Our Eyes Project

About Our Eyes Project

Hello, and welcome to the Project.

My name is Jim Hejl, I have a Director position at Electronic Arts (interactive software company). In my other-life, I'm a photographer and a video editor.

On the day that video support was added to Flickr, I posted this time-lapse video (which I created with my 5D still camera)

www.flickr.com/photos/hejl/2401490126/

I don't think the inclusion of video will turn Flickr into YouTube - and I want to demonstrate different/creative ways video can be used. If this venture is successful, it will be a shining example of what is possible in a video/still hybrid.

Now, a New Project

The goal of the project is to communicate the profound creativity and talent on Flickr. I am going to do this by collecting a selection of pictures taken of the 'same thing' (I choose the London Eye). But, although the subject is the same, I am searching for as many different visual interpretations as I can find. The only real "common-thread" is that each image is a work of art. Although of the same subject, each will be different, unique, and beautiful.

And, there won't be any snapshots. Each image in The Project will be like yours - a stunning visual.

The final work will be a slide-show of images, set to music. The end-credits (and the video description) will include the address of a public Flickr group (not this one) that will contain all the source images used in the video. Anyone who is interested, can visit the group - and see all the individual images - and the artists behind them!

So, what do I need from you?

If you would like to participate, please add your invited image to this pool. If you don't want to participate, just remove your image. You can remove your image at any time (before the final video has been released). If you decide that you don't want your image included, you can pull it. It might cause some extra work for me in the editing process, but I'll deal with it. I want your participation to be voluntary at all times. So, adding your photo to this pool does not commit you to the project.

I invited your image of The Eye to the pool so that I can have it for consideration during the editing process. The invitation to the Project Pool is not a guarantee that it will be included in the final work. As anyone that has produced video knows, sometimes things "work" and sometimes they don't. It could be how an image fits into the whole, how it fits with the mood, or simply an image that is too close visually to another. That's why 'editing' is called 'editing'. It's not a contest --- it's just about creating a final product that 'works'.

The "All Sizes" button on your image needs to contain a downloadable image that is at least 1024 pixels (high or wide). This will be large enough for the video. Please don't watermark. I ask this for artistic reasons - they are distracting. I want everyone that participates to have proper credit for their work, I want anyone that likes the video to be able to find the artists behind it (and explore your other work). I think the public group (referenced at the end of the video) is the best way to do this --- without intruding on the experience itself.

What to expect?

When a critical mass of images has been added to the pool (maybe 15 or more), I will start production in FinalCut. I will make early cuts of the video available to you on Flickr. I don't have a timeline for the Project. It is largely dependent on the gathering off enough quality source material. I don't know how long that will take. I work pretty fast in FinalCut, so - once we have the images - the video will come together quickly. (Fun stuff!!!)

Why am I doing this?

If you're like most people, you probably have some healthy level of skepticism. So here's the spill: I'm doing this because I am inspired by Flickr, and this is a contribution that I want to make back to the community. I think it will be a powerful statement. I also expect that it will be quite popular on Flickr. I have experimented on co-workers with this idea -- showing some of your Eye photos. They were fascinated with both the quality and the stunning variety. (As am I!!!). It really is awesome to see so many different interpretations of the same subject. It tells you a lot about the artist, and how they 'see' the world.

This video is about Flickr content, and it is for Flickr. When complete, I'll just be posting the video here. I will cost me time and energy to produce it - and I'm not getting anything in return. This isn't a commercial venture. It is a creative one. My intention is to display your work in a powerful way... not to exploit you - or your work.

I hope you choose to participate. I think this will be great fun for everyone involved ----

Cheers,
Jim Hejl

If you have questions, please use the Group Forum, or contact me directly.