Street photography is an art form that requires a keen eye for detail and the ability to capture moments that pass by in a blink of an eye. As a street photographer, one of the things that I find fascinating is the way that mannequins are displayed in shop windows. These inanimate figures are often dressed in the latest fashion trends and positioned in such a way as to attract the attention of passersby. This was the inspiration behind my street photography project titled “Pinocchio,” where I set out to photograph the mannequins in the shops’ windows.
The name “Pinocchio” was chosen because of the unique way that these mannequins are able to convey a sense of life, despite being nothing more than plastic or wooden figures. Just like the famous fictional character, these mannequins appear to have a life of their own, and it is this sense of animation that I wanted to capture in my photographs.
The first step in my project was to choose a location. I opted for the busy shopping district in the heart of the city. This area is always bustling with activity, and the shop windows are always changing, providing a constant source of inspiration for my photography.
I chose to shoot in the early morning hours when the shops were just opening, and the streets were relatively quiet. This allowed me to focus on the mannequins without distractions from the crowds of people that typically fill the streets during the day. I also chose to shoot with natural light, which added to the sense of realism in the images.
When shooting the mannequins, I tried to capture them in a way that conveyed their unique personalities. Some of the mannequins were dressed in formal attire, while others were dressed in more casual outfits. Some were posed in dramatic positions, while others were more relaxed. I found that by getting up close and shooting from different angles, I was able to capture the nuances of each figure.
One of the challenges of this project was dealing with reflections. Because the mannequins were positioned in shop windows, there was often a lot of glare and reflection that could ruin the shot. To overcome this, I experimented with different angles and distances, and I also used a polarizing filter to reduce the glare.
Another challenge was dealing with the changing light conditions. As the sun moved across the sky, the light in the shop windows would change, which meant that I had to constantly adjust my camera settings to ensure that I was getting the right exposure.
Overall, the Pinocchio project was a fascinating and rewarding experience. By focusing on the mannequins in the shop windows, I was able to capture a sense of life and animation that is often overlooked in our daily lives. Through my photography, I hope to encourage people to take a closer look at the world around them and to appreciate the beauty and artistry that can be found in even the most mundane objects.

Best, EDUARD