Get Lost
Derive
Webster’s New World Dictionary Definition:
1. to turn a stream from its channel
2. to get or receive (as from a source)
3. to get by reasoning; deduce or infer
4. to originate (used reflexively).
In this project you are to utilize the classic method of the derive as
it applies to the making of art and imagery. This method
means that you must journey forth without any destination in
mind; just get in your car, bicycle, bus, skateboard, motorboat,
big wheel, or whatever and head out. Your journey
must last a minimum of two hours, but can go longer if you wish
(sometimes being lost you don’t have a choice). During
this time, you are to use the experience to make imagery.
Your imagery can take the form as a pictorial record of
your experience (a la photojournalism), or iconographic
representation, or it can be completely re-fabricated through
alternate photography after the fact. The main focus of this assignment is to
let the experience inform the art, and to look for photographic
opportunities in unknown surroundings. You may do this
alone, with a friend or with a group.
Restrictions:
You can not know where you are going ahead of time, therefore
if you are familiar with your surroundings, you may need to
develop some kind of system to keep the experience fresh. For
example; every time you see something (vw bug, man with facial
hair, etc) you will turn left...
Technical:
Concentrate on utilizing your settings in your camera to
optimize depth of field or motion blur. Remember to calculate your
minimum shutter speed to avoid “camera shake” (1
over the focal length is the slowest shutter speed you can use).
Notes:
Give yourself lots of time … Stop the car and get out
of it (freeway shots are very boring)…Be prepared (Take
lighting, reflectors, actors, props, whatever with you…you
never know when you will need them)…Take everything in
(even bad experiences can make great work)…Take the road
less traveled (a sense of adventure is required)…
Have fun.
The assignment is always the springboard
for your creativity. Your
job as the photographer is to shoot what you like to shoot within
the constraints of the assignment.
|