A New Order

erin m. murphy Roma 2012 Summer

Adaptation to a New Skill, Culture, and City

Niccolò Machiavelli The Prince 1513

The Beginning Spanish Steps

“It ought to be remembered that there is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things.”

I recognized on this trip that

somehow I had fallen into

a routine. I suppose the routine

itself wasn’t so much of a danger:

I met famliar challenges with the

patience and confidence garnered

throughout past experiences, and I

wasn’t weighed down by the

distraction that is insecurity. Most

concerning to me was that

I had a routine.

Introduction A Broken Routine

Extraction from the monotony

was a necessary resolution. I was

driven to explore new skills and

quickly adapt to change. At times,

I would feel out of place and inept

in my talents and exposure to this

new culture. When I was able

to make sense of the chaos of the

situation, I was more confident

as a designer, and eager as

a traveler.

I set about embracing this change. I set about tailoring my talents to make the most of the experience. We were met with high expectations for documentation of our experience. The most satisfac-tion I experienced was when the challenge became a new form of perception.

Introduction A Broken Routine

Rush Train to Rome

There was so much stimulation in the sites we explored. Colors, lighting, motion... It was easy to distort.

OVEREXPOSURE

Overexposure The Potential

Castel Sant’ Angelo ISO 800, 1/1600, f 5.6, 18mm

Top Left Shamed, Centrale Montemartini Top Right So Far from Home, Perugia Look Out Bottom Left Beautiful Light, Jewish Ghetto

Overexposure The Potential

Adapting to the Experience:

I soon understood how to parallel what I saw with what my camera saw. There were alternative perspectives to the world and I was capable of capturing them.

End of the Line, Termini Station

Overexposure The Potential

My camera would click and adjust in the dark corridors of churches. There was always a feeling of defeat when the lighting was too obscure to capture the image.

ENLIGHTING

Enlighting The Technicalities

Castel Sant’ Angelo

ISO 200, 8.0s, f 6.3, 18mm

Enlighting The Technicalities

Left Music, San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane Top Right Modern Worship, Jubilee Church Bottom Right Exterior Glow, Jubilee Church

Adapting to the Experience:

Photography was a technical practice. I was developing a working schema of how to adjust my camera within various spaces.

The Front, San Giovanni Laterano

Enlighting The Technicalities

Left Looking Up, Sant Andea della Valle Top Right Looking to the Dome, San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane Bottom Right Enter Church, Santa Maria in Campitelli

Serendipitous The Exploration

I was happy with the image, but I had no idea how the end product was achieved. I wanted more control.

SERENDIPITOUS

Cinque Terre ISO 100, 30s, f 6.3, 18mm

I was happy with the image, but I had no idea how the end product was achieved. I wanted more control.

Adapting to the Experience:

I started experimenting with the camera and learned to enjoy exploration of the technicalities.

Serendipitous The Exploration

Spread Self Portraits, San Gimignano People from Left to Right Katherine Wong, Dan Doan, Molly Boyd Aaron Calzado, Stefani Bartz, Kaitlan Hamby, Tyson Brady, Taylor Nelson

Top Left Man in Train Station, Termini Station Top Right Moped + Horse, Corso Vittorio Emanuele II Bottom Right Bus, Bus to Tivoli Bottom Left Sunset, Piazza de Popolo Look Out

Good Morning, San Gimignano

Serendipitous The Exploration

Capturing The Redefinition

The technical skills and intrigue in the potential of my photography allowed ultimate freedom in capturing my own story.

CAPTURING

Termini Station ISO 400, 1/50, f 11, 220mm

Top Left Blurred, Piazza Navona Top Right Tuscan Sun, San Gimignano

Bottom Right Arrival in Rome, Termini Station Bottom Left Fresh Walk, Santa Chilara

Looking Above, St. Peter’s Square

The Ending Spanish StepsWv

Adapting to the Experience:

I can capture what I see and question what I know. I feel comfortable in this familiar place.

Dedication

Mom, Dad, Laura, and Abby

Production

Copyright All work © Erin Murphy

Camera Canon T1i

Duration August 21—September 22

Program University of Washington, Design in Rome

Construction

Cover Fabric by Legatoria Artistica

Typeface Trade Gothic + Clarendon