronts in Madrid & Valencia, April 2023

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In 2023 I visited Madrid and Valencia in Spain, and, inspired by Facundo de Zuviría’s images of Buenos Aires on display at Fundación MAPFRE, I photographed a number of shopfronts.

I’ve always enjoyed street photography, but de Zuviría’s work inspired me to focus on capturing the fleeting moments of what life looks like today. It’s been almost two years since I made these photographs – I wonder what these people are doing now? I wonder what these shop fronts look like today? Could these images be recreated, or has the world moved on?

Scroll through this photo diary featuring a selection of ten of these images.

A white stone building in Valencia with two shop fronts. One shop has a large red sign that says "Gontier Bar" and the other a white sign that says "Restaurante". In front of the restaurant a man with grey trousers, a blue button down shirt, and a tan jacket walks past. In his right hand he's holding his eye glasses.
Photo Diary: shop fronts in Madrid & Valencia, April 2023 (1/10)
A window in Valencia. On the glass are painted red, white, and gold text saying "Esmorzars Valencians El Llibre Delo Esmorzadors Professionals" The window is half opened and we can see inside the restaurant where people are seated at tables with high-backed chairs, everyone's back is facing us as they eat and talk to each other.
Photo Diary: shop fronts in Madrid & Valencia, April 2023 (2/10)
A bar in Valencia with an outdoor terrace. A large black awning with white font says "Colmado Lalola". People are sitting on high stools with high tables drinking cocktails and eating snacks.
Photo Diary: shop fronts in Madrid & Valencia, April 2023 (3/10)
A cocktail bar window in Madrid. We can see a man behind the bar preparing a drink, and the reflection of the shops on the opposite side of the road. On the glass window the name "Marrufo" is painted above a painted picture of a martini glass with a smile and holding an olive on a cocktail stick.
Photo Diary: shop fronts in Madrid & Valencia, April 2023 (4/10)
A bar front in Valencia. The bar has a window on the street, so customers can order without going inside. There's someone ordering a drink, and two people having a conversation to the side while their dog on a leash rests on the floor. The shop front in white stone and has a large menu printed on the outside.
Photo Diary: shop fronts in Madrid & Valencia, April 2023 (5/10)
A shop front in Madrid. The shutters are closed and covered in graffiti and drawings. Between the shutters is a column of stone with tiling of chickens and roosters. The sign above is tiled, but the words are cropped so we can't see the name fully.
Photo Diary: shop fronts in Madrid & Valencia, April 2023 (6/10)
A window of a restaurant in Valencia. One the glass there is a painted picture of a plate of octopus prepared to eat. Above it in cursive are the words: "¡ Pruebe Pulpo a La Gallega!" Behind the glass we can see into the restaurant, where there's a large blackboard with menu options and a woman preparing a drink at the bar.
Photo Diary: shop fronts in Madrid & Valencia, April 2023 (7/10)
A pharmacy in Valencia. A yellow building with a white store front and white sign with red letters that read: "Drogueria / Perfumeria Prod. Quimics e Industrials Desde 1839" We can slightly see inside through an open door an glass window, shelves are filled with small bottles and boxes. A man wearing a flat cap, blue button down shirt, green sweater tied over his shoulders, and brown corduroy trousers is dragging a black shopping trolley.
Photo Diary: shop fronts in Madrid & Valencia, April 2023 (8/10)
A yellow building in Valencia with a blue and white street sign saying "Calle De Sevilla". There's a shop that's shuttered, and painted on the shutters is a farmer in a field. The sky in the painting is blue with clouds, the field is a cornfield, and the farmer is wearing a white wide brimmed hat, blue button down that's rolled up to the sleeves, and blue trousers. The farmer is angled away from us so we cannot see their face.
Photo Diary: shop fronts in Madrid & Valencia, April 2023 (9/10)
A bookstore in Valencia. Yellow stone building with dark red-orange doors and window displays.
Photo Diary: shop fronts in Madrid & Valencia, April 2023 (10/10)

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