I spy "urban"

I'm only the sixth person in the row and it seems to be the same dilemma for everyone. The camera was with me longer than expected. I'm really sorry about that!

Oh Stacey, what a challenge you sent me... Geometry. Geometry. Geometry. I couldn't find the inspiration.
When I take pictures, I like to capture people's emotions and expressions... or a personal feeling. But geometry was something completely new for me. Geometry means for me lines and squares. That's something I never pay attention to when I am photographing (not always a good thing, I know).
Anyway, every time I was walking in Sydney within the last weeks, I tried to see the lines and geometry of the city. Today, I finally took my shot. I am not 100% satisfied but I can't change it now... However I'm glad I took up the challenge :)

By the way, thank you Jen for this initiative! This project may last longer than expected if everyone is going to be as slow as I was to take one single picture (again, sorry about that!), but I'm sure all of us will be facing a challenge, which is really good for a photographer.

The picture of the camera above was taken in my neighbourhood. I just love to see this sign on the floor.

So it's your turn Paulette, I spy "urban"...

I spy "geometry"

Like most everyone else, I kept the camera longer than I planned. Ugh, maybe we'll get this SpyCam around the world in a couple years. The spy word "double" was surprisingly more difficult than I expected... or maybe I made it harder than it needed to be. When I finally settled on a plan, and got to the location, I actually found a much better "double." I was quite happy with the unexpected find. It was as though it was meant to be! The "double" element is not in this shot, but the SpyCam is relaxing on the location.

From the west coast of America, across the Pacific to the east coast of Australia... Anissa, I spy "geometry."

I wish they could all be California Girls

The camera was with me for a while...you can tell it was longing to move on to another part of the country. I kept finding it staring out the window dreaming of sunny Los Angeles. So, I bit the bullet and finally pressed the button. I have to admit I had a bit of trouble with the word "instant." I wasn't entirely happy with what I came up with but it certainly works in this world of instant gratification. It's on it's way to you Stacey the word I've chosen for you is...."double."

i spy "instant"

I am so bad...I admit this poor little traveling camera has been with me for more than a week. And it wasn't hard to get a shot of David's "industry." It's just three children, during the summer, can wreak havoc on simple projects. Throw in some grandparents to the mix and now I am catching up. So I apologize ahead of time Heather!

Summer is such a great time for the word "instant." It can mean a multitude of different things. And create lovely pictures too. This little traveling camera was taken in front of a place I love to visit everyday, to see what summer has provided for us: our vegetable garden.

So it's onto you Heather: I spy "instant."

i spy "industry"

firstly, an apology. the camera has travelled around with me for many more than the one week suggested time limit. not a good start, i know!

in my defense, "solitude" was a tough one for me. my normal diet of signs and cars and other images of americana just didn't seem to suit the brief. nor, frankly, did the camera. one shot? with a disposable 35mm camera? not even a crummy holga or diana with which to hide the obvious flaws in my technique? and solitude? in desperation, i went for a drive around columbus in search of inspiration and finally, over a month down the line, i found my shot. even now it still doesn't seem to me to quite fit the subject and i'm sure that it'll be awful but, phew, my task is complete :-)

oh...this shot? i took this outside a shop in columbus this morning; a mural that certainly brightens up an extremely dull wall.

so, it's over to you now, jen; i spy "industry".

I Spy "solitude"

As I mentioned, this is the second time I’ve started a traveling camera. The first had similar guidelines but they didn’t set it up for success. The camera was being mailed secretly to a friend living far away. Being surprised by receiving the box was supposed to be large part of the experience. It was lost, then found and then lost again after making 5 trips. I think having you all signed up and enthusiastic about the project will improve the chance of it’s completion. Another difference between the two is that the package contained flashcards that served as clues for what your photo should include. I think by playing “I spy…” it creates a dialog between us all and is more true to being a collaboration.

I carried the camera around for about two weeks. I think because I spent so such time scrutinizing the set up that when it came time for me to take a photo without a clue I stumbled a bit and almost needed some structure. Many times I checked through its viewfinder but just kept walking. Then I relaxed and finally took a photo. I was about 2.5’ away from what I photographed. I guess that having been in my purse and being shifted around, the flash bottom was pressed. It triggered when I took my photo so it’s likely to be completely blown out because of the short distance. So that might be something you want to be aware of. And a reminder: I did not advance the film to prevent an accidental exposure.

My photo was taken on my walk home from the train, at 6pm on 5/25. When it caught my attention it initially made me think of seasons. I’m from Texas and we only have two seasons in my opinion there- summer for 6 months and then a combination of fall and spring. Moving to New York in 2005 introduced me to four well-defined seasons. I don’t have a favorite as they each offer their own uniqueness and activities, especially the changing natural light.

Texture is the major theme in my photo. It has been a constant theme in my photography where I document it and in three-dimensional work by creating it. Texture is mostly experienced through touch but is it visual as well. I often find myself drawn to detail images of texture, where it can send your eyes moving through the picture but at the same time offer simplicity. Hopefully the flash doesn’t make it a complete disaster and wash it out.

The photo of the camera here was taken around the corner from my office in midtown Manhattan. The camera is leaving today from New York and headed to Columbus, OH. David, I spy solitude.

How it Works

Participants sign up to receive the camera. When you receive the box, follow these instructions:

1. When you receive the camera please email me so I can update the blog of its current location. I will then email you the address to which you are to send the camera once you have taken your photo.

2. The previous blog entry will end with “I Spy…”. This is where your creativeness comes in. Interpret it in any way you choose. Once you do, find something to photograph that fits the description.
- Wind/advance the film just before taking the photograph, NOT after you take the shot (this will avoid an accidental photo being taken).
- Choose good weather for the time of you photo. After all, this is just a disposable camera.
- Try your best to complete the task within a week.
**when choosing your photo content, please be considerate to the other participants by not including any questionable material. Lets keep it clean, people!

3. Use the blog to record your experience. Include information about the photograph: where it was taken, date and time, etc. Also, feel free to include any other information about yourself that would like to share with the rest of the team: thoughts, favorite part of the day, something overheard, poem/lyrics, sketch, etc. At the end of your entry, please add “I Spy (fill in the blank)”. Pick something that is present in your photograph as well (see my example below).

I will take the first photo. Let’s assume for example purposes that image #1 above is the photo I take. At the end of my journal entry I might write, “I Spy blue”.

The second person will need to include the color blue in their photo, see image #2.
The second entry might end with, “I Spy depth of field”.

The third person will need to include depth of field in their photo (although I’m not sure what the aperture is for a disposable camera and if depth of field is an option, but for example purposes...), see image #3. The third entry might end with, “I Spy a man”.

Fourth photo will need to include a man, #4. The forth entry might end with, “I Spy lines".

Fifth photo will need to include lines, so on and so on…

The last entry will have no “I Spy…”.

By using mutual descriptions, we will be creating a link between each photo and end with a chain of connecting photos.

4. Before taping up the package to mail to the next person, take a photo of THE camera with your own. Choose somewhere descriptive to your location: street, favorite bookshop, monument, home, etc. Post the photo with your blog entry so we can all follow its journey.

5. When shipping, try to use the same box. Please use registered mail that provides tracking information. Pass along all tracking info so that I can keep an eye on its travels and can locate it if it gets lost.


In the end I plan on joining the images from the camera with the corresponding blog entry to display side by side. Have fun!

I spy "silhouette"

You'd think that I spy "urban" would be really easy considering Tokyo is the largest city in the world. Trying to capture "urban" in a not-so-obvious way was the challenge. After a lot of exploring through the viewfinder, I decided that "urban" as I see it, is the regular, mundane scene in a city- people waiting at traffic lights, riding subways, etc.

The idea of a city is fascinating. We think of a city as a cohesive unit, though upon closer inspection, it is constantly breathing: people come and go, what we think are permanent establishments can suddenly disappear, and money flows ubiquitously. People are drawn to a city for different reasons. The individuals and their thoughts, hopes, and dreams combined together create this larger entity we call a city. At the same time, everyone struggles to carve out their own lives and spaces to make it their own. I'm loving living in the Tokyo I've created and I'm thankful to be part of this awesome project!

If Tokyo is urban, then Jordan is desert. Have fun, Janelle: I spy silhouette!