#maxrobothamphotography

Project 2 - First Semi Handin This has taken me a while to figure out, I reviewed photos I had taken wondering why I had taken them, I read into and researched all and I mean all topics covered in this course to make sense of what I wanted to photograph and why.

Looking into one of the readings of “Walking in the City” by Certeau, M.(2009) it talks about “be(ing) lifted out of the city’s grasp”  and how it looks from steeping back. Our own experiences defining it, influencing it. An interesting TED talk by Tony Fadell talked about looking at things from extremities far and close doing so helps those to bring a new clarity. “the everyday has a certain strangeness that does not surface, or whose surface is only its upper limit, outlining itself against visible” (Certeau’s, 2009)(p248)  

“Projection of an opaque past and uncertain future onto a surface that can be delt with”  (Certeau’s ,2009)(p248)

These experiences that shape the city we live, are not noticeable in the strangeness of the everyday but what about night. Once life has left its street. The streets and walls a projection of the past the once clean walls, roads, sidewalk have become opaque from the countless interaction of everyday life in the city. The approaching sun bringing the future that will yet again influence it.

Trying to full comprehend this I stumbled upon an amazing quote written long ago by Shams-i-Tabrizi  (1185-1248)

“Cities are erected on spiritual columns. Like giant mirrors they reflect the hearts of their residents. If those hearts darken and lose faith, cities will lose their glamour.” ALL THIS BEING SAID: I want to photograph the city reflecting the lives that dwell in it and how the night reveals all. Certeau, M. (2009). Walking In The City. In D. Brody (Eds.), Design Studies: A Reader (pp. 246-252). Oxford: Berg.