Experiential photography: Small groups of images taken from a "significant moment" that tell a small story about an experience that lasted only for a moment. (Jensen, Lenswork #127). In Photography, Art and Media, Brooks Jensen explores the idea of "chapbooks"--small hand-made books that are as much about design and craftsmanship as they are about content--as a great way to showcase very small collections of images combined with words. Less formal then a portfolio and more considered than a scrapbook, the chapbook becomes the just-right format to share an experience that may not have any other context. Building on this craft, he created his own collection called "Sketches". "Less than an book, more than a print...a way for us to share a few thoughts, experiences, and travels." (p. 161). This formula--a unique experience + a few images + some words for context--is something that Brooks comes back to time and again in his various writings. His article on experiential photography (Lenswork #127) is a great example. Inspired by that, I've begun putting together these collections of experiences, which I'm calling "Artifacts". They're experiences that connect to deeper meaning, for me at least, and I felt were important to explore. These are taken from foggy mornings, weekend trips, hikes in the woods, time spent with family. Because I usually have my camera with me, some nice images come out along the way.
