14.03 Photographic Source Code and Rephotography Compiler Assignment

Assignment Deliverables

1. Written instruction containing the protocal needed to create the original reference image.
   • No label needed, submit as a reply to the discussion thread.
2. One reproduced image per student based on each student’s written protocol.
   • Specific file labels not needed, but pay attention to the discussion thread so you submit it in the correct reply.
3. Original reference image.
   • Specific label not needed. Do not upload untill all other students have uploaded their photos to the thread.

Assignment Overview

In computer science, if you run the same source code on two different machines, you generally expect the same result. In the physical world more stochasticity is at play. For this exercise, you are not just taking photos, you are writing a “program” for a classmate to execute. This investigates potential failure points of reproducibility such as ambiguity of language and algorithmic bias.

Authoring the Protocol (The Source)

1. Wander the building and find a specific, composition. It is best to avoid including people. It can contain people, but do not pose them, they must be incidental passersby, people working, or shadows. Avoid shooting directly into classrooms, offices with open doors, or situations where people reasonably expect privacy.
2. Take the Reference photo.
3. Write a strict, algorithmic set of text instructions that would allow a stranger to reproduce this image exactly as possible without ever seeing your photo.
   • Bad Instructions:
     • Stand in the hallway and take a picture of the door.
   • Better Instructions:
     • Stand in the 2nd-floor east corridor. Place your heels against the third floor tile from the from the elevator door. Hold camera at exactly 150cm height. Tilt 10 degrees down. Focus on the door handle. Capture.
     • Hold your phone at eye level, in landscape orientation, so that the red fire extinguisher is in the bottom-right corner of the frame and the window frame touches the top edge of the image.
4. Post your written protocol to the Canvas Discussion thread.

Executing the Code (The Compiler)

1. Choose a classmate’s thread.
2. Go to their location. Read their written protocol. Rely strictly on their text instructions.
3. Attempt to take the exact same image based on the text.
4. Post your “Reproduced” image as a reply to their thread. Include a short note describing:

• What was easy to follow.
• What was ambiguous, missing, or impossible to match.
• Any changes in the environment such as missing people, different lighting, or objects moved.

5. Repeat the process for each student’s instructions.

Difference Check

Compare the source photo with the reproduced photo. Think about and be prepared to discuss the exercise with the class.

• Did the protocols fully describe what you needed to know?
• Did the focal length or sensor of the device change the meaning?
• Did the source protocol fail due to bad instructions or did the “compiler” fail due to bad execution of the instructions?
• Where did you have to guess or make interpretive decisions?
• Compare the original and reproduced images. In what ways are they the same photograph? In what ways are they clearly different?

Related Works and Further Investigation

• Miranda July an Harrell Fletcher Learning to Love You More   - Online project of assignments such as “Repair something.” or “Make a protest sign and protest.” or “Spend time with a dying person.”
• Douglas Huebler Variable Piece #70: Global 81   1973 - An attempt to document every living person on before the artist’s death.
• Sol LeWitt Wall Drawings   - Drawings made from instructions written by the artist.
• Yoko Ono A Book of Intruction and Drawings by Yoko Ono  
• Hans Ulrich Obrist do it (2013-)   Uses written instructions by artists to create exhibitions.
• Cory Arcangel A Couple of Thousand Short Films about Glenn Gould   2007 - Scripts use ffmpeg to stitch together videos from YouTue to recreate Johann Sebastian Bach’s Goldberg Variations.
  • Source Code for work on GitHub  
• Carpenter, Elizabeth. Be the Work Intersubjectivity in Tino Sehgal’s _This objective of that object   - Article examining the performance work of Tino Sehgal, and artist that creates experiences instead of objects. The work takes the form of instructions given to dancers to perform.
• Lauren McCarthy Follower   - The artist follows all of the instructions commonly given to a digital assistant, such as Alexa, when the user uses the phrase “Lauren.”