REZZ: PETE CARR // The Bluecoat To many photographers it may seem sacrilegious to forego the use of a
June 2011.
camera and enter the digital world of the i-Phone, capturing moments through a 5-megapixel lens on a device not originally intended for the
“The project really showed me the power of photography. Photography
art of photography. Add to that, applying an app to manipulate the
gives you a reason to engage with people, to talk with strangers on the
aesthetic, and you’ve got an all out war from Luddites. Yet, this app,
street and learn about their lives.
Hipstamatic, which applies filters to make the images look like they’ve been taken on an antique camera has become the weapon of choice for
“This started me thinking about the use of technology and how we
many photographers including Pete Carr, who will be showing his series
engage with people. Social media is all about networking with strangers,
of portraits at The Bluecoat - all taken on the i-Phone.
which is something that people are much more comfortable with online.
We sat down at Brew Cafe to discuss what exactly is his exhibition all
Why?
about, and aren’t his pictures all going to be fuzzy like mine usually are?
“As photography helped me to meet some fascinating people I felt it was appropriate to use social media to engage the public with these
“I’m taking people’s pictures and putting them into the digital world.
portraits in a whole new way.
I’m not into arty photography, I do portraits and architecture. I often sit here in fact and look out the window and with the i-Phone I can go
“The great thing about this exhibition is that it isn’t restricted by
and ask them for a picture and you get free models and nice pictures
opening hours or admission charges. My photos will be out there for
of really nice people.The project has a lot of more meaning than just
anyone to see for free, at any time of day. You don’t even have to be
photography, I wouldn’t call myself and artist. This is my first real
interested in photography to get involved. I really hope that some people
step into that world. I have no issues with the iphone I’ve got lots of
stumble upon them by chance in the right location and are intrigued
cameras about 15 in total, and i use each one for a different style of
enough to seek out a few more. Maybe they’ll meet some interesting
photography. There’s no harm in experimentation. You just download
people along the way.”`
the app and take really nice pictures. The New York Times did a piece on photography and it got lots of recognition.”
In addition to his solo exhibition Pete has exhibited widely at venues including the Tate, Open Eye Gallery, St George’s Hall, Anglican
Instead of displaying these portraits in the traditional manner in a
Cathedral and the National Media Museum in Bradford. His commercial
gallery, Pete is using social media to let the public encounter each photo
work is extremely sought after, with one of his iconic shots of the
out on the street in the location where it was taken.
Liverpool waterfront used as the key image in a major campaign by the Mersey Partnership promoting the city across the UK in 2010. His
When the full exhibition is launched in May, anyone with a smartphone
photographs have also been featured in the Guardian and the Times.
will be able to download a free map that takes them out of the galleries and onto the streets of Liverpool to find the photographs. You will only
www.petecarr.net
be able to see each photograph when you are in the right location. The exhibition will also have a real-world base at the Bluecoat from May to
// Interview by Dina Karim
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