Social Art?

BlackieChan

BlackieChan

Active member
So I was thinking of sending out a disposable or two to random people each with 24 exposures and have them take photos of whatever they wanted to document, maybe pass it along to the people in their friends group and eventually send the cameras back to me to get developed, sift through what looks interesting, this would be more of a rough draft of what the end product might actually be (it could go in many directions such as: reenactments [an example of this is my roommate series in my redbubble portfolio that should be in my sig] or original prints with little or no post production editing).
*(The sending a camera idea was taken from NSG when someone suggested they have one circulate around NS and I thought that would be an interesting art project)
Secondly (different idea), I am thinking of leaving a disposable on a street corner with a note that simply says take me with you, or use me, or some thing along those lines. With this idea I would leave the camera at a corner and I'd keep an eye on it, blend in with the crowd, disposable of my own at hand, and basically stalk the "photographer" until they finish the roll or set it down for the next person who stumbles across it
This sounds super creepy but its an idea derived from Sophie Calle's photo work, I'm an art student trying to churn out ideas for my final year coming up in September and keeping ideas in mind and such is a habit I'm trying to start up.
Heres Sophie Calle's wiki page (if you're interested in reading about her work and the series I'm talking about is Suite Venitienne (1979):http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sophie_Calle

If I were to send a disposable or two around to two lucky randoms (or possibly more), would anybody be down? Also what are your thoughts on the street corner idea?
These photos will be printed and kept for reference if I start this project, and if my interest in the subject stays, I might develop this idea further once the semester rolls by. Finally if the project actually moves on I will have them up online (this is way way into the summer possibly into the school year, I just want to flush out all the details).
If you made it this far though reading my schpiel, this may or may not make sense. I've been up super early and haven't slept much the past two days. Questions?
(If my "portfolio" isn't in my sig - the roommate series is the type of reenactment of documented events in mind)http://www.redbubble.com/people/kidliliefeldt

 
this would be a lot more cost effective, but who knows if they got a good shot or not? maybe each person gets like 6 pics, which would raise the odds of getting a good shot and having one of their photos involved in the project
 
sorry for dub post, but I think it would also be cool to maybe have a theme or something so everyone has a general idea what to shoot. an example would be sending the cameras to people across the country all in different big cities and have them take pictures of the skyline, idk, but I'd be down to help forsure, seems like a great idea
 
Thanks for your input I appreciate it dude, but basically I sort of want it to be completely free in terms of what they would shoot. Even if the shot is "bad" I want those images too, and when I finally have all the photos from the 2 to possibly 4 cameras I have circulating, I'm going to go through all the images and choose the ones that'll work best.
 
Really dig the Idea, and really like the disposable camera idea where you send it to people and the possible sidewalk camera. What I suggest, for the sidwalk idea. Is when you leave it somewhere make sure its a very vibrant sign, because most people will not pick up a random camera. Or some people that do will not take pictures and just walk off then you spend all your time chasing after them.

So I would say make a small neon sign by it that says something catchy to make sure people know its okay to use it. That is the only real concern I have with that idea, and I think you definitely should stock them while they take the pictures and I think you should take pictures of them while they take pictures.

Also you should give them a business card with contact info so you can hook them up or show them the final project.

Good luck man can't wait to see the final project!
 
You make some god points man, I'll def let you/this thread know whats up when it gets going, it'll be a little while though.
 
I think that the idea is brilliant, I might give it a try this summer (i wont take credit for the idea). The only advice I have is that you should leave a note on the camera telling the person where to drop it off. That way you would not have to follow them, unless you really want to do that. By the way, are you planning on leaving it in a city or a town? City would be cooler but harder.

I'd be stoked to see the pictures when you finish the project, it really is a good idea.
 
Well I'd say I'm not quite in a city but not quite a town either, Victoria BC is where the street photos would be, we'll see how that goes.
Thanks man
 
Maybe we'll try and work it out so who ever is interested here will just send the cams around to each other? That could work maybe, that way everyone is happy. I'll probably start getting on this either next week or the week after. I'll keep this thread posted.
 
disposable cameras really arent all that expensive anymore, anyone who wants to participate could just buy their own and send it to you instead of you having to mail them to a lot of different people
 
I'll hopefully be pm'ing the two - four starter people about addresses tomorrow, if I have time I'm going to go buy the cams tomorrow and send out on Monday if things go smoothly in terms of errands, class registration, and work.
 
I'm down. Add me into the list of people to send the cameras to. Also, i have a variation on the street corner idea. If you left a camera on a street corner, but had the note saying to take one picture, then put the camera back. The pictures on said camera would undoubtedly be totally different from each other, and might create a diverse image of the city/town you leave the camera in.
 
I actually really like that idea! Good call, you'll probably be one of the first to get a cam for that one, such a simple tweak but so good.
 
I have two cameras (wanted two more but I didnt want to drop 20 more dollars), got'em today. I'll pm the first two people and hopefully the cams will get sent around to the people who want them. Last person will pm me and send them back.
 
FUUUUUUUU FML! I forgot about this!! I Screwed up, ok since I promised the cam to you first I'll get it to you. I'll pm.
 
Today was a bit busier than anticipated so and I have work tomorrow, so either I send it out after work tomorrow or send out on Wednesday.
 
this is an absolutely brilliant idea! i'd really like to take part, but there's a small problem - i live in the uk. is there anything we could work out to get me involved? i think it'd be cool to have someone from Scotland in here as well as america, could make it more diverse?

if not, i'm still keen to see the results of this :)
 
Omgggg Blackie when you send them to the next people you should totally do this, track the entire trip

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Here are the pictures from this:

http://freepicturesforyou.net/Cameramail.html

 
Thats so sick! But Its already been done, and my idea probably has abd too but ye its more about who the people are who receive it.
Anyone else wondering about the camera sending and receiving, it'll be up to you guys, the cameras are out of my hands and in yours now. PM each other about the camera statuses (at this point they're still in the mail on the way to the first two people) lets keep it civil, fair, and most of all have fun with it.
 
I just talked about it with NoiseBrigade and I will kindly ask that anything to do with the photos taken on the cameras not be posted in the thread. Lets keep this a surprise for everyone and wait for the developed photos from both the cameras.

 
I'm currently in ohio but will be making the drive to utah for school in a coupe weeks. i could document that if the camera comes along to me
 
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