Reflective Document

Reflective document of July 2023

In 2022 I approached unit 3.1 (Practice And Research). After having absorbed the impact of having to change my study method, moving from a "guided" system to a "self-managed" one, I concentrated on choosing the topic to develop.

I chose the topic of psychogeography.

I made this choice because, even if the theme is very broad, my practice emerges from it. Some of the photographers who are connected to this theme represent the essence of what photographer I intend to be in the future: a photographer who implements the drift technique/theory and a street photographer.

Is there a relationship between drift and street photography?

The relationship between psychogeographic drift and street photography is based on spontaneity, openness to the unexpected and the ability to capture authentic and significant moments and details on city streets. These characteristics essentially have to do with the relationship/reaction of myself, as a photographer, to the environment and the urban space. 

That is precisely what I intend to be.

During the work in unit 3.1, I was informed that I would develop the theme further also during unit 3.2. I therefore decided not to consider the work of unit 3.1 as a finished body of work, but as a path to be continued in the following unit as well.

For this reason, I focused the critical review of 3.1 on the figure of Flaneur and the research on some interdisciplinary authors who have best interpreted this figure. 

As far as practice is concerned, I condensed the photographic production resulting from five psychogeographic drifts on an island in the Venetian lagoon into three sets entitled "Presences", "Absences" and "Impressions", destined to constitute, in the following unit, a body of work called "Resonances", which will in turn be the subject of an external project.

Indeed, Unit 3.2 (Context And Audience) is also articulated in mutual support between research and practice. In particular, the practice is characterized by so-called "external projects" that push me to get in touch, in various forms, with the surrounding world. 

Furthermore, for my research, I am asked to "narrow things down", consolidate, select and focus on the general theme of psychogeography, while remaining consistent with the initial choices and confirming my evolutionary path towards photographic style and content.

For this reason, I made some choices which I will submit to my Tutor to verify their consistency.

Research and Study

I thought of focusing on the theme of drift and its main declinations, whether they are linked to situationism, psychogeography or simply linked to the relationship of the individual with the urban environment or street photography.

I would therefore like to select, study and analyze some authors who have used (even unknowingly) the drift as the main feature of their visual work.

For this reason, I am collecting information, sources of consultation and documentation that will serve as a reference for my theses and conclusions.

Critical Review

For the critical review, I thought about some topics, among which:

Theme 1: The relationship between the individual and the urban environment in photography, declined in the technique of psychogeographic drift and/or street photography, questioning the relationship between photography from psychogeographic drift and street photography.

Theme 2: photography from psychogeographic drift: conscious and unconscious application in some case studies, including walking, wandering, strolling, and street photography.

In general, in the critical review, I intend to question the thesis that there is a clear separation, in photography, between the practice of psychogeographic drift and street photography.

External Projects

I'm currently developing three ideas, which are at different stages of progress and feasibility testing:

Project 1: Interview with one of the founders of the Venice “Museo del Camminare” (trad. “Museum of Walking”). The Museum, in the intentions of the founders, aims to disseminate the practice of walking as an artistic and socio-political act, drawing inspiration from Situationism. Guy Debord, Ralph Rumney and Sophie Calle. I contacted Gianpaolo Chiari and I plan to interview him in September 2023.

Project 2: Virtual photographic exhibition of some of the images produced in unit 3.1, with soundtrack. The exhibition should have the title “Resonances”. The "do it yourself" software that I have analyzed up to now is not adequate in terms of graphics, sound and functional performance. Little resolution, slowness, and poor results from the point of view of simulating a photographic exhibition. I then contacted a specialized company which, based on my blue-print, will propose the outcome and price. As for the soundtrack, I'm in contact with a music composition graduate. I may be forced to abort the project if it is not economically viable.

Project 3: Traveling "recursive" exhibition. Physically exhibit the prints of a selection of images from "Presences", "Absences", and "Impressions" in the places where the same pictures were taken. From the new photos of the event, produce and publish a video with a soundtrack. The aim is to exhibit the images in the same place where they were taken, bringing the emotions that accompanied them back to their home. It is a practice that I thought of calling "recursion" and which I trust can also stimulate the passer-by, as an occasional viewer. Some open points could enrich or, on the contrary, penalize the project from the point of view of the final result: the practical application will be made during the autumn or winter period and after more than a year from the original shooting of the photographs.