Ethnographer Photographer, 2015-ongoing
Ethnographer/Photographer plays with concepts of language, power, belonging, and framing, as well as travel, tourism, voyeurism, and study. I use the word “ethnographer” in the title of this work knowing that this work is not a thorough study of human culture. However, the work uses elements of ethnography- observations, documentation, records. I am the subject, the viewer, and the storyteller interacting with a city. In these videos, I engage with strangers and request that they take a photo of me. As I lend my camera to passersby, a non-verbal exchange of power occurs. The stranger becomes the photographer, positions my body, directs my facial expressions, and composes the photograph. These simple gestures unfold into friendly conversations, revelatory stories, and momentary companionships. I then create a performance and video with the photographs and my accompanying journal entries:
He was scaling the tank, the missle launcher for
a while. We were circling it like two roosters about
to fight, or two tourists about to meet, or two
photographers about to take the best photo of this
weapon of mass destruction. I asked him if he could
take a photo of me. He happily agreed. Took several
and was tripping all over the place to get the best angles.
And then he left. Only to return a few seconds later
asking me for my camera again. He positioned me and
tripped and walked thirty feet back. I was afraid of this.
Giving a school camera to a stranger and them running
away with it. Me chasing them down and losing them in
a crowd. They get away. I would tell Beebe that I still
have the lens cap.
The interactions have lasted from five minutes to two days. However, I document just a few details.
This work can be screened or performed.
Ethnographer/Photographer plays with concepts of language, power, belonging, and framing, as well as travel, tourism, voyeurism, and study. I use the word “ethnographer” in the title of this work knowing that this work is not a thorough study of human culture. However, the work uses elements of ethnography- observations, documentation, records. I am the subject, the viewer, and the storyteller interacting with a city. In these videos, I engage with strangers and request that they take a photo of me. As I lend my camera to passersby, a non-verbal exchange of power occurs. The stranger becomes the photographer, positions my body, directs my facial expressions, and composes the photograph. These simple gestures unfold into friendly conversations, revelatory stories, and momentary companionships. I then create a performance and video with the photographs and my accompanying journal entries:
He was scaling the tank, the missle launcher for
a while. We were circling it like two roosters about
to fight, or two tourists about to meet, or two
photographers about to take the best photo of this
weapon of mass destruction. I asked him if he could
take a photo of me. He happily agreed. Took several
and was tripping all over the place to get the best angles.
And then he left. Only to return a few seconds later
asking me for my camera again. He positioned me and
tripped and walked thirty feet back. I was afraid of this.
Giving a school camera to a stranger and them running
away with it. Me chasing them down and losing them in
a crowd. They get away. I would tell Beebe that I still
have the lens cap.
The interactions have lasted from five minutes to two days. However, I document just a few details.
This work can be screened or performed.
