Traveling CF Card
Jul 30th, 2007 by John Setzler
I have an idea for a new photography project that could be a lot of fun. I’m collecting a list of volunteer photographers from around the world to participate in the “Traveling Compact Flash Card” project. The idea behind this project is to get a single volunteer from as many countries as possible to shoot a photograph on the traveling compact flash card and then send it on to the next person. The ultimate goal of the project will be to publish a book through one of the online publishing sources when the compact flash card returns to me after its journey around the globe.
I just started forming this project today, and I have a few volunteers already. I’m also very skeptical about the success of this idea, but I think it’s worth a try. I tried a similar project a few years ago, but it didn’t involve a traveling compact flash card. I collected a group of volunteer photographers from all 50 states in the United States who were supposed to make a photograph of their state flag for the purpose of making a large poster print of all 50 flags. I had lots of volunteers, but when the time came to produce the photos, I fell about 8 or 9 photos short of completion and couldn’t find additional volunteers. I did find some replacement photographers, and still had difficulty collecting the photographs. I’m hoping this project won’t meet the same fate.
I expect that the compact flash card journey will be a treacherous one. I expect to encounter several pitfalls in the project, but I have some ideas for contingency plans. Each photographer who participates will be asked to back up the contents of the compact flash card when they receive it. If the compact flash card gets lost in transit or lands with a photographer who refuses to send it to the next participant, we won’t have lost the photographs. I’ll be able to send a replacement compact flash card to the last person who made a backup and re-start the card’s journey.
I know it would be easier to just find photographers and have them email a photograph. That would be too easy though :) I’ll be adding blog entries about this project as it materializes…
Would we be able to acquire a picture of Jeremy Hellickson, Columbus pitcher, that you took on August 15 against Hickory?
We would be glad to pay you and for any expenses in sending it to us. Please advise us and we will send you our mailing address.
Thank you,
Grandparents of Jeremy Hellickson.
Wouldn’t it just be easier to start a group on Flickr? You are able to set rules - each member is allowed only one photo submission.. things like that. Makes projects like this pretty easy. I’m all for real mail and certainly there is some fun in that - but as you’ve already noted, there are some possible negative outcomes of sending around CF card. Just an idea!