diurnal photography

Discussion 1 post |  Only members can post. Join?

About diurnal photography

Diurnal photography is photographs of and from the small rituals of everyday life.

It arises when photography has inserted itself into one's daily routine. Having the camera along "just in case something important happens" becomes an excuse to observe oneself closely, to make the unimportant significant.

The morning coffee. The subway commute. Shopping at the bakery. Eating lunch on a park bench.

If Vermeer had a camera, many of his paintings would have been diurnal photography. (Indeed, some hypothesize he used a camera to create those paintings....)

Diurnal photography is uneventful. These are not decisive moments. They are routine, yet nevertheless (and even therefore) precious.

Diurnal photography does not promote anything. It is distinct from the glossy visual salesmanship of glamourizing products.

Diurnal photography borders on street photography. But there is less sense of documenting a social world to make a particular point and more sense of observing how people make particular worlds more habitable, hospitable.

Diurnal photography sharpens the way photography steals time. The photograph becomes like the stolen moment of tranquility during our utilitarian routines.

Diurnal photography exposes the ritual beauty of everyday routine.

Submit your photos and/or tag them with "diurnal" or "diurnal photography."