Definitely giving this a try Andrew - a different way to meander around Newcastle and to maybe discover a few things I've strolled by without a second glance ....
I only came across it a couple of months ago via the magazine Superstore Wilderness. It's a fascinating concept. Did you see the magazine - the people behind it were behind a cycling magazine called The Ride Journal?
andrew, I'm trying but with no luck whatsoever to create prompts and decks in the Derive app. It's a disaster. It seems you started with the App as an idea generator but went with your own set. Is that corrects? I'm curious also how you centralized your images from the group? Did you use a particular platform or app to share them? I love the idea and want to give it a shot, but the Derive site and app are driving me nuts!
Hello Mark. Yes, I think the Dérive app has been neglected so all I used it for was ideas for prompts. I adapted them and added a photography related prompt. I then printed them out for each person. Our group has a Flickr group so some have posted there and some on Instagram. We plan to share one or two each at our next meeting.
Excellent! I went down a very long psychogeography rabbit hole at the end of last year and came to the conclusion that most of us (especially photographers) practice it in some form or other.
As part of an MA, a collaborative group I was in, derived (!) an exercise not unlike this but less structured for the rest of our cohort to do.
I have _some_ issues with Psychogeography. Mostly to do with its early history, and what I perceive as a long sequence of gatekeeping with the practice. It’s only valid in Paris, or London or an urban area. That sort of thing. Which I see as largely erroneous.
To me, the collision of psychology and geography is something that can be observed by anyone, anywhere. Nice to see it in action. ;)
Thank you very much. I know very little about the concept of Psychogeography - beyond what I read on the link I shared! I would like to learn more, but as a keen photographer I enjoy drifting around cities and finding different places / angles which others may miss.
If you’re curious then I’d recommend “Psychogeography” by Merlin Coverley.
It’s a very good grounding in its history and many of the issues around it. I came away (whilst still a little frustrated by the metrocentricism at play) with a much better understanding of the subject than when I went in. And I had a whole list of further reading that turned out to be more attuned to the way I see it.
Surprisingly, Will Self is one of the more prominent thinkers in the field. Famously he said it was “more the traversal of one than a field itself” or something similar, which I quite like. He’s also a decent starting point.
Thank you. I enjoyed reading this article last year by Will Self about walking in London. And he ends with a highly beneficial reason why walking in cities can help us all:
“I truly feel that if all Londoners walked out of the city once a year, it would do more for our sense of civic pride than any number of mayoral or local governmental initiatives. What’s more, it wouldn’t cost the proverbial penny.”
It seemed to go down well with the group. One person fed back that a dozen prompts and 1.5 hours would have been enough. But Bath is a small city so I’d think in an average to large city you could easily spend longer.
Great and wicked walk, perfect 🤩 to get lost forever. Thanks for your mention, the correct French spelling of Depardon’s is “Errance”, he got lost not in a city but among the roads and streets of some far deserted land. Very advisable. Also the concept is mentioned in at least one of the street photo books maybe some day I can have again in my hands for referring. Cheers
Maybe wasn't ever translated, but images are everything in that small book. Yes, Depardon explains what's about but those vertical strong contrasty photographs are really captivating
Hi. I am in Bath. I say well done nothing more difficult than photographing the over exposed city.
Hello and thank you!
Definitely giving this a try Andrew - a different way to meander around Newcastle and to maybe discover a few things I've strolled by without a second glance ....
I look forward to seeing the results of your meander Harry.
Great images, Andrew! I’m a fan of a bit of Dérive myself... This is very inspiring.
Hello Steve! I suppose it has some similarities to your 1000 Steps so it makes sense that you are a fan.
Absolutely; and I know that the idea of psychogeography is a little disparaged these days but I still enjoy the writings of that period.
I only came across it a couple of months ago via the magazine Superstore Wilderness. It's a fascinating concept. Did you see the magazine - the people behind it were behind a cycling magazine called The Ride Journal?
https://magculture.com/products/superstore-wilderness-1
Thanks for pointing that out - it looks very interesting! I'll place an order right now.
“they are ok, but that is all”
Except #7, which is profound.
Thank you. Yes that photo has more to it than others. I'd like to have spent a little more time on getting it right but we had places to go!
Fantastic! You've just solved my conundrum over what to do this weekend :)
Glad I could help! I hope you enjoy it and discover new places.
andrew, I'm trying but with no luck whatsoever to create prompts and decks in the Derive app. It's a disaster. It seems you started with the App as an idea generator but went with your own set. Is that corrects? I'm curious also how you centralized your images from the group? Did you use a particular platform or app to share them? I love the idea and want to give it a shot, but the Derive site and app are driving me nuts!
Hello Mark. Yes, I think the Dérive app has been neglected so all I used it for was ideas for prompts. I adapted them and added a photography related prompt. I then printed them out for each person. Our group has a Flickr group so some have posted there and some on Instagram. We plan to share one or two each at our next meeting.
I love this! I'm a touring musician and I bring my camera on tour. I will definitely give this method a try at home, and on the road.
I hope you enjoy getting lost and discovering something new!
Excellent! I went down a very long psychogeography rabbit hole at the end of last year and came to the conclusion that most of us (especially photographers) practice it in some form or other.
As part of an MA, a collaborative group I was in, derived (!) an exercise not unlike this but less structured for the rest of our cohort to do.
I have _some_ issues with Psychogeography. Mostly to do with its early history, and what I perceive as a long sequence of gatekeeping with the practice. It’s only valid in Paris, or London or an urban area. That sort of thing. Which I see as largely erroneous.
To me, the collision of psychology and geography is something that can be observed by anyone, anywhere. Nice to see it in action. ;)
Thank you very much. I know very little about the concept of Psychogeography - beyond what I read on the link I shared! I would like to learn more, but as a keen photographer I enjoy drifting around cities and finding different places / angles which others may miss.
If you’re curious then I’d recommend “Psychogeography” by Merlin Coverley.
It’s a very good grounding in its history and many of the issues around it. I came away (whilst still a little frustrated by the metrocentricism at play) with a much better understanding of the subject than when I went in. And I had a whole list of further reading that turned out to be more attuned to the way I see it.
Surprisingly, Will Self is one of the more prominent thinkers in the field. Famously he said it was “more the traversal of one than a field itself” or something similar, which I quite like. He’s also a decent starting point.
Thank you. I enjoyed reading this article last year by Will Self about walking in London. And he ends with a highly beneficial reason why walking in cities can help us all:
“I truly feel that if all Londoners walked out of the city once a year, it would do more for our sense of civic pride than any number of mayoral or local governmental initiatives. What’s more, it wouldn’t cost the proverbial penny.”
https://www.standard.co.uk/esmagazine/will-self-how-traversing-london-has-mapped-the-city-across-my-heart-a3177891.html
Love this! I haven’t heard of the app before now so I’ll certainly be downloading and giving it a go. Great photos
I hope you enjoy the experiment and get some good photos!
I will try, thanks for the download :)
Wow, this is new to me. Great way of taking 'other' types of photos. Will try it out soon
I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.
I never heard of it, but it sounds fun. Especially for a group. Thank you for sharing your experience and the photos.
It seemed to go down well with the group. One person fed back that a dozen prompts and 1.5 hours would have been enough. But Bath is a small city so I’d think in an average to large city you could easily spend longer.
If it just one person who felt it was too much, I think you chose a good number of prompts!
Great and wicked walk, perfect 🤩 to get lost forever. Thanks for your mention, the correct French spelling of Depardon’s is “Errance”, he got lost not in a city but among the roads and streets of some far deserted land. Very advisable. Also the concept is mentioned in at least one of the street photo books maybe some day I can have again in my hands for referring. Cheers
Ah that was damn spell check. And I thought I’d checked it too! It sounds like a fascinating book. Unfortunately I can’t find an English translation.
Maybe wasn't ever translated, but images are everything in that small book. Yes, Depardon explains what's about but those vertical strong contrasty photographs are really captivating
In that case I will buy a copy if I can. Thanks for the tip.
I hadn't heard of this - very cool!
I hope you give it a go!
Nice! A great idea!
Get lost. And I mean that in the nicest possible way!
This is great! Thanks, Andrew.
Thank you very much Andy.
This is so inspiring! I’ll do that asap!!
I hope you enjoy discovering something new!
This is what I am looking for in a newsletter 😃
That's good!