Digital Photography and Blogs: Researcher

ukbloggers@yahoogroups.com

Tue 15/10/02 09:25

[ukbloggers] Digest Number 662

Subject: photo blogs

Does anyone use alot of digital photography on their blogs [or indeed run a separate photo blog] ? If so, are you willing to be interviewed on the subject? I am asking on behalf of a colleague in the sociology dept at the University of Surrey who is about to start a research project on the use of digital photography on the Internet and different cultures of photography that have emerged. I believe his project is sponsored by Sapient.

If anyone is interested, please email offline and I will put you in touch

with him.

thanks.

adam

* * * *

Hi Alan

Thanks for responding to Adam Reed’s about photography and blogging. My name is Kris Cohen; I’m the colleague Adam mentioned.

I’m doing research on digital photography. A project with feet in both the industrial and academic worlds; that is, it’s funded by an internet and technology company (Sapient, www.sapient.com), which means that they’ll get to see the results of the research (though outside of Sapient, all research is kept anonymous). You can also read more about it here: http://www.soc.surrey.ac.uk/incite

Generally, I’d like to talk to people who are using photography in their blogs because I’m interested in how digital photography is changing the ways people practice photography, and, how increased mobility (bloggers tend to be a highly mobile kind of people; at least, their blogs are) is effecting photography. A weird concatenation of interests, I know. I’ve been looking at the websites you forwarded to Adam, and they look very interesting. I’d love to talk to you about photography and blogging, if you’re willing.

It would be a 1-2 hour talk, somewhere comfortable and convenient for you, that I’d prefer to video or audiotape (so I don’t have to take notes while we’re talking; so it will feel more like a conversation than a market research questionnaire, which it emphatically is not) but that I absolutely don’t have to-it could be completely unrecorded. We could do the interview in your home, if that’s comfortable for you (and especially since that’s where most of your photo/computer equipment is likely to be); but if not, we’ll choose someplace convenient to your work or home and quiet for talking. Just by the way: there is an office that I have access to (Sapient’s), near the Bank tube stop, if you want someplace quiet and neutral.

As for time, I’m pretty open starting now. So would you do this, if you’re still willing: suggest a time that’s good for you, and a place that’s convenient and we’ll arrive at something from there.

Again, thanks-already-for your interest. Please write if you have questions.

best,

Kris Cohen

Research Fellow, The University of Surrey, Department of Sociology

k.cohen@soc.surrey.ac.uk

* * * *

I’m very interested, thank you for responding. And, no, I don’t mind a little travel. After Wednesday of this week (tomorrow), I’m pretty open. My only gentle request is: the sooner the better, as the project is a little bit rushed. So, tell me a good day for you, weekdays, weekends are all fine. And time of day doesn’t matter to me so long as I have time to arrive and leave by train (which seems to be about a 2 hour trip, each way, from London).

Eventually, I’ll also need directions for how to come by train. Specifically, which stop to alight at (Nottingham?), and directions from the station.

Do you mind me calling? That might be the quickest way to get this all sorted.

I’m looking forward to talking with you and learning more about your work.

best,

Kris Cohen

Research Fellow, INCITE, University of Surrey

* * * *

I wanted to thank you for your time and thoughts last Monday. You gave us

a lot to think about, in terms of both photography and blogging. And the

fact that you don’t use digital has been useful for revealing some of the

important differences between people who do use digital and people who

don’t. So, thanks, and I’ll try to keep in touch as the research progresses.

Good luck with your photography, and your activism. I admire your

perseverance over the years, at both your beliefs and your art, in the face

of so many forces arrayed against both.

best,

Kris Cohen

Research Fellow, The University of Surrey, Department of Sociology

k.cohen@soc.surrey.ac.uk