google photography

let's be honest here.
i don't really know shit about photography.
and even though i am slowly learning,
i somehow doubt that i'll ever be
one of those people who is incredibly successful as a commentator on
PHOTOOOOGRAPHY.

despite all of this,
i would like to publicly put forth questions that have been plaguing me lately
regarding the increasing conflux of photography
and net-based imaging
(both in terms of tools)
(and found imagery)

for now
i would like to focus on
google maps

as of late
i myself have been doing a great deal of experimentation

with google maps and streetview
and i know that a lot has probably been said about the subject
but i have been intentionally keeping myself away from the
mindless chatter
of the internet.

but
the truth is that this stuff is fascinating and
(moreover)
directly related to art history.

because the guy who originated streetview cites ed ruscha as a direct influence
(more on this in the next month or so)
and because i
(for one)
can't look at satellite view without considering
the photographic efforts of some minimalists
not to mention (sometimes) even
emmet gowin's
majestic aerials when i am confronted by a particularly
beautiful terrascape.

regardless...

we all know that the design of the thing is art within itself
as well as its customizable elements
(moma agrees)
(P.S. it's in there somewhere.)
(for a show that is dedicated to design it sure is a shitty website)
and that some serious net art shit has come about from it and
it has successfully been used as a tool for performance art
(see also)

BUT!

can this tool
which is so dependent on photography
operate as photography?

straight photography?
(street photography)
(aerial abstractions)

is screen capture a form of photography?

AND

is screen capturing more akin to incorporating found elements
or should it be considered along the lines of
appropriation art

AND
more specifically

the 

rephotography
of
richard prince
and
sherrie levine?

is this a new form of conceptual practice?

or is it

just

same

ol'

... ... ... ...
after all,
the only realm in which one can really get away with reworking anything these days is
netart
(which is not to say that its not already over-done)

----------------------------------------------------------

my latest project involves a voyeuristic archiving
a catalog of

everywhere i woke up (2006-2008) (2009)
(selections from)
(and very very very much in progress)






perhaps the best part of the google maps technology
is the fact that you can create this sort of conceptual document
completely in hindsight