To most, a shop is just a shop. But perhaps we are overlooking the wonder of urban temples. Meticulously curated or a complete shambles, each store is a unique treasure trove of goods. Scroll down for video The newsagent: Jainul works in this underground shop in New York City for six days a week, 12 hours a day, to send money to his family in Bangladesh Colourful: Rachid the butcher stands out among the pink and red colours in this portrait taken by Vladimir Antaki, of his shop in Paris, France Around the world: Abou Georges stands behind a counter at his shop. He is one of 250 guardians visited by the Montreal-based photographer for the series since 2012
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Photographer Vladimir Antaki, from Montreal, Canada, has been photographing shopkeepers  since 2012
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He spends days with each 'guardian' of every 'urban temple' across the world before settling on the perfect shot
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Stores include adult book shop in London, hardware store in Lebanon, newsagent in New York, butcher in Paris
It is the epitome of the temples @placeholder describes as 'magical and overloaded'