The inspiration for “Community Cameras” came from two different sources: weddings and websites.

First, the role that weddings played in inspiring this project has to do specifically with photography at weddings.

Although I understand the important role that photography plays in remembering that special day, sometimes I think that like many things related to weddings, photography is overpriced. Because of this people often search out affordable ways to provide like services at their wedding.

With that said, I have been to a number of weddings that have been photographed on a shoestring budget, due to necessity and practicality and as a result have made use of disposable cameras as “Community Cameras”.

You see a disposable camera on each table for use by the guests at the wedding and at the end of the evening the bride and groom have memories of the day’s events.

Sometimes the photos show nothing, sometimes-inappropriate things and other times a fantastic memory, that is the great thing behind this concept, the mystery and surprise in every shot.

So that is where the first inspiration camera from, as I thought if this could be done for weddings why couldn’t it be done on an ordinary day just for fun.

The second inspiration for this project came from various websites that I have visited in the past that have showcased such a project.

Like the project shown below and the great results it had, I thought this would be great to try in London.

1. Yes, they are only $3 cameras but when you have no income $3 becomes a fair amount of money. [↩]

For last week’s project I decided that since I had more free time and energy to do different, more exciting things for my projects that I would head out into the community to see if I could get the public (specifically pedestrians) once again engaged.

For this project I decided that it would be cool to see what other people see when they are traveling through the city. In order to capture the images they see on a daily basis I decided to distribute some ‘Community Cameras’ throughout the city (downtown, old east, old south) to allow individuals the opportunity to capture what they find interesting around them.

Scattering a single disposable camera around the city each day for five days, I hoped that I would be able to better understand what it is that people look at and focus on when they are out and about.

One the first two days of this week long project the cameras got used, which I was happy about, but on the following two days the cameras where removed or stolen.  Because of this I decided not to place a camera out in the community on Friday.

When I got the film developed it turned out that the camera from the second day did not develop properly and as a result there are no images from this day.

So what follows are the images from the only camera that didn’t get stolen AND developed properly.

I have also included some images at the end that show each of the 4 cameras that I placed.

Note: Don’t forget to check out the kind present I got on day #2 of this project.

Monday’s Camera

Monday’s Camera Location

Tuesday’s Camera Location

Wednesday’s Camera Location

Thursday’s Camera Location

Although the website is not fully complete or live as this reflection is being written, I can say that it is 90% finished in my opinion.

The website was something that I really enjoyed doing as I thought I could help to make a great event that much better.

Although I don’t know much about web design, I felt that I knew enough to help improve the look and functionality of the existing website.

Initially when I started this project (really on my own before I even mentioned it to the LPS) I was using a different theme that I thought was fitting, however, once I saw the spoken word festival posters downtown with the new logo and colour scheme I knew I would have to go a different route.

I think the re-design allows for important content to be highlighted while providing a functional place for everything. In addition, the update process should be relatively simple for the Poetry Slam organizers.

I hope that when everything is said and done the LPS is happy with what was produces and that the LPS audience is drawn in by it as well.

When I headed out this morning to install my camera in old south I never thought I would be returning in the evening with a smile on my face.

When I went to pick up my camera early this evening I was kindly greeted with the following letter and funny figurine:

At first I wasn’t sure what to make of it, but then I realized that if was a friendly gesture. Along with these items there were a couple of pages photocopied from the book, “Lawn People” by Paul Robbins, but I am really unsure of what to make of this because reading the pages didn’t really provide me with any knowledge.

Overall this little gift made me smile.

I put out a camera and asked strangers to take photos for me and I offered nothing in return (as of now), and some kind person takes the time to leave me a little present.

It’s the small gestures such as this one that prove that good karma floats around and will always come back to you if you deserve it.

Oh, and one other things. The little figurine that was left for me had 4 small pieces of paper in his box that read the following:

• Here
• Now
• Compassion
• Attention

Who knows what these mean.

The project I chose to do for Week 15 is one that more or less just got assigned to Week 15 as it was something that I already had on the go at the time and decided to work on a little more.

The project was to re-design the London Poetry Slam (LPS) website.

Now I am not a designer nor do I really know anything about coding, but I thought that I might be able to help the LPS transform their current website into something more robust, functional and aesthetically pleasing.

Wit that said, I took it upon myself to play around with themes, colours and layouts based on their existing website/content and their recently re-designed logo by nik harron.

What came out of it (although not completely finished or live) is something that I think reflects the poetry slam and it’s participants.

Since I was playing around with this on my own I have yet to get it fully approved and endorsed by the LPS organizing team, but I have had feedback thus far and things are looking up.

What you see below are just some snippets of the site. When it is fully complete (it is about 95% done) and live I will make sure to post about it here on Fifty-Two Weeks.

For this week’s installment of Fifty-Two Weeks I decided that I would head out into the community to see if I can get the public (specifically pedestrians) once again engaged.

For this project I have decided that it would be cool to see what other people see when they are traveling through the city.

In order to capture these images I am distributing some ‘Community Cameras’ throughout the city (downtown, old east, old south) during the week to allow individuals the opportunity to capture what they find interesting around them.

Scattering a single disposable camera around the city each day for the next five days, I hope that I can begin to better understand what it is that people look at and focus on when they are out and about.

I only hope that the cameras  I distribute actually get used and that people do not steal them at the end of the day.

So if you are out and about over the next week and see one of my cameras lying around with the above sign, please take a moment to snap a picture of yourself, your friends, your surroundings, really anything goes.

I look forward to seeing how you see.

Camera Locations

View Community Cameras in a larger map

The inspiration for last week’s project came from a number of sources, as many of my projects seem to do.

First and foremost the inspiration for the project came form my need and want to begin to better understand who I am as both an individual and as a member of society. As I outlined in my reflection, I had the personal need to find out more about who I am and what I do.

Beyond that, the medium and project type, a manifesto, was chosen primarily due to the fact that the manifestos I have read in the past have always been able to move me. The following is just a small selection of manifestos that I feel have influenced me.

The Communist Manifesto

Although I am not a communist nor do I believe everything written by Marx and Engles, this famous manifesto (perhaps the most famous) always caught my attention and made me think. There was just something about it that was moving an inspiring.

The Manifesto of the Creative Class

Although this is short and very recent, when I read this manifesto I felt that many of my own personal characteristics were captured in it and that in some way it represented a part of me.

The Rebels Manifesto

This is something that I came across in the past couple of weeks but wanted to include it as I think that it is fitting for a number of the projects I am undertaking and the type of work I can see myself doing in the future.

It is a short little guide that outlines a number of things I currently do and many others that I can see myself doing in the future.

Now that I am essentially finished with my latest attempt (successful I might add) at education I now have more time to devote to completing projects that I hope will be both more creative and more engaging, for myself and the community. With that said I need the community’s help with my next project.

For my next project I need Seven Disposable Cameras, you know, the type that you buy, take 24 exposures and then take into the photo lab to get developed, the kind that work with that “old stuff” called film. I don’t want to give away the details to this project until I am done, but in order for me to complete it I need to get my hands on seven of these cameras.

Ideally I would like to obtain more than seven of these cameras (upwards of 20 would be nice) but at the very least seven would give me something to work with. In addition, if the cameras could be the waterproof ones that would be great (given the nature of my project), but “beggars can’t be choosers” so whatever I can get will be fine.

Because of the cost of of the cameras and the developing fees I unfortunately cannot afford to purchase the cameras and develop the film. So I am turning to you, the community.

This is what I am looking for:

• Seven Disposable Cameras (preferably more)
  • Waterproof if possible (but I will take anything I can get)
  • Un-used (would like all 24 exposures still available)

If you have any un-used disposable cameras that you would like to donate to this project, or would like to pay for me to purchase a camera or pay for developing fee please contact me using any of the following methods:

Twitter: @KVL

Email: vanlierop DOT kevin AT gmail DOT com

Comments: Below this post

Contact Form: CLICK HERE

I can pickup in the London area this weekend as I would like to be able to start this project on Monday, however, if I cannot get the cameras until later in the week I will just postpone this project a week.

This will be a project based directly within the community and aims to get the members of the community actively involved. I hope that with the support of the community I can make this project happen.