Oh I love this. I recently discovered a photo of my dad taken back in the early 90s, a period when he was a few years sober. Before seeing that photo, if you'd asked me to write about him, my relationship with him, what was going on in our family at that time, I would not have described him as being relaxed, wide smiling, healthy looking, dare I say it happy - dad. It was a jolt, a helpful one as I continue my memoir writing, in terms of reframing my memory and perception of him and our family. Thank you
“Mapping” a picture and then trying to infer with empathy a narrative using our own reverie. This is very close to observational skills in psychoanalysis. Perhaps it was even inspired by it? Esther Bick has written a lot on infant observation. Thanks for sharing the work of Poor, I will be looking into it.
I love this idea of using the mapping exercise as an empathy development exercise. I have recently been working with compassion meditation exercises and find it has changed my life for the much better by changing how I relate to people. Now I want more!!! This is another way to get more.
As a retired photo teacher, I know this would make a great assignment!! I often use the technique of "reading" a photo, but this takes it a step further. Thank you for sharing this great idea!
It makes me think of Roland Barthes and his theory book, Camera Lucida(1981): you have "punctum" which can be something that can evoke meaning, emotions without referring to exterior contexts and you have "studium" that is the whole cultural, historical baggage of an artefact. In Barthes' theory you need to repudiate all knowledge for the "punctum" to puncture.
I listened to your program on Waking Up and really enjoyed it. I need a word that describes the moment when I am listening for the next sound. I have particularly noticed this moment when I hear a bird call and then I am waiting for the next one, that doesn’t always come.
Really interesting perspectives. As a photographer I always aim to make images that cause a person to stop and examine. This is a different slant on things, though.
I read this when first published but in an analogue to really seeing [and being overwhelmed by life's inputs] I needed to really think about it more. I loved the article and plan to apply the concepts to others' and my own photography. It also speaks to my exploration of the relationship of viewer to an art subject of any kind- photograph, painting, sculpture etc. I plan to use the above article to expand my thinking when I go to next museum exhibit.
Love this post. I just put one of Nigel's books on hold at the library: This is ear hustle: unflinching stores of everyday prison life. Sounds like a very interesting read, along with The San Quentin Project. Now, to tackle some old family black and white photos and try some mapping. I am not quite sure I have any photos as interesting as the guard holding the knife.
Hi Rob - Discovered you by way of your new Waking Up app series, but likely also came across your Lifehacker work in the past as well. Your exercises, assignments & quests map well onto some of my own ways of interacting with the world. Looking forward to exploring more of them through your Substack, further releases of exercises on the Waking Up app and your book. I'll likely be blogging about my own perspective with them in relation to the jigsaw puzzles I design. The verbal-visual mapping exercise translates exceedingly closely to puzzle solving as a form of artful noticing.
Map the Picture
Oh I love this. I recently discovered a photo of my dad taken back in the early 90s, a period when he was a few years sober. Before seeing that photo, if you'd asked me to write about him, my relationship with him, what was going on in our family at that time, I would not have described him as being relaxed, wide smiling, healthy looking, dare I say it happy - dad. It was a jolt, a helpful one as I continue my memoir writing, in terms of reframing my memory and perception of him and our family. Thank you
“Mapping” a picture and then trying to infer with empathy a narrative using our own reverie. This is very close to observational skills in psychoanalysis. Perhaps it was even inspired by it? Esther Bick has written a lot on infant observation. Thanks for sharing the work of Poor, I will be looking into it.
I really liked this. The notes on those "mapped" photographs look like a piece of art on it selves.
This was great, I love the idea of conecting with an image more deeply through writing about it, or in this case, writing on it.
Also a big fan of the Walking New York books. Funnily enough, when he embarked on his walking every streets of new york project, someone else was doing the same thing. They met in Staten Island. https://www.newyorker.com/video/watch/why-two-men-are-walking-every-block-in-new-york-city
What a great newsletter. I loved the pigeon pics. Following the short talks on the Waking Up app and enjoying them. Thank you!
I love this idea of using the mapping exercise as an empathy development exercise. I have recently been working with compassion meditation exercises and find it has changed my life for the much better by changing how I relate to people. Now I want more!!! This is another way to get more.
Man, I see Nigel almost every week and I cannot believe I didn’t know about this project! Thank you for this and the delightful links.
As a retired photo teacher, I know this would make a great assignment!! I often use the technique of "reading" a photo, but this takes it a step further. Thank you for sharing this great idea!
It makes me think of Roland Barthes and his theory book, Camera Lucida(1981): you have "punctum" which can be something that can evoke meaning, emotions without referring to exterior contexts and you have "studium" that is the whole cultural, historical baggage of an artefact. In Barthes' theory you need to repudiate all knowledge for the "punctum" to puncture.
Total detective-like stuff going on here. Love it.
Do you know the work of Wendy Red Star, a Native American artist who maps photos?
I listened to your program on Waking Up and really enjoyed it. I need a word that describes the moment when I am listening for the next sound. I have particularly noticed this moment when I hear a bird call and then I am waiting for the next one, that doesn’t always come.
Really interesting perspectives. As a photographer I always aim to make images that cause a person to stop and examine. This is a different slant on things, though.
I read this when first published but in an analogue to really seeing [and being overwhelmed by life's inputs] I needed to really think about it more. I loved the article and plan to apply the concepts to others' and my own photography. It also speaks to my exploration of the relationship of viewer to an art subject of any kind- photograph, painting, sculpture etc. I plan to use the above article to expand my thinking when I go to next museum exhibit.
Love this post. I just put one of Nigel's books on hold at the library: This is ear hustle: unflinching stores of everyday prison life. Sounds like a very interesting read, along with The San Quentin Project. Now, to tackle some old family black and white photos and try some mapping. I am not quite sure I have any photos as interesting as the guard holding the knife.
Hi Rob - Discovered you by way of your new Waking Up app series, but likely also came across your Lifehacker work in the past as well. Your exercises, assignments & quests map well onto some of my own ways of interacting with the world. Looking forward to exploring more of them through your Substack, further releases of exercises on the Waking Up app and your book. I'll likely be blogging about my own perspective with them in relation to the jigsaw puzzles I design. The verbal-visual mapping exercise translates exceedingly closely to puzzle solving as a form of artful noticing.