The Prosaic Camera: Retail

27 12 2009

Inventory Control #93JD94FJO656920-4

 

Inventory Control #RF8395lA92874-9

 

Inventory Control #MZ98734Z0653-7

 

Inventory Control #2LRV38547Mw465-9

 

Inventory Control #F9763KA3548M455-7a

Images by Robert J


Actions

Information

26 responses

27 12 2009
Capitalist Lion Tamer

Ah, holiday memories. So frickin’ glad I don’t work retail anymore. 9+ years and long stints at both Sam’s Club and Target. That brought it all rushing back, along with tinny holiday music and irate customers.

That’s not to say these aren’t nice shots, but they’ve got somewhat of a focussed Rorshach effect on me.

Happy Xmas and such, FJ!

28 12 2009
fundamentaljelly

Thanks CLT, I hope I didn’t give you a flashback.

27 12 2009
Syncopated Eyeball

Ah! The horror, the horror! I’m with CLT on this one. Crowds and retail work mess with my head big time. I’m afraid I’m not joking! Happy seasonal stuff to you Mr Jelly and all your loved ones.

28 12 2009
fundamentaljelly

The horror is right, thanks SE.

27 12 2009
yorksnbeans

Love #1! What a perspective!

28 12 2009
fundamentaljelly

Thanks YnB.

27 12 2009
nursemyra

Yeah, #1 freaks me out the most too

28 12 2009
fundamentaljelly

Freaked me out too. Thanks nursie.

27 12 2009
bschooled

I too, worked in retail for many years. Before and after they had scanners. Which meant I spent a good couple of years manually entering codes much like the ones in your photo titles. Needless to say, I hated life back then.

Yet for some strange reason, I’m still drawn to these photos.

Carts is my personal fave.

28 12 2009
fundamentaljelly

Thanks B, I think we all have some memories of our former lives in these pics.

27 12 2009
delicate flower

Pretty cool, and the inventory number is a great addition. I’m trying to make a connection between 7 and 7a?

Happy Holidays

28 12 2009
fundamentaljelly

Thanks DF, don’t work too hard on making any connections…I am not aware of any. Happy Holidays to you too.

28 12 2009
bearmancartoons

So was that Sams or Costco?? Threw me off with the target shots at the end.

28 12 2009
fundamentaljelly

One was from Costco and a couple of other places I don’t recall.

28 12 2009
Vicki

I really like the shopping carts!

28 12 2009
fundamentaljelly

Seems to be the one, thanks V.

28 12 2009
Dan McGinley

[Voice of Colonel Kurtz in "Apocalypse Now"] The carts . . . the carts . . .

. . . a couple years of scrubbing, stripping, and waxing floors in Kmart all night, hearing the drums of Phil Collins starting “In the Air Tonight” from the boom box we put next to the PA system, working down endless, empty aisles, trying to write the great novel during breaks, and failing miserably, meeting my future wife when I walked in one night, watching her handle irate customers while playing a vibraphone at the same time. Segway to now, blinded by the red Target store, trailing my wife and daughter to another purchase . . .

We are truly consumers, and your pictures are in our blood, FJ. Great imagery.

29 12 2009
fundamentaljelly

The ghost of Conrad still stirs the imagination and has a thing or two to tell us yet. Thanks Dan for your insightful input as usual.

29 12 2009
Ramblin' Rooster

One of the many things I like about your photographs is that it’s the everyday things we see frozen in ways we can all relate too but can never visualize. These pics are extra nice ’cause who ever takes pictures like these? It makes them special.

29 12 2009
fundamentaljelly

What a nice thing to say RR, many thanks and Happy New Year to you.

29 12 2009
tannerleah

You know I have been sick but when I see a bootie like the one in that last photo, I start to feel a stirring coming on. The way her jeans are fighting with everything they have to hold themselves together is such a turn on.

Oh, and the dude with the goatee is kind of hot too.

30 12 2009
fundamentaljelly

Glad to be of help TL…get well man!!

30 12 2009
timm

The #1 shot of the carts…. You get an A++

30 12 2009
fundamentaljelly

Thanks T(each).

30 12 2009
Scott Oglesby

Two years ago these pics would have horrified me. Now I’d give anything for even one hour in a Target. There is almost nothing that you can easily buy here. You can find a microwave….if you drive an hour to the coast and pay 150 euro, which is like $200. Great pics as always my friend!

30 12 2009
fundamentaljelly

You’ll be horrified again in the future. Hope all is well.

Leave a comment