Right from the start anyone with a camera could make a
photographic post card. Rotary drum printing allowed mass printing, it is these
cards that set up the standard subject matter that we have come to associate
with post cards. Color predominates the postcard and is often over looked as it
now seems so commonplace.
“Confirming America's love
for high color and bright images and a new type of postcard, the color "Photo
chrome" (called Chrome or Modern Chromes) appeared.
"Chrome" postcards started to take over the marketplace immediately
after they were launched by the Union Oil Company. Sold in their western
service stations, they were easily produced, were of high photo quality and of
most importance, they were in true living color!” http://www.emotionscards.com/museum/historyofpostcards.htm
The above research has provided me with two ways of looking at postcards historically; open subject matter of the vernacular, and color. This information has given me a foot hold for me to build upon and hopefully enough information for my professor's to understand my choices within this project.
Now I will guide you through what I intend to do and not do.
Photographic documentation:
First off subject matter is totally open, vast and varied with only the thought
of making a documentation photograph. The photograph, may or may not be composed using the
traditions of the standard postcard. I hope to make the viewer question my photographic motivation, thereby starting
a dialogue. My intent is not to load the image with symbolism for the purposes of a deeper or
layered meaning even if on occasional one appears. To serialize my photographs with symbol is not part of my concept. The
mundane and the ordinary are my partners along with traditional/ historic
postcard fare.
On titles: Titles
tend to load an image with unnecessary information, any preconceptions from verbiage would diminish the discover
experience.
My photographic postcards come with a GPS location numbers
not with titles. The GPS numbers are a
means to make the card interactive. The intention is for the buyer to go beyond the image by navigating to the location.The
photographic card is expanded in sight, sound and smell, in fact all the senses used in
discovery. It is after this experience
that the image card becomes a souvenir of the experience. This is a reversal
the traditional postcard process of purchasing as you exit the experience.
The printed card:
The front of the card is a photographic representation of something you may see at the given location. The image is meant to tease the viewer not provide an iconic representation. The space on the back of the card functions as a traditional postcard in that the card has room for an address and stamp. The message side is full of information and explains
how to use the card. A small box at the top will indicated the GPS coordinate of the image location. A URL is provided for the "Post Discovery" on line gallery and Google Maps page. The Google Maps page will have all locations marked for any one without a GPS device. Finally a note urges
the viewer to enjoy the journey of discovery.
My objective and concept
is to engage the viewer through photographic image cards prompting interactivity
and discovery. This one act performance is implemented through the historical
print medium of the post card, updated with a touch of satellite positioning technology.
To my knowledge this has never been done with the postcard.
Speaking points
for “discovery though photography and
postcard”
Show Eggelston’s Red Ceiling photo, question the external,
the smell of a bar room, food cooking, music playing, people in room, hot or
cold outside, so why is this photo so iconic if we know so little.
1. A single image can tell you much about a time
and place, but it also excludes all the other information surrounding it. It is
all the other information that makes place memorable. The GPS enriched post
card is yours for discovery.
2. Sense of place
can also be defined as “the personality of location”
3. Sense of place
includes sight, sound, smell, touch, temperature and taste, in fact all the
sense enhance and ingrain memory.
4. Place
stimulates visual memory, and memory is important to social history.
5. The photograph is a small selection
of the surrounding fabric of place.
6.The photographic
post card has been used primarily as an exit device, purchased after the
visit of a place, used to support or relate experience and discovery.
7. My photographs are intended to be a
front-end device encouraging you to get out and be part of the community of
discovery.
8. The photos representing place may be
traditionally composed or simply gestural studies. Think that to see a
great master painting is to stand in awe, but to study the sketchbooks is to
understand the thinking behind the painting and the individual. My photos are
of my own journey of old and new places, that may be historic, absurd, poetic,
abstract and mundane. My idea is to expand not narrow down to a singular way of
teasing out discovery.
9. My post
cards do not carry titles; titles would interfere with the discovery
process. The journey starts with a photograph image and the proverbial x marks
the spot GPS coordinates
.
10. GEO caching
is a popular past time for campers/ hikers out-of-door types, usually a guest
book is hidden in a sealed box for you to locate (with your hand held GPS device loaded with way points/box locations) as you
experience the trail. Geo caching is much like what I offer with the enhance photo
post card, with the exception that the
destination choices are designed to increase your knowledge of community.
12. My research and
own discovery have only been a positive experience, exciting spin off ideas
have emerged that could potentially keep me busy for years.
The following information may be useful in designing an interactive
map featuring images and image locations.
Google earth has a “Sight seeing tour” feature where you can
upload your way points along with photos for other to go on your journeys, my
photos would be purchased in print form with the GPS coordinates on the back of
the card, designed to get you up and out on a path to making your own
experiences.
