THE GRAND VITESSE SCHOOL OF PHOTOGRAPHY

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[youtube=i6q7zDZDQjw]

THE GRANDE VITESSE SCHOOL OF PHOTOGRAPHY:
A NEW ART FORM IS BORN

It’s exhilarating to be alive when an entirely new way of seeing things is uncovered. Reality is transformed. Or perhaps, more correctly, the state of reality itself is questioned.

It’s beyond amazing to be as close to it as I have been.

To be actually part of it, responsible for naming it, well that is something that seems impossible to conceive. But, please, just try to stay with me.

I’ve called it: The Grande Vitesse School of Photography. Yes, I know about the train, and about Alexander Calder, but I assure you that I have personal releases from both the French Government and the Calder estate. They obviously realize the significance of this moment.

It has not happened overnight, the development and implementation of this form of expression. My first choice of appellation was, Drive By Shooting, but that was awkward and insufficient, for apparent reasons. The first, almost accidental (ah, but what is accident?) use of this form, took place about ten months ago when we were lost, the artist and I. (At the moment, she prefers to remain anonymous, so I will simply use the words “her,” or “she,” or “herself” when referring to her.) We were driving through a township in South Africa, known as one of the most dangerous places in which a white person should be caught alone. To describe me as “white” would be like describing Yao Ming as “tall.” Anyway, as I was mentally preparing my Last Will and Testament, she had discretely rolled down the window (we have been subsequently told that this may be analogous to lighting a match in a room full of pure oxygen) and was gaily snapping shots with her little Canon Point and Shoot, recording images of the place where were about to die. This was thoughtful, in terms of a bold documentary concept, but practically speaking perhaps a bit naïve.

Over the course of the following months here in South Africa, I have always been the driver and she has always occupied the passenger’s seat. This is only fair, I think, seeing as she’s the one with the job. The window on her side of the car came down more consistently, thankfully in safer places, and more photographs were taken. I will freely admit that I was thoroughly dismissive of the idea. What could possibly be captured successfully at the speed of 60 mph? Her laughter, when she inspected the camera screen at saw the white blurs of her captured images, only reinforced my opinion.

But she persisited.

It was only until our last road trip in the eastern part of the country, when she filled up twelve 2-gigabyte memory cards in a week (OK an exaggeration) was the concept fully realized. Sometimes she would ask me to slow down. Sometimes she would just punch me in the arm. For this I consider myself a small part of the magnificent creative moment. Someone had to sharpen Michelangelo’s chisels.

Just last night she gave me a silvery disc that gave off a little rainbow shimmer when it caught the light. It was like looking at an atom but not being able to conceive of the energy within. Now, I am not for a moment comparing herself to Albert Einstein or Werner Heisenberg. She can do that herself. It’s just that when I opened the disc and saw all the images strung together like a run of pearls, then put them to music, well then The Grand Vitesse School of Photography was truly born.

We will have a proper viewing soon, paired up with a fine South African wine.

But for now I submit the accompanying few photos for your inspection, and the low def video as a means to whet your appetite.

Herself will be along shortly.

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Comments

[Clare]

daydreaming with a cup of coffee
Hey Dennis! I raise my cup to you and "herself"... Spent a brief moment seeing thru her eyes, Beautiful! Thank You for my (too quick) journey, Hugs, Clare Dalton

[Trish]

Nice Job!
Dennis that was excellent. I loved the music. But most of all it makes me miss u even more. Hurry home, safe and sound.

[beth]

wow....
not ever as eloquent as you both.... I am amazed at your experiences and how you can share them thru photos and your writing (both are a true talent) Get home safely so we can hear about this all in person! xoxox

[pj]

Thanks!
Your eloquence and artistic vision conveyed through words and photographs have transported me these many months to your rare and wonderful world. I will miss them, but I miss you both more! Hurry home safely!

[harriet korim]

cool
love the music-pix combo---thanks! reminds me of shooting from the train in spain...maybe i'm retroactively eligible for the g.v. mouvement....

[Kendall]

It changes you
These were 2008...is that the last time you were there? What a rich, wonderful country. I lived in Lesotho 92-95 and in ZA 95-99, and I was able to go back for a visit in October of 08. I was there for Mandela's time, as a professor in a formerly-white university making its transition. I felt I was like a line in a poem by Adrienne Rich, "On the first page of the end of despair." It turned out not to be the end, after all. But why should we be surprised?