First Drift ---------- inconscious

I thought and agreed with my Tutor about making the first drift without yet having studied the conceptual and practical mechanisms of the "theory of drift", according to what stated by reference literature.

In this way, after the other drifts, I could verify whether or not the activities of research, study and deepening of the work of practitioners have modified my personal approach and changed the outcome.

As I stated in the introduction to reading the book on psychogeography, I based myself on my early/personal approach to psychogeography: I used my personal perception of the environment.

I have not yet decided whether my work will be in black and white (to which I am more prone) or in colour.

Giudecca island is a location full of contradictions and contrasts: in some areas, those that "smell" of social crisis, deprivation and economic difficulties, I see black and white as the most suitable.

A few meters away, in the areas facing the splendid and rich Venice from exclusive panoramic positions, colour photography would seem the most suitable.

For the moment I will use both settings. Later, after repeated experiences, study, research and discussion with my Tutor, I believe that I will be able to decide whether to follow one of the paths or even both, for the final photo book.

Some thoughts on the equipment

In this first drift I used:

- a first camera with bayer aps-c sensor and 40 mm lens (64 mm f.f. eq.);

- a second camera with foveon aps-h sensor and zoom 24-105 mm (30-126 f.f. eq);

- a tripod.

The first camera is small and discreet. The second has a sensor with black and white oriented characteristics.

Following this first experience, I have drawn the following conclusions:

- drift in the urban environment has similarities with street or urban photography, oriented to the narrow landscape of urban areas, perspective and details rendering.

- It is, therefore, essential to find a compromise between the amplitude of the equipment and the salient features of the urban area of Giudecca island, made up of narrow streets (no cars are allowed and one moves only on foot), tunnels, presence of large dynamic excursions between lights and shadows, so huge that are difficult to manage even with a film camera.

This last feature definitely put me in difficulty from a technical point of view, forcing me to adopt technical compromises that have influenced not only the photographic technique and the quality of the image but have also conditioned and constrained the narrative.

For these reasons, this first experience was very useful for me in order to choose the most suitable equipment for the next drift. I think it will be very different.

I think it is worth mentioning the sensor format.

The sensor format affects the focal length of the lens: the smaller the sensor, the higher the crop factor, the shorter the focal length and the more pronounced the deformation of subjects and lines.

From another point of view, the higher the crop factor, the easier to zoom in order to isolate details and signs from the context.

Following the experience with the first drift, a first decision for the next drift is to have a medium format camera, in order to avoid as much as possible the deformation of the lines and gain in the gathering of light and therefore dynamics, without going down to compromise with the composition of light and shadow.

It is also worth bringing a bridge-camera with a very small sensor (one inch) and a very large zoom (up to 600 mm f. F. Eq) to capture the "decisive moment", stay away from the subject, reach the details, and focus on the narrative.

Isola della Giudecca

First Drift

The drift and first impressions

I start at around 7am on a Saturday in mid-June.

By the boat called "vaporetto", which leaves from the mainland and arrives at the island at the Sacca Fisola dock, I arrive in Giudecca.

From the information I had on Giudecca, this island is actually a set of eight islands, very close to each other, which have been connected thanks to pedestrian bridges. One of these islands is Sacca Fisola.

My drift starts here, and, at the end of the day, I will realize that I spent much more time in this area than in the rest of Giudecca.

The air is clear and the sunlight cast sharp shadows.

Giudecca in Black & White