DRIVE BY DERBY

The inspiration for this photographic project, ‘Drive by Derby’, was derived from the work of legendary American photographer, Lee Friedlander. He once published a book, called ‘America by Car’, showcasing images of America’s obsession with the open road from the inside view point of the car. When cities are explored by walking, you become physically immersed within the environment. When you leave the environment and take to the road, you are stuck with the empty vastness of visual information. Rather than having an overwhelming rush of information, you rather find yourself continuously scanning the environment in search of something interesting to capture. At the same time, the window pillars of the car act as a frames for the passing scenery. 

‘Drive by Derby’ project was created from the Magnum Workshop Derby (March 2011) held by Magnum street photographers Bruce Gilden, Richard Kalvar and Chris Steele-Perkins. Through the mentoring from these photographers, this workshop provided the opportunity to shoot and later publish a portfolio of the work, and exhibit at the Format International Photography Festival.