Not Man Made
Technology
“‘MANIFESTO “NOT_MAN_MADE”
Objects generated by certain work processes that diverge from the programmer’s and designer’s project idea and assume unexpected and often ingenious shapes. They are not intentionally ideated by man. They are not made by man. What role can they play? Can man’s work represent itself even if something unforeseen alters the result? Can not-man-made work represent the present?”
Roberto Pedrotti
Roberto Pedrotti started a movement for art not made by man. The focus is on the creations made through technology that diverge from the inbuilt programming. As others have commented humans are involved with the making of the equipment and the programming to make it work but where does that leave creations that were not planned by the programmer. Are they ‘mistakes’ or evidence of the programme going ‘one step beyond’?
Pedritti, Roberto. Available at: https://www.notmanmade.com/. accessed 24-06-2018
Human Memory
Eidetic memory which typically occurs in some young children is considered to be the ability to retain and recall images in great detail. It is distinct but erroneously spoken of in the same terms as Photographic memory which describes instances where people have a well developed memory for text, numbers etc. as well as images. In extreme cases can be at the expense of development in other areas such as language and social abilities. The existence of eidetic and photographic memories in some children and adults is a continuing to be challenged as we learn more about brain development and functioning and as evidential assessments have become more rigorous.
Many of us take photographs to help us to remember events and locations. Manoush Zomorodi wrote about research on just remembering rather than relying on photographic images to aid recall. It turns out that we remember more details about more things that we see when not photographing them.
Zomorodi, Manoush. Sep 7, 2017 . If you really want to remember a moment, try not to take a photo. Available at: https://ideas.ted.com/if-you-really-want-to-remember-a-moment-try-not-to-take-a-photo/. accessed 24-06-2018
Arts: Painting, sculpture, theatre etc.
If the intention of this exercise was to identify images we see and hold in our memories rather than create and capture in camera then one could include all the arts.
Back to activity intentions
At the end of the day we and what we make are all atoms. So it does not really matter if we trigger the shot, something else does (movement or animals touching the camera), or the process does not involve a camera but we set up what is to be recorded (as with photograms and cyanotypes). The point is it is good to know of the variety of forms of images making that can be used singly or in various combinations as a record of what we see and experience.
Sarah Newton Photography 