Foto-Ernst
Herr Ernst has run this shop since the late 1940's, taking it over from his father. As you can see, it is no ordinary camera store. (Click the image for an enlargement)
At least it's not an ordinary 21st century camera shop. It seems that it got frozen in a timewarp sometime in the 1970's or 80's.
I still use him though because it's about the only place in Zurich I can go in and buy strange rubber wipey thngs, film clips, measuring jugs and chemicals. Inside it is like an Alladins cave, a jumble of organised chaos where Herr Ernst when asked for something will pause and moment, and remember where he put it in 1964 and go and fetch it.
I can imagine your joy at having access to such a place. I'm chuckling just thinking of you and Herr Ernst discussing equipment and stuff.
Urban contestation... well I made it up from the French "contestation urbaine", which I may well have also made up. I had to check that the word "contestation" existed in English (I'd never heard it used but it's in the dictionary) - it's a common word (and behaviour) in France.
I guess urban contestation is about the fact that rebellion expresses itself more easily in the streets than in the country (you could try engraving messages with the plough but it's rarely been done, except against GMO's)
In Kingston theres a street that used to be all War Surplus and junk radio parts..........today it's Yogurt Cafes and Acupuncture frippery. You have to go onto the internet to find a cheap steel helmet (and even they are plastic now!!!!!)
Il y a dans ma ville d'Epinal une boutique de sport qui n'a pas changé du tout depuis l'époque où je m'achetais une raquette en bois ou des skis qui étaient longs comme moi lorsque je levais la main... J'ai appris que la boutique n'avait pas changé apparemment mais que le propriétaire si.
Elle s'appelle "Lulu Sport". Qui achète chez "Lulu Sport" de nos jours ?
J'avais un ami qui allait en ville, à Nancy, se faire expliquer par un commerçant qui prenait bien le temps tout ce qu'il voulait acheter comme matériel photo. Ensuite il allait acheter dans une boutique au "Haut du Lièvre" une sorte de zone avec des barres HLM horribles, qu'on surnommait "le Haut du Lapin". Ce n'est pas bien ce que faisait mon ami. Il était étudiant et peu fortuné...
Ceci dit pour réparer le matériel, mon ami allait en ville...