“The Disposable Memory Project” attempts to document the journeys of many by passing around disposable cameras for people throughout the world to take photos. Disposable cameras are released out to the different countries in the world under a tracking system and photos from each successfully returned camera are uploaded onto the project’s website for public’s viewing.
Alike to the “Book Crossing” project in 2001 which people would pick up distinctly tagged books to read and then leaving the books at public areas after reading, for others to pick up the books and continue the books’ journey, “The Disposable Memory Project” works in the similar manner, but instead of books, the starring lead of the project is disposable cameras.
A photo from Camera 138 of the Disposable Memory Project, which travelled from London to Sicily and back.
Starting in April 2008, the project grew from a small idea to a worldwide project, currently involving 256 cameras in 56 countries, with 15 cameras being tracked in Singapore. Up till date, 18 cameras are returned and a total count of 528 related images are uploaded to photos-sharing site, Flickr.
Singapore’s largest Lomography forum community, Lomotion SG, took the role of starting the project in Singapore. More than 30 Lomotion members met up at OnceUponAMilkShake café situated at Maxwell Chambers, on October 10th, 2009. Over 20 cameras were handed out to those who came and also café customers, with polariod mug shots taken for each camera holder.
Lomotion members who came for the meet-up at OnceUponAMilkShake café.
Apart from the locals who got their disposable cameras during the Lomotion SG meet up, there were also others who received cameras from people around the world. Delia Quek, a third-year Temasek Polytechnic student, received a disposable camera from a friend who was pursuing further studies in England, while she herself was situated at Perth, Australia, undergoing her internship attachment.
Delia recounts on how she got involved in this project, “I was told of this project by my friend and I felt that it was very interesting, thus she mailed me a registered disposable camera from Manchester and I started shooting away with it. Now, I passed it on to a friend and I hope he can extend the camera’s journey.”
Triple-D, a photo developing lab shop situated at Bencoolen Street, is the appointed lab for developing photos from the Disposable Memory Project. The shop owner, Uncle Mike, is also the founder of Lomotion SG and he shares his views on this project, “I think the whole idea of the project is really nice as it lets people see photos of places they themselves might not have the chance to travel to. Also, this would recall the interest in film photography when now digital photography technologies are commonly used by almost everyone.”
The progress of the entire project is blogged on the project’s website.
0 comments:
Post a Comment